Pitter patter drops of rain, announce eagerly that monsoon has arrived.I turn the wipers on rather reluctantly to clear the windscreen as it starts drizzling. I notice u from where I wait for a signal light to give way….Is it a co-incidence that both of us are wearing blue today ? I see you straining to spot the car in the traffic, standing next to a mudpool, trying to cover ur head with ur right palm. I don’t want u to get drenched and catch a cold. These hurried drivers I tell u , sans their road sense ...uff one splashes slushy mud all over ur trousers, another honks like its his last chance..u take a step back n look annoyed. I blink the parking lights for u to recognise me. In the car, u start ur usual banter with "Oi how was ur day ...?"and before u can complete "sshhh , surprise" I seal my lips with the forefinger n silence u also ."Don speak a word". U acknowledge , smile and get busy cleaning up the mess of wet mud. Once steered out of the traffic, I lower the windows n turn the a/c off . It has stopped raining now. But the sky is still overcast. Milky white sky getting darker by the minute givin way to the night. The smell of wet mud and fresh air lighten my senses. U seem to b happy too... jus feelin the air cut thru ur palm that u have strecthed far out of the window. I take that road purposefully n watch closely to check ur expression. Ur eyes, yes they definitely cant hide a thing. But today they are quiet too and not givin in. U adjust ur hair and I think I saw u cringe ur eyes to look at me thru the corner of ur eyes. I distinctly remember the thoughts running in my head same day an year ago. A similar anxiety, a similar silence.The weather is perfect I think. The road awash, buildings bathed clean and the branches of big line of green trees on either side of the road make an arch almost as if to welcome u n me there. I slow down the car n u get off . The after-rain drops of clear water from the leaves make the only noise around.U take ur shoes off and walk on the carpet of dried leaves softened by the rain. I walk behind u, carefully treading the same steps u took . We reach the end of the road, I pluck out a pink flower, clutch ur arms and turn u around forcefully. U jus look into my eyes. I know not of any words that describe what I felt then, but am sure it felt magical.U do not remember the place or the day like many other things, or so I think. I jus hold the flower n say softly "heyyy love u..." .U smile merrily, snatch the flower, hug me tight n say "still a bouganvillia??! N still not on ur knees!! love u for that". After another small walk and a few minutes of blissful silence, realising that its starting to pour again, u run towards the car grabbin my wrist.
What a delightful getaway at the end of another mundane hectic day.
