the chronicles of the Singh's on lane 42 (xiv)- The beautiful rain

Winter has set in and Delhi's winter is extremely abysmal. When in college I had gone 18 days without a bath; that was my maximum ever. The only reason I took a bath on the 19th day was because I was invited for coffee and Maya was to come too. I had even given up my month long beard. Please don't inquire further about my summer records. Ask me no questions I will tell you no lies. Thanks to my dad staying with me, he compels me to take a bath daily in this winter too.

Enya is happy with Rahul and these days they are in Mumbai. Good thing about Mumbai is, it has no winters. Both Enya and Rahul are into journalism and both are doing well.

Rahul: "Never, let truth come in the way of a good story. As long as I do that I will be earning well."

Enya has started to cook and gives tips to Maya on how to cook sambhar. Amazing thing is I hate sambhar, and every time I am offered I have to lie about the taste.

On one dreadfully winter evening Maya and I were caught up with some extra work. By the time we left office it was already 9 'o clock, and it was chilling outside. No sooner had we stepped outside it started raining. Maya's apartment comes prior to mine so most of the days I drop her home and then go to mine.

By the time we reached her apartment, we were completely drenched. If it would have been a summer night I would have gone to lengths describing the actions and childlike reactions of Maya; but it was a winter night. When near zero temperature water entering through my collar trickled down my back, shivers ran through my body. I was shuddering and carved for warmth. Weak winds easily trespassed our clothes and flailed our bones paralyzing us. If the white door in front of me wouldn't have been Maya's I would have broken it down.

Maya ran into a wild chase after opening the door and switched on the heater. We sat in front of the heater for some ten minutes, till we felt comfortable. Still our clothes were dripping water. The pelting water made a rhythmic sound on the window pane; outside the rain had not stepped yet.

Maya brought a pair of her loose t-shirt and pyjama for me. The clothes though a bit girlish, did fit me snugly. As soon as I came out of the bathroom the very first words that emanated from my mouth were, "I am sorry!"

Maya was standing in front of the heater soaking her hair dry with a towel. She was wearing a t-shirt, ending shorter than a mini skirt! Her hair was completely dishevelled falling forwards on her left arm and a few curls beautifully covered her eyes. If this was a dream, then I never wished to be woken up. I wished it to be endless and eternal. I had not dreamt a more beautiful dream ever. If not for the place and the awkward position I was standing in, I would have rest assured I was dreaming. I took a right about turn the moment my senses returned.

But I am sorry??? What was I thinking when I spoke this?

What the hell on earth was I sorry for? For her being so beautiful? Or for her being dressed in semi-nude clothes? I wasn't sorry for either I am sure. Even in the present scenario she looked gorgeous; rather for me she looked the most beautiful lady I had ever seen and would ever see! Nevertheless of what she was wearing she would still be the most beautiful girl I ever met!

Slowly she came close to me and wrapped her arms around me. Keeping her face on my back, she spoke the three most beautiful words, which can melt any man's heart.

"I LOVE YOU!"


[Sketch by Rajeev Nandan]