When It Rains

Thunder Storm

Anamika's (Anu) POV

Nandettan went home to bring the gift. What an irresponsible idiot I am.  I always do such stupid things. " Anu, when will you grow up?" I asked myself. Though I didn't express anything in front of Nandettan , my mind was still confused.  Who took my photo? Who sent it ? Is it Kiran ? If then how he got my number? My Facebook is public, because I write articles, and I share my music and dance performance there. So, sending messages in FB messenger is not a problem. Until now Kiran never crossed the line. So i didn't block him. But encroaching in my privacy is something different.  If it is Kiran, I really want to block him. Because I never share my contact number to strangers. If Kiran have my number , it hints that he is mysterious. Even if he is genuine , I cannot tolerate such things.  I again opened the mobile and looked into my photo.

Suddenly a " Hello" from that number came.  A shiver gone through my spine. 

"You look so shocked? I know you are planning to block me. That's my girl. I think you caught me.  Do you know? I always had your number. I got it from a source. I know you from eighth standard. We were in same school. Am your senior.  For your all stage performances , I would sit in front  raw. But you never noticed me. So, till now I have no confidence to face you. But today I lost my control by seeing you in saree. You look so beautiful.  I have a fear that, if i delay myself to reach you , someone will snatch my girl". Message ended with a winking smiley. And he again messaged one more photo.

So he is somewhere near to me. Still hiding. This is too much annoying. I really don't like such surprises. I got angry. Then , his message again came.

"Do you know ? when you are angry , you look so cute. Am sending an old photo. I have a gallery full of your photos". He sent one more photo. Which was not new.

When he took photo of my angry face?

" Anu, it is more than one year , I am sending messages to you. But you never said even a hello to me. At least give me a Hi. Please. If you are angry , just express it. I really want to know about your feelings".

I didn't think too much, I just blocked him. That's it. If he want to talk , he should come in front of me.  Such persons can be psychopath. Today I want to tell about him to Nandettan. I should be careful. Why should I hold such headaches?

Why Nandettan is getting late? I called him several times. But he didn't attend. I got anxious. I went to the entrance and waited for him.  Then I felt someone was standing behind me. I was going to turn, suddenly Nandettan's call came. When I talked to him I understood, his  voice was not good. He had a shivering in his voice. I felt as he was crying. He said, he had a small accident. Nothing serious. He told the hospital name to me and he wanted me to reach there immeadiately. I became panic. I quickly ran to autorickshaw stand. I forgot to turn back. But I heard a male voice calling my name. "Anu, Anu, please stop". I just ran, didn't look back.

While sitting in autorikshaw , several times I called Nandettan. But he didn't attend it. I reached hospital reception and was going to ask. Then Nandettan's call came.  " Anu, I already saw you. Just come in front of ICU". He cut the phone then.

" Intensive Care Unit"!!!

I got shocked. Why ICU? Is his condition serious? I felt like I was going to faint.  Still somehow I reached there. But My Nandettan was standing there . He was holding Amma tightly. I ran to him and hugged him. 

" Tell me Nandetta, what happened?"

He was silent. Amma was silent. No one talked anything. I saw tears running from Nandettan's eyes. But Amma's eyes were blank. I felt , she wasn't recognizing my presence. She was standing like an expressionless statue. 

I was going to die with anxiety.

But suddenly I realized . "Is it my Appa in ICU?"

I shook Nandettan's shoulder and asked again.

"Is it our Appa Nandetta, tell me what happened?"

He didn't tell anything. Just hugged me and weeped.

A female doctor came towards us. I recognized her. She is my Appa's friend. Amma's friend too. Physician in this hospital. Nandettan talked to her. She just went inside the ICU.  After sometime she came out. She said, Appa is conscious now. Some drug was injected to him. But  it can identify only after test. It was a mild doze. Not harmful to life. He fainted more because of shock. Nandettan explained the incident to the Doctor. Then only I understood the scenario. She said, no need to admit. After an hour we can leave. I got relieved by hearing it. 

After some time a nurse came and called us.  We saw Appa was lying in the bed. When he saw us he started panting. Nandettan took his hand and pressed. I hugged him and kissed on his cheek. But Amma still silent. Looking blankly at him.

Appa asked her : " Achu , do you hate me? Don't you believe me?
I didn't do anything".

Amma ran to him and slapped on his face. We got shocked. After that , with a huge cry she fell down on Appa's chest.

She asked Appa : Why are you explaining? Don't you know your wife? Appetta , our son have 26 years .  "If you live , I too will live. If you die, I too will die". Do you remember when I said this first time to you? Then I was only seventeen, you were nineteen. Still I am telling you the same thing. Whatever is going to happen in our life further, you shouldn't forget one thing, "
If you survive, I will survive. If you cannot survive, i too won't survive. Don't ever think about any stupidity. I need you until my death and even after my death. I cannot live without you. Don't hold this pressure and pain by yourself only. Am here to share with you. You can put everything on me. Just calm down. Be my Appettan.

Surprisingly, until now we didn't know that , they were calling " Achu and Appettan" each other. They were not a romantic  couple.  But we knew that they are inseparable and was in deep
Love.

And Appa hugged three of us. We three hugged him back. We returned home.  When we reached home , we saw a police jeep parking inside our gate. Kesav mama was talking to them.

I didn't understand anything. Appa just fainted. That is what Nandettan told to the doctor. But I saw that they were talking something secretly.  Why police standing in front of my home?

Kiran's POV
——————-

When I saw her first time, she was just thirteen. So active in school.  Dance, music, painting, School head girl etc etc. But she was not eccentric not extrovert , Calm and quiet , well behaved.  But with close friends she was too naughty. I am so determined. Its been years I am following her.  She is such a tough character. She would hear all my songs . I know. But never talked anything. I thought she had a soft corner to me.  But how could she reject me like this? How could she block me like this? She just ran away. Not even once she turned back. So, its the time. I cannot wait further. Already I waited long . Now its the time for face to face.

Outside it was going to rain. Climate was windy and cloudy. Suddenly a Lighting appeared followed by thunder. I closed the window and went to off the TV. Then I saw a news flashing in Malayalam News Channel.

"Dentist arrested for Rape".

In TV screen I could see the crying face of Anu. She was hugging her father and screaming. "My Appa won't do it , let him go, don't arrest". Nandhu was trying to hold her. And police handcuffed Doctor Asok , along with them he sat in the Police jeep.

He was staring at his wife. She was staring him back.

And all channels had same news . I Could see a big crowd around her house.

Now How can I stand here like this? I took my car key. Closed my house and started my car.

And all my way I could hear the loud noice of Thunder.