Short stories

A feeling called 'Home'

A sudden unusual torrential downpour of rain was witnessed by the residents of Wisconsin, the sky had lost its cerulean blue hue and was reduced to a gloomy shade of grey, the gentle winds were replaced with a violent tempest, and several thunderous outcomings stroke the ground.

 Petrichor wafted in the atmosphere and the rainwater had blinded the vision afar. Virginias and blue-hyacinths had their petals dampened which laid at the entrance of houses in a charming welcome. A pair of lovers rushed across the street hand in hand under an umbrella with a lingering smile on their faces, the old-man in his nursery hurriedly turning the open signboard to the other side, children playing heartily in their gardens being admonished by their mothers for getting soaked in the rain, A man with a briefcase in hand running into the arms of his daughter standing near the doorstep as if her arms were the warmest of all...these were some of the things that Blake often observed while being alone. He had just lost his job today and along with that the news of his mother being ill had reached him few days ago, yet he couldn't arrange to go back to his hometown. Barely could he manage to earn his own living, and he wasn't in a state to travel.

 He was the only person in the entire landscape whose face reflected nothing but a lamentable expression full of hopelessness. He sauntered slowly through the rain ,he had even lost his glasses today on his way to work this morning. He had already thrown away his briefcase in the nearest trash bin, while being soaked in the rain with the water filtering through the narrow channels of his face which made his tears invisible, his curly black hair drooping along his forehead dripping with water, his new white tee sent by his sister on his birthday was worn by him which too, was absolutely soaked. He had nothing but a pack of cigars and a lighter in his pocket. He decided to stand under a shelter at a bus stand, took a cigar from his pocket and put it between his lips and sighed heavily, and proceeded to flame it up. But sadly, even the lighter refused to comfort him with warmth and wasn't working.

"Dammit" , he cursed under his breath and stood there alone still with the cigar in his lips, with his head hung down.

 At that very moment, he heard a click of a metallic lighter as he looked up in surprise. He saw the light of a lighter near his face held by a hand filled with metal rings. He turned his gaze to the person who held it, and stared in awe. The man was heavily embellished with junk jewelry all over his ears, hands and his face. He had black hair nicely swept back with eyes as deep as the ocean. He wore a baggy black t-shirt and had an umbrella in one hand.

"Lost your job huh?", he said with a strange smile.

Blake was astonished to how could this guy know exactly what had happened to him. "Are you a stalker?", Blake questioned lowly with a voice hoarse because of crying. "Nope, I've been there, so just guessed", the man answered while looking at the abating rain and realizing the unusual tone of his voice but didn't remark on it. "Need a light?", he asked while still holding the light. "Oh yeah...thanks", Blake replied politely as he starting puffing the first string of smoke from his cigar. The strange man who stood beside him, also started smoking along with him, he looked older than Blake. The man had been quietly noticing the younger man beside him carefully all this while, and concluded a lot of things about him instantly. 

"Let's get you home...Blake", the man uttered as the rain had almost diminished. 

"How-" , the strange man pointed towards the id card which was still hanging around Blake's neck and winked an eye towards Blake with a playful smile on his lips as he turned around and indicated him to move with him. Blake acted as if he didn't like that man's attitude but inwardly, he was impressed by how observant he was. He ran towards the older man and stood beside him under his umbrella. The warmth which he felt while standing beside that man had already somewhat reminded him of...home...a real home. 

"Okay, Let's get home", he said despite being heartbroken with grief, and suddenly managed to smile at which he was amused himself. The sky had started to regain color and the violent activity of nature had vaguely stopped, as both men started walking towards home.