The Summer We Met

Part 2: Chapter 11

"Look there it is, Raj! The carousel!", pointed the women with the sunglasses.

Little four year old Raj's brows furrowed even more.

"What is with the face? You don't want to ride the horses?"

Raj shook his head vigorously at the question but the frown did not disappear.

"Hey, dear. What is wrong? Did daddy tell you something today in the morning? Did he do something? You know you can always tell me if something is bothering you, right?", said the woman kneeling to meet her son's eyes.

"Maa. Why are you wearing your sunglasses today?"

"'Cause it is summertime, dear. Why else would I be wearing them?"

"But its not even sunny today. Maa, if I ask you something will you promise not to lie to me?"

The mother didn't reply back immediately. She just stared at her son's face well aware of his question.

Raj went on nonetheless."Did daddy do something to you again? Is that why you are wearing sunglasses again today?"

"No, dear! I am completely fine. Its just that- dear, mommy has a headache today so even a little light is painful. Hence, the glasses. That's all!"

Raj's frown returned to his face as he started to say," But Maa-"

"No more buts", she said standing up and taking Raj's hand in hers," lets go and ride the carousel and then eat something afterwards. Didn't you tell me you were hungry on your way here?"

To this Raj nodded. He knew his mom was lying to him but it was pointless trying to make her to agree that his father was an abusive drunkard who didn't give a fuck about anyone but himself. He couldn't bear the look of sadness and disappointment on his maa's face hence, he held onto her hand tightly while his wobbly legs made its way towards the carousel.

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It was pouring heavily with everyone's feet running towards the nearest shelter. Mothers and fathers carrying their little kids with them. There were umbrellas everywhere.

In the midst of all this sat Raj in one corner, trembling from the sudden change in weather. He had never liked rainy days. On top of all this, he had lost his maa too in the crowd. He didn't have an umbrella and was too scared and shy to ask for help.

He was hiding crouched in his spot when suddenly a pair of small feet came into his vision. He looked up to see a small kid, probably his age, drenched from head to toe, panting heavily, smiling a lopsided smile as he said,"Hi."

"Hey", Raj replied back with a hoarse voice.

"Umm. I am Sam. Sam Mukerjee."

"I-my name is Raj. Raj Dutta."

The two kids continued to stare at each other in silence. After sometime Sam came and sat beside Raj. " Don't you just love rainy days? "

Raj barely shook his head.

"No? Well I love them. The smell of rain water is so sweet to sniff at. Almost like grass after a heavy pour. That's pretty. Have you ever smelled the rain before?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I just didn't."

"Well why don't you just give it a try now."

Raj considered it for a minute and then took a long sniff. He immediately started coughing.

"Well, how was it?"

"It smelled like water to me."

"What? Really? Nothin' special?"

"Nope."

"Aw man. Don't worry Raj you surely have a blocked nose."

"No I don't."

"Did your mommy say you didn't?"

"-no?"

"Then?"

Raj thought about it. It suddenly reminded him that he had to go look for his maa. He stood up at once. "I have got to go now, Sam. I have to go look for my maa."

"Okay bye, Raj", he looked down.

"Well aren't you gonna go find yours?"

"No", his voice quivered a little.

"Why not?"

"Because I have been running away from them."

At this Raj faced the strange boy in front him with new light in his eyes. "Why?", he finally asked all confused.

"They don't want me there anymore."

"Well have they told you that before?"

Sam remained silent for a while before answering,"-no?"

"Then?"

Sam too started thinking of something. Then something flashed across his face. He too stood up and looked at Raj. "Lets go look for your maa, Raj."

"But what about your-"

"Sam?! Sam, is that you?", a female voice called from the back.

Sam froze in his place. He resumed to look at the ground which made Raj too look at the same spot wondering what must be so much more important than his mother that he couldn't even look up at her?

"Sam?", called the woman with the hat again .

Sam continued to look at the unknown treasure buried beneath the ground.

"Raj!"

Raj quickly whipped his head to look behind him. He could see his mom standing in front of him with her purple umbrella. He immediately ran towards her. "Maa!"

"Oh Raj. I am so sorry, dear. You must have been so scared! I promise never to leave you ever again! Here lets get you back home."

Raj's mom took him in her embrace and started walking away. She noticed the other kid and the woman. Something similar to recognition flashed in her eyes and she slightly bowed at the woman and turned around to leave. Raj locked eyes with Sam for the last time sensing something of a goodbye hung at the tip of his tongue and in the hues of his eyes.

The rain had stopped by now and the clouds had made way for the sun to shine pleasantly.

Raj heaved a sigh of relief but he couldn't stop thinking of strange Sam even when he had reached home.

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