The wind howled behind the bolted window. Grey, bleak clouds casted shadows over the whole world, enveloping it in a shivering light. The sun fought through the clouds, but the battle was won by the capes of gales racing across the day. Bird scattered poetically over the sky and people smiled at the welcoming weather as they went about their lives.
From her bedroom window, young Noruda stared impassively at the scene. Her long curly brown hair fell over her back; her skin glowed brown and beautiful in the pale light of the evening. Her bed lay unmade beneath her, the distinct smell of salt drifted up to her room. The light fell into her room and stood in the centre. It spread from where it stood and twirled around the four walls, bouncing off everything and giving it all an ethereal glow.
As a gust of wind parted her hair, the deep grumbling of thunder paraded around her room before saluting in her ears. With her eyes fluttering shut, she let the faint rain dribble onto her face.
Drip Drop
Now the rain fell. The first few fast runners made it to the ground and before anyone could comprehend the drops on their heads, the rest of the crowds followed and stamped over their heads. Plants dipped under the water and people scattered for shelter as the wind growled with more ferocity and the brontide grew closer.
The whole expanse of the scene was highly calming to Noruda and she rested her head on the window sill and let the torrent of rain wash over her head. The smell of rain from the street and the sound it made as it fell onto tarps and rooftops travelled like a lullaby to Noruda and she would have fallen asleep on the sill itself, if not for the calm strolling in of an idea into her head. A smile lighting up her face, she grabbed a pair of shoes and ran to the roof of her apartment, her mother's warning to wear a coat stuck in the air behind her.
Out in the open, the rain was heavier, the wind saltier and the boom of the thunder more powerful. Within seconds she was soaked and water seeped in to her socks. The wind parted tangles in her hair and she resisted the urge to run over to the railing and scream out to the world. A warm feeling blossomed in her chest and it bleed out from her smile and crinkling eyes. Soon it stood next to her and she played with it, kicking up water sprays and counting the seconds between each burst of thunder.
A few minutes into fooling around, a bright flash of lightning lit up the sky and like a hammer into the earth, the thunder pounded a few seconds later. Noruda started laughing, euphoria leaking out her body as she played more and more.
Soon enough and none too soon according to her, her best friend Azuma climbed up the stairway to the rooftop, the intense rain soaking him in seconds. She could barely hear his voice over the pounding of the rain, yet she smiled at him and gestured him to join her. Both kids enjoyed the rain as it fell over them in cold sheets.
Eventually, they grew tired and laid on the clammy ground, taking shelter under a satellite dish, staring into the grey mass of clouds. Stories and jokes were exchanged (some well chosen insults too) and life couldn't have been better.
The pouring rain stopped without a warning, and both of them waited till the last raindrop had fallen. Getting up, Azuma rummaged through his bag, digging past promises and childhood secrets till his hand closed around a towel. Handing it to Noruda, he shook his own head to let the wet drops fly to the wind.
When she was done, he took her hand and led her back to the warmth of their homes, lest she catch a cold. The wind carried the clouds away; the sun finally broke through the walls of clouds, and began drying up the world, which has been left sparkling clean by the torrent of rain. Both kids laughed as they returned home. Everything was good.
