Petrichor

"Hey nerd, hungry?"

I didn't even bother to look up from the book I was reading. No one would've, considering the part I was in.

"Not much, what do we have with us?"

I felt him sit down in front of me on the bed. Bark purred beside me and resumed her sleep. The rain continued to beat against the window to my right.

"Jam cakes and two bars of Snickers," he said.

I finished reading the page and put the book down beside me, marking the page. I stretched my legs forward so that they were on his laps and rubbed my eyes. I'd been reading for hours, and jam cakes sounded nice.

"Pass them to me," I yawned.

The whole room was dark except for the corner we were sitting in. There was a huge window beside the bed, and there were little golden fairy lights hanging around the frame. The curtains were pulled up, giving a clear view of the rain soaked night sky. I could hear the wind trying to break in, with the constant hum of the rain. Bark had been sleeping beside me throughout.

The fairy lights were enough to read, and his face basked in its warm glow. He was in his usual trousers and a navy blue shirt, with the first button undone. We were sitting face to face, with just the cat in the middle.

"Yeah, sure," he grinned and abruptly crawled up to me. He gently pulled up Bark by her tummy and put her aside. She didn't even opened her eyes.

He unpacked the box he had with him and produced two peach colored jam cake out of it. He held one of them near my mouth, and munched on one himself. I bit down half of it and moaned. It was delicious.

"Mhm, this is heaven," I chewed hungrily " Why don't we have more?" I finished the whole cake from his hand.

"Because we have snickers, and we've already had dinner." He laughed. "This is the midnight snack, I thought you'd like. You've been reading since forever."

I checked the time on my phone. It was 10 past 12. I had been completely engrossed in the book.

"Well, thanks. But I don't feel sleepy, like, at all," I looked up at him.

He leaned over and kissed me softly.
"It's okay, babe. We don't have any work tomorrow, so we can stay up late. Moreover I can't sleep without you beside me anyway."

I smiled, and looked out the window. The whole world seemed to change at night, what with the rain and less people about. I couldn't see the sky properly, it was raining so hard. I almost expected an angel to fly down from the clouds.

"Can you stay with me? Here? For the night?" I don't even know why I asked.

He just laughed and pulled me closer to him. I snuggled closer to his chest and sighed. He smelled of soap and sweet cologne.

"The night is so nice, ain't it? I whispered.

"Very. It's a pity it won't long last long."

He pulled back and held me at length.

"Wait a minute." He said, suddenly, and let go of me.

"Uh, what?" I arched an eyebrow.

Then he proceeded to do something for which I'd have killed him, if I hadn't been sprawled on the bed and a little faster. He jumped up and unlocked the window. The panes fluttered open inside like the wings of a butterfly and the full blast of wind hit me in my face.

"YOU PIECE OF—WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!" I screamed. The rain was in my face, and I tried to block it with my hands. My t shirt was already getting wet, and so were my bare thighs.

"THIS IS SO FUN! THE RAIN IS NICE! FEEL IT BABE!" he laughed over the wind.

Bark gave an angry mewl of protest and ran away to somewhere safe as soon as the rain hit her.

"NO HONESTLY THE RAIN IS EVERYWHERE AGH I'M GONNA GET A COLD!" I tried to stand up on my knees and face the window. My face was dripping wet, and my hair was in a splotchy tangle already.

He was standing with his hands spread out, welcoming the wind on his face. He had a stupid grin plastered on his face, as if he was flying. He was probably the angel I was expecting.

I suddenly felt myself smile. It wasn't like the rain was killing me, anyway. I've always liked rain. The sound, smell, after effects, everything about rain.

I unpinned my hair and let it down. I could just as much keep my eyes open to peep through. I let the rain engulf me, as it dripped down my body, the wind making me shiver, and making my veins run hot at the same time. I almost forgave him.

And that's when it hit me.

"Do you feel it?" I heard him asking me.

"Petrichor". I smiled.

That was the best part of the rain. I inhaled sharply and let it fuel my system. The smell conjured up images of dew and freshly cut grass and late night deep talks and silences impregnated with words. And maybe influenza too.

The clock ticked on as both of us held hands in front of the window, till I realized the bed was getting soaked too.

"Guess we should close it now," I said, wiping my face. The wind had stopped, but the rain was still angry.

"Guess we should, but hey, it was fun," he smiled at me. I smiled back at him.

I got up from the bed while he closed the panes. I went to the washroom to change out of my  dripping t shirt and shorts.

I took a warm bath and came out. The window was closed and I found him sitting on the couch in the living room. He had changed into his pajamas, and fiddling with his fingers.

I went over to the kitchen and boiled two mugs of hot chocolate. I desperately needed one.

I took the steaming mugs to the couch and handed one to him.

"Thanks," he smiled. "I love this night."

"Same." I took a sip. "I just, the rain, it's lovely."

We sat in silence, sipping the mug and listening to the rain in the distance. A pretty lace lamp was lit beside the couch, and it provided just enough light to figure each other out. And the vague silhouette of Bark on the carpet in front of us.

I finished my hot chocolate and placed the mug on the table beside me. He did the same, and I went over to sit against him. I leaned my back against his chest and made myself comfortable on the couch. He put his arms around my waist and held me tightly.

"What is it with us and the rain?" I wondered out loud.

"Maybe the ambience? I don't know, I feel so happy when it rains." He stroked my damp hair.

"Mhmm. The endless drops are so beautiful, unlike anything I've seen,"

"Are you sleepy yet?" He whispered in my ear.

"Not really, but I wouldn't mind staying here forever."

I felt his him vibrate as he chuckled. I closed my eyes, and breathed in. The petrichor was still about, mixed with the smell of chocolate and cologne. The rain continued to hammer against my heart as I felt his chest slowly rise and fall.

I felt a soft thud on my tummy as Bark curled up in a ball and fell asleep on me. The three of us depicted a perfect family picture gone wrong in a most pleasant way.