Arthit sighed for the umpteenth time that day. He hated monsoon season. He felt like for some reason, people were more irritated and hard to deal with. Maybe because the gloomy feelings that came along with rain.
And Arthit felt gloomier. Because there were more people complaining, more repair work to do and even more cleaning to do.
And more scoldings too.
Because the ground floor was never clean. Specially the floor around the entry and exit gate. No matter how many times he cleaned it, it became dirty within minutes.
And even though Arthit was cleaning that area 3 times a day, and even though there was a huge mat placed there, it was still dirty.
And it all came down to him-Arthit, the janitor of the apartment building.
It was only half-day and he was tired already. Thank god it was the lunch time. Some respite for his aching feet.
He slowly trudged along to the terrace. He had a room there. It was small, but he was content and almost happy.
He had food to eat and a place to sleep. What more can one want?
He entered his room and prepared his lunch, then sat on his bed to eat it. And looked out of the window near his bed.
It was raining again. He sighed. Not even an hour ago, he had cleaned the ground floor and now it will be dirty again.
In just 7 minutes he finished his lunch. He was that hungry. As he was getting up, his eyes landed on a lone figure.
His window faced the numerous balconies of the opposite building. But among all those balconies, only one person was standing outside and watching the rain.
Curiously, Arthit moved closer to the window to watch him. He was quite tall and was talking to someone on phone.
Then quite unexpectedly, he rubbed his eyes. Once, twice,thrice, numerous times throughout the call.
Was he crying? Arthit wondered.
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Arthit saw him many times after that. But only when it was raining.
He would stand on the balcony and cry silently. And Arthit would stand by his window to watch him.
What misery does he have related to rain that he cried everytime?
And for some reason, it saddened Arthit too. He wondered how his smiling face would look like.
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It was almost lunchtime, and Arthit was cleaning the floor near entry, when it started raining.
He sighed. Not again.
But it made him remember something else too. That person. Was he crying again?
Arthit dashed his way to his room. Immediately he went to the window to see that person.
And there he was, leaning on a wall in the balcony, and sobbing violently.
It was a minute's decision. He didn't gave it much thought. He stepped out of his room, into the open terrace, in the rain.
And did something very out of his character. If you had asked him about it even a month before, Arthit would have called you insane.
But right now, here he was, moving his body in the rain, dancing.
Immediately, he caught that person's attention. He stopped crying. Arthit watched from the corner of his eyes, as that person came near the railing, And watched him.
Arthit smiled, even if momentarily, that person had forgotten his sadness.
Next time it rained, and Arthit went out in the terrace, that person was already leaning on the balcony and looking this way, as if hoping and expecting for Arthit to appear soon.
Arthit glanced at him and smiled. He was not crying. If that is all required to stop his misery, then he don't mind dancing everyday.
Then onwards, it became a habit for both of them. Whenever it rained, no matter where Arthit was, whatever he was doing, he would go to the terrace to dance. And after few minutes, come back, change his clothes and resume his work.
And that person, would be always there too, like a habit.
One particular day, the rainfall was heavy. Arthit was contemplating whether to go or not. But one look outside his window and his decision was made.
He went outside and did his ritual.
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Arthit was lying on bed, sick. The result of his foolishness. But it's worth it. If he was capable of reducing even one person's misery, he wouldn't mind.
There was a knock on the door and his friend Bright entered.
"How are you Arthit?"
"Very bad"
"Serves you right. Who told you to get wet in the rain", he said then rummaged through the packets he brought.
"Oh yes. I think you should see this", Bright said extending a magazine to him.
"What is it?", Arthit took it.
First he was confused, then he frowned, then his eyes widened in realisation.
"Hey!! That's me!!"
Arthit exclaimed. For the cover of a very popular magazine sported his photo. Dancing in the rain. Probably taken a few days back.
The photo showed a man from the back, getting wet in the rain, hands stretched, looking up and smiling, as if enjoying.
"What?? What....I don't understand", said Arthit nonplussed.
"There's more", bright motioned him to look at the back.
Arthit did. It was about the photographer. He had explained about the picture, which he had titled ' rain angel'.
Arthit read on.
Past few weeks were a hell for me. I had lost my best friend and partner during a rainy day. And rainy days were unbearable for me. Until I saw him. He replaced my unhappy memory with a happy one.
This photo is my tribute to him, my rain angel.
Thank you
Phana
It took Arthit some time to understand everything. That person he was trying to cheer up was this hotshot photographer.
Arthit didn't knew how to take it. But this was a thankful gesture, so he'll accept it.
Arthit looked out of the window. It had started raining again.
I wonder if he'll wonder about my absence.
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Arthit was healthy again and had resumed his work. But there was one thing Bothering him. It hadn't rained for a while, and Arthit was kinda missing Phana.
I wish it would rain. Arthit hoped desperately.
His wish was granted, as it started drizzling sometime in the late afternoon. He ran to the terrace. Only to find it empty.
He waited and waited, but he didn't came. He was mighty disappointed and felt like crying himself when someone tapped him on his shoulder.
Arthit turned back and oh
It was Phana, smiling. Arthit smiled back.
"Wanna dance together", Phana asked
"Sure"
Now Arthit didn't hated rain anymore.
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