We Were Raindrops

Drizzle to Downpour

I had never really been much of a fan of the rain. I didn't hate it, either. I was just tolerant, I guess. Until the very day, the soft drizzle turned into a downpour. That day the raindrops ran down my body and crept into my heart, conquering a permanent place.

It was early June, it had been raining all day. Most of my friends were excited to spend time with their lovers in the romantic weather, sharing an umbrella and all the silly notions of teenage obsession that came with it.

I was not particularly happy about the rain, the thought of being stuck wearing wet socks had annoyed me to no extent. So when the school bell finally rang, I walked down the stairs incredibly slowly. The portico was packed with students like me, smiling or grimacing at the grey overcast sky.

I was probably frowning too, when  I heard someone call my name.

'Oyin! Let's walk back together.'

This brought a smile to my lips, for it was one of those people who could make my darkest of days, sunny and colourful. I smiled at him and mumbled a small yes.

As we stepped out in the rain, I made sure to open my umbrella and avoid puddles at all cost. My best friend laughed at my silly efforts. When we crossed the school gates, we met up with more of our friends. This was our daily routine. All of us, walking back together to our cars. That day had seemed like no exception.

There was six of us in total. Five of whom, lacked umbrellas. As I was careful and precautious, they were open and carefree.

My best friend said," You know, there are somethings in life that we should enjoy. Holding back from them, isn't right. So you should probably put down your umbrella and break that wall you have built around yourself."

I stared at him, dumbstruck, wondering when my idiot of a best friend had started spewing profound stuff.

"Chata ta bondho kor ar bhije dekh, moja hobe. Really, close that umbrella,  sis," yelled a friend of mine, breaking me out of my reverie.

Then, all at once they started tugging at my umbrella, trying to take it away to no avail. But they had managed to get me half wet with their efforts. They had started laughing at my efforts to keep the umbrella in its place, trying to keep it straight in the windy downpour. Unable to contain myself, I had joined in, finally putting my umbrella away.

As soon as the fat, cold drops of rain hit my body, I had an intuition, I knew that afternoon, would always be imprinted in my memory.

The laughter and the pattering drops of rain served as music as we danced and pranced about, on the road. I had jumped into the puddles which I had initially set out to avoid.

When we finally arrived to the stop, we had found the area empty with large puddles. The boys, being boys, had tried to imitate Tiger Shroff. Jumping in the water and kicking in the air. Splashing all of us in the process. The childlike activities of sixteen year old boys, had made me collapse, laughing.

We had been jumping and dancing like crazy maniacs, drenched, when our cars finally arrived. Cheeks flushed, hearts contented, hair soaking, school shirts almost see-through, socks wet, shoes muddy, lips raised in a smile, we had boarded different cars, not bothering to say goodbye. All lost in our tiny bubbles of happiness.

When I think about that afternoon now, I feel my heart hammering loud in my chest, I feel the adrenaline rush in my body. That afternoon had felt like magic. I had felt right at place and comfortable and maybe that's why I had finally put away the umbrella and jumped into the puddles with the incredible people I share the memory with. They had managed to make that moment feel Infinite, somehow. They had turned a drizzle of rain into the downpour of love, friendship and warmth amidst the cold droplets.

Since then, I have loved the rain.

Author's Note-
This story goes out to the friends with whom I shared that afternoon with. Meaning of the Bengali line is "Close your umbrella and have fun."

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Happy Reading.

Love,
Oyin.