Unspoken Droplets

2.

The sun rose among the cloudy sky and set the wet grass from a late night shower sparkling. Akio stepped into school again. Those same corridors where the talks are, same whispers among ears every time he passes by.
The mistakes he made, the deed committed would never leave his shadow, he soon came to know that. It was meant to haunt him for life, "but wasn't I suppose to get used to it?" He questioned his mind with a known answer
"I might never get used to it cause it stings".

The showering sound of rain, maybe that could overlap those lips that even after being quiet in classes haunted his head. The echoes in his head was ever lasting, but he somehow still moved on with a blank hope of stopping this one day.

Having full periods before lunch break, somehow he managed to remain this long and when the bell rang his feet slipped out from the walls again. Teachers never stopped him, as they take no interest in this particular student.
Time does not heal, it just makes us able to survive with it. It never seemed to heal for him either.
The rain stopped but the clouds wouldn't stay quiet.
His mind and his heart, both, leaded him to where he was yesterday and days till he could even remember, to same the bridge away from city roads.
Not even close he approached when the clouds started pouring again, this time even harder the last.
There was only one tiny shed nearby to escape it, that too at other side.
He hurried over to it, passing the bridge with his bag held over his head and only halted under the shed provided with a long bench under it for people to rest if desired.  This place was a park once, years before. Nowadays, no one prefers spending time under a hill,  behind woods where nature could cause calamity any moment. Only this shed was left alone for the sake of disturbed souls who might  want to rest here or for those who had memories attached to this nature.

Clothes went soaked, his white shirt stuck to his bare skin like syrup, even the hair couldn't last dry. He began with wiping off rolling raindrops from his face by a handkerchief first. Just when he was about to put it back, his eyes struck to someone. There was a person on the other side who was much in a hurry to escape the rain as well.
For the moment, out of the blue a slight sparkle of hope emerged for it to be her, as the closing in figure resembled much to be sure.

His eyes proved so correct he was with time, the same lady whose thoughts lurked in his mind for long, without any firm reason. 

Its the same boy, even her mind spoke the exact. Her suit was totally drenched, it was a uniform at last, any suit such this might cost heavy for drycleaning, unless she is wealthy though.
She quickly placed down her bag to take off her blazer and spread it over the bench with a hope to dry it in time. The suit managed to safeguard the inner shirt, although it was a bit drenched but not at the places where it shouldn't be.
Her continues trials to wipe off her wet face and skin drove Akio impatient somehow.
He parted his eyes from her.
"Here" he gladly put forward his handkerchief to help.
Her hand reached out to his as she accepted it with that exact smile from earlier.
Her fingers were empty, did she forget her ring again? Or was it intentional?.

Time passed very slow as the rain deepened even more.
They both were resting over the bench, gazing outside at the mesmerizing scene of monsoon. 
"No school today?" She questioned at a sudden. It started him for a bit breaking from his diverted mind.
"I skipped classes. Is your office closed today?" He laid a question for her after his gentle reply. She smiled out.
"I am skipping work and its raining heavy too" she replied opening her shoulder bag. She sneak her hand inside, curiously searching for something. Her curious search struck an idea of utilizing this time to sketch a bit, so he turned back to pull out his sketchbook.
The very next thing he sensed was the smell of a cigarette.
She was smoking, without hesitation. She blew out the smoke and he kept starring. Not for long if that is, she caught up to his stare. How unusual, he thought yet could comment nothing about it, as he was quiet used to this smell, which he faces every night coming from his father back at home.
"How did you find this place?" He tried to drift out this awkwardness instead.
"This place? I used to come here, everyday. After school, as a hideout you can say" she replied with a sweet gaze around the area. It brought back memories for her.
"And now your here to slack off from work?" he gave a silly mock.
She giggled with a slight nod, it was lucky enough to work for her.
She must miss those days too. At least she had way lot better things to remember and smile, not everyone receives such luxury. Some of us, just wants those days to be forgotten when it stings the most.

Her cigarette was burning to the ground while he busied himself running his pencils over his personal notebook.
Both busy at their own spheres.
What an elegant look, but with those glooming eyes like she suppressed so much and it has been moulded by tears, clearly she does not realize how astonishing she is or it was this reason that felt like somewhat a curse.   He ended up trying to replicate her eyes with his pencils to show the hidden shades but couldn't.
The raindrops lightened over the stream for them to calm down. Corners of the shed started leaking its final drops.
The day broke late.
"I must be leaving. The rain stopped anyway" he informed while standing up for a leave.
"Back to school?" She elegantly asked.
"I will be heading home" he gave his last words before stepping out of the shed.
"I hope we will meet again" she interrupted from behind.
"Perhaps, when it rains".

The sun appeared only to show it setting. He didn't go back home. He just let his feet wander around places.
This is not what I should be doing ' even his mind complained about his present condition, skipping classes and running away from himself, that was never like him.
It only brought back times when he was just opposite with a mere sense of guilt and regret. The times he was determined, careless yet free, surrounded by his chosen friends and always  tendered by his loving mother, all before he began losing them one after another like the monsoon slowly gushes away its droplets.
Thoughts  wouldn't stop bullying him every time nostalgia got over, he only cursed himself and the cause for his change.
"Why did it all turn out this way?"
"What if I never tortured that girl?".