The alarm went off in his mobile, vibrating and slowly increasing in volume. He glanced back at the bedside to see the light flashing. He had woken up an hour ago to the sound of thunder and was staring out of the window when the alarm went off. He was looking at the drops of rain collect on the window beams before dropping down. The rain hadn't stopped. It was now 14 hours strong. And it hadn't stopped or slowed down in the night. He knew. He hadn't slept much last night.
He let out a sigh and went to the kitchen to make his morning coffee. He returned to the window to continue his gazing. He thought back about last night. Somehow it had managed to worm it's way into his head and remained there. He had deliberated quite a bit as to whether to offer the girl a lift or not. He had even got into his car, gave it a couple of minutes before firing his engine. He had then lowered the window and shouted out, "You want a lift or something..?".
The girl, sorry woman had looked at him with doubt in her eyes, unsure whether to take his offer up or not. He realized then that he must have cut a scary image with his unruly hair, scruffy beard and drenched from head to toe. Before he could say anything more, either to reassure her or to withdraw his offer, he himself didn't know, another car had slid out of the office building.
"Malini, you not yet gone home? Shall I drop you?" a female voice emerged from the car. The woman turned towards the car and started walking towards it, pausing to turn and utter a single word,"Thanks".
He sipped at the cup, drawing only froth and air, not realizing that it was empty. He smiled to himself and proceeded to get ready for office.
By the time he reached office, the rain looked as though it was loosing it's vigor and was slowing down. When he came out after lunch for his smoke, the sun was already out and looked well set to dry out the evidence of the onslaught.
However during his evening coffee break, when he and a couple of his colleagues stepped out to the terrace, the sky was darkening and dark clouds gathering all over. He smiled to himself when the sky broke open with small drops, picking up pace and soon became a good paced drizzle.
Seated in his 6X6 cubicle, he kept stealing glances amidst the curtained ceiling high glass panes to see if it was still raining. The tiny pitter patter on the glass gave him a warm feeling.
He left the office a bit earlier than last night and proceeded to drive with his window down, not even having the customary driving smoke. He reached the teashop where he had stopped last night and alighted. He got a pack of smoke and ordered a tea.
He had no idea why he was there. He had no idea what he was expecting to happen. He just realized that he had been looking forward to this tea and smoke from morning. Or rather from last night. He realized that he wanted to see that woman...no, see Malini once again. He thought of how ridiculous he was being, how stupid it was to expect to see her today. What scared him even more was he had no idea what he would do if indeed he saw her again.
It was already the fourth smoke and the second tea and time was past 10:30. He laughed at himself and shook his head. He turned back to the shopkeeper who had surprisingly kept the shop open later than last night. He paid for the teas and got another half packet of cigarettes and turned to finish his last smoke.
That's when he saw her. She came out of the office, holding an umbrella, straining hard to keep herself dry. He turned quickly back to the shopkeeper, as though avoiding her stare. He ordered for another tea and waited till he got the tea glass in his hand before turning, hoping she was still there. She was.
She was standing at the bus stop, looking out to see if any buses were on their way. She kept peeking out of the umbrella, as though that action would make the bus come sooner. That's when her eye fell on his car. He had parked the car a little further away but there couldn't be anyway it could be missed. It was tough to miss out on a yellow esteem, however dark or raining it is. She surely should have recognized the car, he thought.
She continued to stare out at the empty highway looking both ways, as though the rules of traffic had changed and buses could come from any direction. That's when her eyes rested on the car and stayed fixed. There, she has recognized the car, he thought to himself, allowing himself a smile. She darted her head around trying to search for the owner of the car, not realizing that Ratna was in the teashop near her office gates, behind her.
"Sir, Glass sir." a voice interrupted Ratna. The shopkeeper had finally had enough for the day and had decided to shut shop. Ratna gulped the cold tea down and kept the glass back. He had been startled by the voice and it looked as though it had managed to startle her too. She had turned back at the sound and realized that there was a shop near the gates. But she had quickly turned away.
Ratna paid up and walked back to his car. He slowed his pace as he walked past her trying to catch a glance of her from his corner eyes, not minding the rain getting him wet. He reached to his car, shuffled his pockets searching for the key, quickly glancing back at her in between. She was looking at him too.
He got into the car, still not sure as to what to do. He started the car and slowly pulled out. Should he or shouldn't he? He needn't have bothered. He saw her put her left hand out with the thumb stuck out.
He stopped the car and opened the door. She got in, folded the umbrella, turned and said, " Hi , I am Malini"
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