Scene III
Early Tuesday Morning,
28th June, 05

TODAY, the rain was falling so heavily, I'd been extremely perpetual about the way the sky was bluntly looking down on me, I stepped out on the balcony, to have a view of the sky, up above it stays, staring down at me with its wing all blue and wide open, and draining me with its holy blue liquid as if waiting for me to arrive, thundering, and drizzling with all its beauty just to make me feel how good a musician she is.

It's 8 O'clock in the morning, and I never expected the weather to make me feel so fresh and delighted, with the smell of the brewed coffee mingling in my nose from the kitchen.

Today, in the evening I had to leave for an official assignment to Kuwait, but now I could spend some time with myself in such a fantastic monsoon morning, and the early morning coffee never tasted so nice.

I was experiencing a lazy but warm and moist morning, I do not know what else I have in store for the day..hmm..but the first thing that flashed in my mind was all my friends and my dear ones, whom I would be missing and my country, and my place which gilts all my memories. Was I happy or was my heart soaked, or is it the raindrops that has made my eyes moist, whatever it maybe I did realized they all means a lot to me.

I pushed myself up from the chair when the telephone rang, "hi" says the voice, "is everything ready, got everything packed, what about the bag, did you buy a bag yesterday to carry all your luggage, did u buy a good pair of jeans, if you haven't then buy a Levis ok, don't eat rubbish things over there otherwise you will become ill.."

I interrupted in between otherwise she would never stop "Dear, how is the weather today, its raining outside and I am having a cup of coffee, I remembered a song for you, shall I sing it", she says "hmm..go ahead", then I started one of my favorite lines of steive wonder, before she could interrupt, "No New Year's Day, to celebrate, No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away, No first of spring, No song to sing, In fact here's just another ordinary day..", now it seems she cooled down from her panic mood and says softly, "I would be missing you, meet me in the afternoon, we shall have lunch together ok, but before that get everything packed, and be ready." She speaks so casually though so caringly; I never realized how could god create such a wonder.

I was happy that my I packed my luggage earlier in the evening before I went to sleep yesterday, so that made be freak out with the weather, for some more time, I was dancing in the rain like a kid, drenching and enjoying the mist of fresh air that drove a snuff of chillness across my hairs, but it was fun, and an experience that perfectly molded with time and grace.

The rose leaf was holding its last drop of water that fell from the fully pink blossom petals, and the cherries in the garden was so red and juicy; it was all a very natural experience which was priceless.

After a while I stepped inside the corridor with my sandals dripping the brownish wet water on the floor, thank god my mother wasn't there, otherwise the state would have been different, she had gone to my native place a few weeks back with my dad for a vacation, but I carefully removed my sandals like a disciplined child and behaved like a grown up and civilized fellow, and did not mess the floor.

I found so many missed call numbers flashing on my mobile phone; it was all my friends who wanted to know about me. I had to call them up. I owe god for such delightful friends he has given me. I dried my hairs and started making a call to each one of them, which was so necessary.

I sat on the carpet lying on the floor; it could never have been better than another cup of coffee, with an early morning newspaper. That was not all, some of my favorite tracks were also playing on the radio, then suddenly it started, 'sapnay hai suni yadeein..jane kyon kho gaye..socha tha sahil mai milega.. anjana sa ek pal..ek pal..' , it's a track by silk route, I couldn't help singing along with the song, pulling my 6 strings out and striking some cords to chill.

There, it was again a call on my mobile phone, it was my mother now, and she cared enough for me, which is why she calls up daily.

The noon was never the same, with the blue sky above, now so silent, and hiding the sun behind her, allowing him to peep some rays to color the sky with a sizzling rainbow, it looked so beautiful, it was a gifted day, but I was feeling so lonely.

Nevertheless, it should have been a thrilling moment but somewhere inside I felt my heart caught in a battle of peace. A peace, which was so restless and so ruthful, which didn't have any meaning. My bike's wheel splits the still water collected on the road, and which moved so steadily.

I reached M.G.Road, Pune. This city makes me feel that its so new all the time, I caught her site, as usual she's dressed up as casual as ever, carrying some gift pack, holding in her hands, with her helmet and her rain-coat hanging out from her bag behind her back. She walked briskly towards me, "hi, so are you ready for your travel", and I said removing my cap, "oo..yes",

"This is what I got for you, I couldn't think of anything else better than this, keep it with you always whenever and wherever u go." I was eager to know what was inside. I slid my bike's key inside my front pocket, taking hold of the gift and opened it.

A feel of glory and wisdom ran inside me, when I saw the gift. It was the best gift that I ever received; it was Lord Ganesha's cute little silver idol inside. I couldn't explain she made my day. It explained from her eyes that she knew I liked the gift, I could feel that she spent heel lot of a time thinking of the best gift for me.

Now I had to treat her with the best vegetarian lunch. Nothing was better than the Grand Hotel, on the main's street. How could she be so comfortable with me? She spoke a lot as usual. At certain times we were silent, not having any words to speak, but then she said, "hmm..tell me are you taking your guitar with you", I said, "I don't know, but yes I will".

As we stepped out of the hotel, I saw my watch, I had still some couple of hours left for my car to arrive and pick me up till the Mumbai airport, just then the rain started pouring again, I had to drop her safely all the way to her house. But, on the way she didn't speak a word, and I was enjoying the soft pelt of raindrops that fell on my face.

When she got down my bike, I was the rain water dripping down from her round black helmet which showed her eyes and her nose and a slight half portion of her lips, she did not bother to remove it and she didn't want to, I could see her eyes speak everything, and her nose running wet, with her hairs all tangled inside the helmet, and dripping few drops of water from behind, and her silly yellow raincoat hanging loose on her.

My black addidas cap was wet and it stuck on my head like glue, with the rains still pouring above us. She finally spoke, "you take care of yourself", I said, "hmm.. i will, and I will call you when I reach there ok".

I had the best friend who really cared for me. We will never understand the bond that binds our relation, so pure and so fragile that we quarrel a lot sometimes. But this is how it was. I waved her goodbye, and she ran inside waving her hands, without looking back.

The rain was falling without any pity. My bike wanting to race on the road wild, and my head still and steady, and not moving, I drove back home. Wiped my hairs and lay still on the bed for a while, relaxing and throwing away all the tiredness of all the day, with the little cute idol of Lord Ganseha in my front pocket giving me the sense of her presence with me, always.

To be continued;