A Parting

“It was raining that day”, rued Rohan in a trembling voice directing his gaze to the floor. “It was raining that day when my mom left. I was small, almost 6 years and my mother was down with high fever. The doctor said it was pneumonia, we had no money to get her to a hospital. I was born out of wedlock and my father abandoned us when she was pregnant. I did not know where to find him, I did not know what to do, where to go. And my mother lay silently there on the bed covered in a blanket, waiting in peace. She held my hand in her skinny weak hands, and I kept weeping at the sight of her. With eyes half opened, she looked at me and in a moment, clutched me in her arms with all her strength left and kissed me on the forehead. I could feel her fading breath on me. She said with tears in her eyes, “Now, my son, you have to be on your own. Fight. And don’t you worry my son, God is with you. He will take care of you. And do not forget your mother, I love you so much. I love you always.” And I cried harder, making her wet with my tears. I held her so tight that I didn’t want her to go. I cried at my helplessness. There was nothing I could do. And suddenly, her grip on me loosened. I looked to her face. She was gone! My mother was gone! It was raining that day. It was raining that day and it is raining today, and someone is going to leave me again”, said Rohan, water flowing down his cheeks, now staring at Anuradha who was clad in a bright red bride’s dress. “I am sorry”, she said wiping her tears. “I dreamt of marrying you, and things have so turned out, nobody even recognizes me here. To the people outsise, I don’t exist”, said Rohan glancing through the window to the place, where guests at the wedding were seeking shelter from the downpour. “The rain today is gloomy again. Heartbreaking“, with a slight pause he continued “You remember we bunked lectures when it used to rain, those bike rides when you held me tight, we soaked in water together. And then when professor caught us sneaking out of college.” Rohan looks at Anuradha and both start to chuckle, memories flowing in. “The rain used to be happy then, when I was with you.” “You remember our first kiss? It was so wet! Wet as the caress of the rain” said Rohan with a sparkle in his eye, staring hard at Anuradha’s lips as if asking for a last kiss. “I can’t, I am getting married today” Anuradha said in a hesitant tone, but with a long second thought she moves forward towards him tilting her head a little and closes her eyes expecting a reciprocal movement. Rohan moves forward to meet her lips with his and they lock, “Those lips aren’t mine anymore! You aren’t mine anymore” he withdraws abruptly opening his eyes with a sudden realization. “I should be going now, have a good life. In next life, may be. Happy married life.” he says while standing up to leave, “It is raining today!”