No.. No... This is not a technical post. Sometimes, I just get carried away and publish posts related to the technical stuff that I learn. So, to compensate for the technical post (that was published earlier today), here is a story. I have not yet decided the name of it.
Here is begins:
She was getting back from the library when it all began. What started as a cool breeze and a mild drizzle on a hot summer afternoon, in no time, turned into a continuous downpour accompanied by lightning and thunder... The sky was dark and the visibility low due to the mist covering the windowpanes of the bus. She could hear the pitter-patter of rain drops onto the roof of the bus and see water trickling through the tiny gap between the shut windowpanes.
She wiped the water vapour on the window with her hands and noticed the condition on the roads. There was water everywhere and in some places the underground drainage manholes were overflowing. She noticed many people abandoning their bikes and other two-wheelers and rushing for the shelter of shops and roadside restaurants. The rainwater was flowing from the footpaths onto the roads steadily and in the low-lying areas, the water was knee-deep. At one such area, where they stopped for traffic signal, the water was above the level of the exhaust pipe of a car and the driver had to stop the vehicle, push it to the edge of the road and wait for the water to subside. She hoped that the rain would stop before the bus reached her stop. But no, it continued to rain when she got down the bus. She sprinted for the nearby pavement which was already full of people.
Her wet salwar-kameez stuck to body like second skin and the chiffon duppatta did little to conceive the curves of her body which were already eyebrow-raising due to the wetness making the fabric almost transparent. She cursed herself for wearing such a dress. At the same time she was a little relieved that she had indeed worn a long cotton petticoat underneath, even though she was half-mind that afternoon to wear it in the hot sultry weather.
How weather changes at the drop of a hat!!! Who would have believed that this raining day started out as a hot morning?
"What time is it?" asked the old lady standing next to her.
She checked her watch. It was getting close to 6 O' clock. She told the old lady the time and at the same time was wondering how to save her books from getting soaked in the rain water. The polythene bag that she was carrying did not have any holes. But the water dripping from her arms may seep in through the gaps in the opening of the bag. I have to somehow protect my books she thought.
"Where do you stay, my child?" enquired the same old lady who seemed to be quite interested in her. "Amba Gardens. It is around ten minutes walk from here" she replied.
"I know Amba Gardens. In fact, my home falls on the way to your home. Why don't we start walking back home?"
"But it is raining..."
"We don't know when it's going to stop. It is also getting dark, dear. The more we wait, the more difficult is will be to get back."
She realized that there was truth in what the old lady was telling. May be she should accompany her... And... May be she could stop by at the old lady's place and get another sturdy water-proof cover for my books... Her eyes brightened and a smile spread across her face... Yes! She would surely go along with the old lady.
"Please hold my hand," the old lady begged, "I tend to lose my balance while walking on slippery roads." She held the lady's hand. Muddy muddles were form here and there on the road and at some places the water was above the level of the footpath. The rain continued to lash against their bodies. She shivered in the cold.
They walked in silence. After a couple of minutes of walking, the old lady pointed to a 5-storey building and said, "That's my apartment! I live in the 3rd floor." She had a feeling that she had already been to that apartment. However much she tried, she could not exactly remember who stayed there and in which floor she had been to visit them.
"Thank you very much, my child," exclaimed the old lady, shaking hands with her. "You are welcome! Could I have a polythene bag for my books?" she asked, "They may get soaked due to rain." "Oh sure!"
She followed the old lady into the building, climbing three flight of stairs, for there was no power. The building had an eerie look, especially because of the weather. She was wondering if she had done the right thing to get into this lady's house. Looking back, she realized that the old lady was the one who seemed to take a lot of interest in her. She hoped the lady was not enticing her into the house to take advantage of her. What if the lady was a part of a kidnapping gang? Or worse, a gang that was into selling women for flesh-trade. Oh my God! How thoughts fly!
"Please do come in," offered the lady, after opening the main door of the apartment, "Please make yourself comfortable; I will get a towel for you to dry yourself." She looked around the house. It looked like a two bedroom flat with a huge kitchen and an L-shaped drawing room. She did not sit on the sofa; not wanting to spoil it with her wet clothes. She stood at one place watching the water dripping from the clothes onto the marble floor. The old lady came out of a bedroom with a towel in one hand.
"Take this and use this bathroom adjacent to the wash basin," she pointed, "I can't wait to get out of these wet clothes!"
"It's okay auntie; it's getting late; I have to leave..."
But the lady was already gone and her voice was too low to be heard!!!
She went into the bathroom and wrung the water out of her dupatta and ends of her salwar-kameez. She wiped her arms and face with the towel. She was not going to get out of this dress. No way! Every now and then, she peeked out of the bathroom, to ensure that the main door was still ajar and there was no one else around.
Will be Continued in the next post... Do give your valuable comments... :D
