The story goes back two years. The location was CP, New Delhi. The main characters in the story are Sidharth (Sid), Harsh (Doctor) n Me. The three of us had gone to visit IMS, Connaught Place, and had stopped on the way to grab a quick bite. It started raining. Not exactly hard... but a little more that a drizzle. Now while Sid n I were fretting and fuming and wishing the rain would stop so that we could continue our onward march, Harsh was excited. So excited in fact that he couldn't wait for us to finish our plates to go out and get wet in the rain. We, of course were taking like an eternity to finish the meal... hoping the rain gods would hear our prayers and go away in time.
We ran up a thousand and one excuses... the phone will get wet... the clothes will get dirty... these are leather shoes... we might catch a cold... the books will get spoilt... but to no avail. Doc was unrelenting that day. Follows a description of the scenario in his own words:
“The two wouldn't budge from their places in the restaurant. I ventured out and coaxed them in every possible way to enjoy this ultimate bliss. Instead Pankaj blasted the biggest overstatements of all- "Harsh! There is some difference between bravery & cowardice". I was aghast. I just kept standing there to enjoy whatever rain was left. On my repeated requests – “There is hardly any rain, your majesty can safely step out", there would be a regal ceremony of throwing out the tip of a reluctant index finger to validate my claims. It would have shamed the strictest of quality control inspections.
Finally after half an hour of deliberations, the two stepped out. But not without due precautions. They had stuffed their mobiles in the deepest dungeons of their bags, which in turn was safely enplasticated in a polybag. This grand entry was met with a statement befitting of their royal persona. "Doctor, lead us". The obstacle in question was of no larger proportions than a one and a half foot puddle."
And what a change it has been. It has been but two years since the said incident. And now, whenever, wherever I see rain, I am among the first one to jump into it, notwithstanding the cellphone, shoes, books, clothes, the works… These things can wait. Just like what happened today… I was on the balcony at 3 AM, enjoying the lovely pleasant breeze and the fine spray-like rain. And I wanted to get out there. I wanted to get wet (Ahem!) Called up Parvez (almost asleep) and caught Peeku (till then peacefully watching NBA) along.
Never mind the injured ankle and the phone in the hand, out we marched in the drizzle enjoying every moment of it, despite my partners occasional screams of protests and complaints. And even as the rain grew stronger, we marched on. Tell u what, it was heavenly. Pure bliss. Gaaawd!! I m gonna miss this place… miss this place like hell. The walk in the clouds and the rain was followed by a cosying up session with piping hot bournvita in the mess. Awww, I loved it. Loved every second of it.
I call myself a Hopeless Romantic. They call me Chu****! Never mind!
Thought of the day – Ten, twenty, forty years hence, you won’t be thinking about what you did today… you’ll only be thinking about what you didnt.
