Living in the Rain...
The door slammed behind me once again, as I walked away from the world I knew all too well. I needed an escape. I felt as if my mind and my soul were being smothered. I looked at my car as i walked down from the porch. It was a gleaming black Scorpio which had seen some of the best moments of my life. I climbed into the 2800cc beast and gunned it down the long drive, not knowing where I would end up, but knowing anywhere would be better than here.
Night had begun to fall, and as the miles that separated me from home increased, I began to relax. It seemed as though my car knew where to take me, because the drive was effortless. Soon I had crossed the city limits and was powering the turbo charged MM V6 down the expressway. Then I turned right from the expressway into the much smaller and quiet country side. It was our get-away territory. I soon
ended up along the narrow road adjacent to the river. It was one of the roads I had driven during my college days with THE GANG. I hadn't been on this road for years. My life now, as an adult, was too busy to take time out for joy rides. I had board meetings to attend, taxes to pay ,wife Kavya and my sweet li'l brat Aryan to look after.
I smiled as I drove past the places that I'd spent so many weekends, parked with friends along this road. I had lost touch with some precious memories, but they seemed to be flooding back, filling my heart. I pulled over underneath a familiar gnarled tree and got out. It was the place we normally stop for our smoke breaks and to switch the driving seat. Although the trip to the farm house was a shorter one,
we used to switch places after every 50 - 60 kms. It was the drive that we enjoyed more than the stay at the farmhouse.
The wind had started blowing and I could smell the impending rain. Pushing my hair back and out of my face, I lit a cigarette. I slowly walked to the tree and searched the trunk. It didn't take long for me to find what I was looking for. "ARJUN and ADITI , True Love Always". Time and weather had faded the words, but they were still there. Tears came to my eyes as I traced the words lovingly with my fingers.
This was Aditi's favorite spot too. I turned and walked towards the river and my tear filled eyes seemed to act as a cue for the rain to start falling.
I sat on our favorite rock, eyes closed, listening to the sound of the raindrops meeting the river. I felt her hand cup my head and her lips gently touch my cheek. Her scent was mixed with the smell of the fresh rain and I could feel her warmth next to me. I didn't dare open my eyes, instead, I slid my arms around her neck and kissed her the way I'd kissed her two decades ago. Tears slid down my cheeks as
we embraced. I had spent years trying to forget how her arms felt around me, and here they were again, stronger than ever. I could feel the need in her and I wondered if she knew how badly I needed her too.
The rain was coming down in torrents now, but it didn't matter. I could feel her warm breath against my skin as she kissed my forehead. I ran my hands over her sweet and calm face, and through her long dark hair. Even soaking wet, I remembered the feel of it, the feel of her. A loud clap of thunder forced me to open my eyes and I realized that I was alone with my memories.
The accident hadn't happened far from here. The road winds along the river and the girl driving her car that night wasn't the first to miss the hairpin turn. The car rolled and the driver's side was crushed. They said the driver died instantly, but Aditi held on for a few hours. Those few hours seemed like an eternity. She had been so young, and I hadn't known how to say good-bye. She was going for the
farmhouse with her friends. I had seen her like 6 hours before, when she came down to get the keys.
For twenty years I've tried to replace the memories of that night with memories of better ones, memories of her smile, her kiss and of the wonderful person that I had come to love. I closed my eyes again and remembered Aditi introducing me to her friends as "My Mr.Right." I wondered what my life might have been like had Aditi not died that night, so many years ago. Would I really have been "Mr.Right?"
As I got up to leave, I felt a warmth envelope me. I blew a kiss to that old gnarled tree as I climbed, soaking wet, into my car and began my drive back home.
Thank you, Aditi. You were always there when I need you.
Night had begun to fall, and as the miles that separated me from home increased, I began to relax. It seemed as though my car knew where to take me, because the drive was effortless. Soon I had crossed the city limits and was powering the turbo charged MM V6 down the expressway. Then I turned right from the expressway into the much smaller and quiet country side. It was our get-away territory. I soon
ended up along the narrow road adjacent to the river. It was one of the roads I had driven during my college days with THE GANG. I hadn't been on this road for years. My life now, as an adult, was too busy to take time out for joy rides. I had board meetings to attend, taxes to pay ,wife Kavya and my sweet li'l brat Aryan to look after.
I smiled as I drove past the places that I'd spent so many weekends, parked with friends along this road. I had lost touch with some precious memories, but they seemed to be flooding back, filling my heart. I pulled over underneath a familiar gnarled tree and got out. It was the place we normally stop for our smoke breaks and to switch the driving seat. Although the trip to the farm house was a shorter one,
we used to switch places after every 50 - 60 kms. It was the drive that we enjoyed more than the stay at the farmhouse.
The wind had started blowing and I could smell the impending rain. Pushing my hair back and out of my face, I lit a cigarette. I slowly walked to the tree and searched the trunk. It didn't take long for me to find what I was looking for. "ARJUN and ADITI , True Love Always". Time and weather had faded the words, but they were still there. Tears came to my eyes as I traced the words lovingly with my fingers.
This was Aditi's favorite spot too. I turned and walked towards the river and my tear filled eyes seemed to act as a cue for the rain to start falling.
I sat on our favorite rock, eyes closed, listening to the sound of the raindrops meeting the river. I felt her hand cup my head and her lips gently touch my cheek. Her scent was mixed with the smell of the fresh rain and I could feel her warmth next to me. I didn't dare open my eyes, instead, I slid my arms around her neck and kissed her the way I'd kissed her two decades ago. Tears slid down my cheeks as
we embraced. I had spent years trying to forget how her arms felt around me, and here they were again, stronger than ever. I could feel the need in her and I wondered if she knew how badly I needed her too.
The rain was coming down in torrents now, but it didn't matter. I could feel her warm breath against my skin as she kissed my forehead. I ran my hands over her sweet and calm face, and through her long dark hair. Even soaking wet, I remembered the feel of it, the feel of her. A loud clap of thunder forced me to open my eyes and I realized that I was alone with my memories.
The accident hadn't happened far from here. The road winds along the river and the girl driving her car that night wasn't the first to miss the hairpin turn. The car rolled and the driver's side was crushed. They said the driver died instantly, but Aditi held on for a few hours. Those few hours seemed like an eternity. She had been so young, and I hadn't known how to say good-bye. She was going for the
farmhouse with her friends. I had seen her like 6 hours before, when she came down to get the keys.
For twenty years I've tried to replace the memories of that night with memories of better ones, memories of her smile, her kiss and of the wonderful person that I had come to love. I closed my eyes again and remembered Aditi introducing me to her friends as "My Mr.Right." I wondered what my life might have been like had Aditi not died that night, so many years ago. Would I really have been "Mr.Right?"
As I got up to leave, I felt a warmth envelope me. I blew a kiss to that old gnarled tree as I climbed, soaking wet, into my car and began my drive back home.
Thank you, Aditi. You were always there when I need you.
posted by Arjun.C.N at 5:59 AM
5 comments
