I’m dreaming, in my bed. It is a pleasant dream, for it involves many of the pleasant people I’ve met in this short journey of life. Gently, I’m woken up, by soulful music playing from the phone. It’s Enya, singing of “A Day without Rain”. I sit up and look out of the window. It’s sunny, with a few clouds in the distance giving one a playful promise of rain, sometime in the day. A quick shower and other daily tasks, and it’s already a good day. So I get my pen, book and a glass of strong tea with extra sugar. The weather is delicious, sunny with a tinge of the cold from the downpours of yesterday night. The trees and the bushes all around the house are wearing an unabashed shade of green, the kind of green that makes you realize how beautiful your little state is. It is impossible not to write in this weather, and impossible not to write straight from the heart. There is music in the distance, from a temple I’ve always used to go as a child.
Its mid afternoon and my story is almost done. Just as I am
about to put the final touches on the tale, the mobile screen lights up. The name on the screen is a name I’d be glad
to see anytime, any day. A text for a tryst in the evening, making a good day
near perfect. I smile to myself, because sometimes smiles are not to be held
back.
I park the majestic Royal Enfield near the footpath near the
beach. It’s another lovely evening at the Calicut beach, and the vivid colors
of the sunset make my heart leap with joy. I walk, through the sidewalk adorned
with benches and lamp-posts, towards her favourite bench. She is already there of course, but her face
is turned to the other side. She expects me to come from the other side, but
what is Love without some little surprises? I’m already feeling jealous of the
evening wind, which is playing gleefully with her hair. I walk up and sit by
her side. Without turning aside, she breaks into laughter.
The evening has crossed over to dusk, and the stars are
already out in the sky. The vendors of groundnuts and sweets still sell their
wares, while people continue to throng the beach. It’s going to be a beautiful
night as well, I realize quite happily. She is now leaning on my shoulder,
having exhausted all her stories. I’m as silent as always. The silent movie actor, as
she calls me. I’m content with life, blessed with all the little pleasures that
a man can ask for. After all, this is what life is all about. Those little
pleasures that we’ve had once, only to be lost in the passage of time and
space. Those little pleasures that we’ve always wanted to have, but never
granted by the oft cruel wizard called fate.
I smile, thinking this is too good to be real. And then I
hear a song in the background. I look
around the beach, but no singer is to be seen around us. Then I realize, the
music is familiar, it is “A Day without Rain”. As I look around, everything
dissolves into darkness, but I still feel her on my shoulders. But after a
fleeting moment, I open my eyes. The song is still playing, ofcourse. The clock
on the screen says its thirty minutes past six. I get up from the bed, and turn the alarm off.
