WE AND MONSOON

PART 1:

Characters:

Smaran,Sristi,Zaid,?

Zaid: “Say whatever you all want to say, today is the last day of school life.” He says, drinking the fruit juice as if it is an alcohol.

Sristi, seated at the canteen table, remarks, “Yeah, let it all out today.”

Smaran: “Okay, so I’ll start. I had a break-up.”

Upon hearing this, juice sprays out of Zaid’s mouth, like a fountain: “What..? When? Why?” Sristi: “Nothing surprising, it was expected.”

Smaran: “Just today, and she said I’m not mature enough.”

Zaid and Sristi exclaim together, “Really?” Sristi adds, “I mean, it took her 3 months to realize this?”

Zaid looks at Sristi and asks, “Is your joke over?”

Sristi smiles lightly, while sipping juice through a straw, and says, “Yes.”

Zaid then looks at Smaran again and reassures him, “Bro, don’t worry, it’s her loss. She doesn’t deserve you.” He places his hand on Smaran’s shoulder and adds, “It’s okay, you’ll find a better girl.”

Smaran nods in disagreement and declares, “I don’t want to go through that again. From today, I’ve decided to be self-independent. I’ll focus on myself.”

Sristi comments, “Better late than never.”

Smaran continues, “Why just me? You guys should also make a vow.”

Zaid questions, “We?”

Smaran responds, “Yeah, any objections?”

Zaid hesitates for a moment and says, “N..No.” He further mentions, “By the way, you know about my father.”

Sristi also clarifies, stating, “You guys are aware of my expectations as well.”

Zaid confirms, “Yeah, quite well.” Zaid shakes his head and ponders, “To the extent that I doubt if such a person even exists or not?”

Smaran proposes, “Great then, extend your hand.”

Saying this, Smaran stretches his right hand forward. Sristi happily places her hand on top of Smaran’s hand. Zaid hesitates for a moment, then also puts his hand on top.

Smaran, while eating a samosa, says, “Alright, from today, we are committed to celibacy.”

Prior to that, the other two also make the vow, and a fight between the two boys ensues, causing them to tumble onto their table. The entire juice and food spill down, landing on Sristi’s clothes. Observing this, Zaid becomes very angry and joins the fight as well. Chaos ensues all around. However, Smaran remains seated in the same chair, taking a bite of his samosa and contemplating. perhaps my life is going to be like this too... chaotic.

2 months later

During this time, everyone from school went their separate ways. Sristi wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, so she took a one-year break and is preparing for the entrance exams. I think she should become a doctor so she can diagnose her own mind before anyone else. Zaid, whose father is filthy rich, is pursuing engineering in a private college solely for the sake of obtaining a degree. As for me, I am just hoping to pass my CLAT exam so that I can get into a reputable law college.While waiting for the results, I made an attempt to do all the things I had always wanted to do. Like I read numerous books, tried my hand at writing, and explored various places. You know, just to discover myself and what’s make me happy. Honestly speaking, I don’t think I have found the answers I was seeking yet.

Smaran is sitting in his room, and in the other room, his mother is watching the news. The weather anchor announces, “Good evening, folks! This is your friendly weather anchor, bringing you the latest update. Today, we have some exciting news: Tropical Storm Mansson is on its way. As for the first rain, we have a high probability of showers today, so make sure to grab your umbrellas before heading out. Stay tuned for more updates on Mansson’s arrival and stay safe out there!”

At that moment, Smaran’s phone rings, and it’s a call from Sristi. *Connect.

Sristi says, “Hey, listen, it might rain today. I came to PD College for my friend’s birthday party.”

Smaran asks, “A birthday party in college?”

Sristi replies, “Yeah, my friend studies there, and she’s not allowed to have parties outside.”

Smaran says, “Really?”

Sristi confirms, “Yes, we don’t have the same privileges as you do.” She continues, “Hurry up and come here with an umbrella; rain can come anytime.”

Smaran responds, “Do you think I’m your servant or so___?” Before Smaran could finish his sentence, she abruptly ends the call.*Disconnect. Alright, let’s do this work also.

Smaran picks up an umbrella and sets off towards college on his scooter. The clouds have turned dark, and it feels like it could rain anytime. He waits at the transit shelter in front of the college. After a while, he receives a call from Sristi. *Connect.

She says, “You don’t need to come to college. I’ve managed it.”

Smaran, feeling a bit frustrated, replies, “What? I’ve already reached college, and I’ve been waiting for you.”

Sristi says, “Oops! sorry.”

Smaran asks, “What should I do now?”

Sristi responds, “Enjoy the first monsoon rain then. Besides, you need a shower anyway.” *disconnect .

Suddenly, with a loud thunderclap, heavy rain begins to pour. Smaran, in frustration: ” Shit.” looks at his phone after ending the call and notices a girl sitting on the bench.

Smaran feels a bit awkward. The girl asks, “Did a friend betray you?”

Smaran stammers awkwardly, “Not like that, but you can call it a ditch.” As he says this, he walks over and sits on the bench beside her.

The girl continues to gaze at the rain and says: “Trust me, no one else would understand betrayal better than me.”

The girl places her bag on her lap and wraps her arms around it, sitting quietly. For a while Both of them remain silent.How intensely this girl is looking at the rain,as if she herself is a part of those droplets, and they have merged within her. I wonder if my presence makes any difference to her at all.

Smaran chuckles and says, “Enjoy...the first rain of the year.”

The girl stays silent for a moment and then speaks softly, “Don’t you like the rain?” her eyes is still gazing at the rain.

Smaran responds, “It’s not that I hate the rain, but I’m also not a fan of it.”

Upon hearing this, the girl turns her head towards Smaran and asks, in a low voice, “Do you want to hear an unpopular opinion about the rain?”

Smaran responds, “Yeah, sure.”

The girl turns her head back towards the rain and says:”Often, rain is associated with darkness, sadness, or grief. But for me, this darkness is as cheerful and comforting as a shining sun. These dark clouds, when they gaze upon the sky, do not imprison us in solitude; instead, they bring us closer to ourselves.Raindrops yield such power that they can silence all the noises that can bother us whereas an ordinary day, this might be hard to achieve.”

As soon as she says this, the girl looks back at Smaran and adds, “That’s why, in many ways, I find rainy days quite better compared to normal days.”

Smaran, upon hearing this, nods with a mixture of agreement. He says, “Deep...that’s a very beautiful perspective on how to look at things.” He adds sarcastically, “But it’s so sad that we are currently stuck here, and the rain isn’t helping us.”

The girl’s expression changes, appearing slightly unimpressed with Smaran’s comment.

They fall silent again. After a while, a man wearing a raincoat arrives on a scooter, and the girl stands up from the bench and sits behind him on the scooter. She doesn’t even glance in Smaran’s direction once.Did I make her upset? Anyway, the rain has also stopped now. I should also leave. Smaran is about to get up when his gaze falls on something on the floor. There lies a handmade butterfly, made of colourful fabric and held together by a safety pin.The girl had already left by then. Smaran picks up the butterfly and keeps it in his pocket.