Reconstructed Rains

It began to pour outside and something filled her heart. Little Zoya loved the rains.  In her mind the rains equated to happiness. She didn’t know why, but she loved every minute things about it.  To begin with the shade of the cloud, there were different from the rest, darker but not black, a graceful grey or rather silver as her mother would say.

They weren’t the silent types, they came announcing their arrival with music and lights. She loved to see the lights but the music scared her. Nani used to tell thunder came only when the clouds fought amongst themselves, “like mum and dad!” she had exclaimed.

After their arrival with the band, there were two possibilities. One they just pass away to destinations unknown leaving Zoya in wonder or they showered. And when they showered, that sound, It felt like a gush.. Nani said, when the clouds were overwhelmed, they pour their love on us, and the earth in turn made that delightful sound. But not always the sound was same. It was loud, when ice had showered! She couldn’t believe the clouds could shower ice too. She never got to ask Nani why, but she did try to taste that ice and in doing so, had successfully angered her mother.

She loved the feel, when the drops hit her palm. Sometimes like needles other she could feel only a chill. Sometimes too quick other too far. They were never the same. She longed to play with them but her mother had ordered supervised visits only. Nothing more than her hands were allowed and if her mum felt generous, Zoya’s feet were too.. Strict supervision prevailed at such times accompanied with a human taller than her.  Nani had taught her to say a thank you too when the rains spread delight and so she did.

The sound intensifies as she rushed to her courtyard, only to see her mother already arrived. She had bought coffee and hot bajji’s along with Zoya’s favorite hot chocolate to celebrate. At times such she felt a gush towards her mother that usually ended up in hugs and giggles. She then knew how earth felt.

Her father arrived on time to join them in their play, who got wet the most, a game she loved to lose. She liked it when the rains stopped too. The puddles they left behind, the joys of becoming a cold mess to be washed in a warm bath later was immense for her. She couldn’t wait to conquer those seas. That’s when her father told her to get a paper. Unhappily, as she got the paper, settling on his lap. He stared tearing the paper, folding and folding and folding and a boat appeared. It was an absolute delight. Now she, Captain Zoya got more paper to make boats to successfully conquer all her unknown seas. 

It would be very later one day, she recollecting the joy it bought her would make it a tradition to celebrate with her child.