I am writing fiction after a long time, so forgive.
S was driving and V was sitting on the passenger side. They had just had a sumptuous meal in one of the new organic farm restaurants that had cropped up on the outskirts of the city. V was always skeptical of these new fads and felt that the food was quite the same, except for the hype and the exorbitant prices. On the other hand, S embraced the naturalness of it all - the fresh produce, the intimate connection with the earth, the dinning in open areas et al. Clearly, in these matters, S was the hippie and V was the Grinch.
It had been raining all day, sometimes intense and sometimes as soft as mist blowing from a fan. S loved monsoon and waited for it all year. It was only fortuitous that it was raining. Following Google Maps' guidance, S turned towards a side lane, instead of the main wide road. S had an uneasy relationship with Google Maps. Sometimes, it helped S reach the destination in time. On other occasions, it took S to unknown roads that ended abruptly. S didn't know what to do - trust or not trust. S was with V and it was better to simply follow, as against hurling curses at artificial intelligence.
Surprisingly, the road was fine and in fact prettier. It was lined with trees on both the sides. As they were driving through the tree lined road, raindrops softly fell on the car windshield. They were talking about something which, at that time, was of consequence. Suddenly, Spotify played Meri Jaan by Jubin Nautiyal (composed by Shashwat Sachdev). This was one of S' favourite songs.
"I sent you this months ago! Did you listen?" S asked V.
"Oh...umm...sorry" said V embarrassingly.
"USELESS!!!" exclaimed S.
V didn't know how to react to S' outbursts. Silence was the best strategy.
"Now I am playing it again, listen carefully!" ordered S.
As the tunes played, the raindrops continued to fall. V rolled down the window and let the raindrops fall on the face, wind blowing through the hair. S loved co-passengers enjoying the drive. The protective aura of the trees transported them into a world of their own - where it was just them, the soft raindrops and the song.
S continued to sing along with the singer, though quite awfully. It did not matter whether the singing was even remotely close to the notes. What mattered was the joy that came from freely expressing. S always enjoyed freedom.
"This is the best part!" said S.
The singing talents of Jubin Nautiyal were surprisingly replaced by a famous Hindustani Classical Kajri that celebrates rain - Barsan Lagi Badariyan. It lasted only for a few seconds - just as spotting a beautiful bird perched on a tree, who flies away, as soon as it is spotted. A micro second's silence and immediately the song came back to Jubin.
After a few minutes, they reached V's destination. S stopped the car and turned to V.
"Next time - visit sooner!" S said, in a rather demanding way.
V didn't commit and simply smiled. They hugged awkwardly in the car and V got out.
S looked at V walking away. Something told S that this was it. Somethings in life are like this only - fleeting. They come - when we least expect them or even not expect them at all! And soon enough, they also leave. No matter how much we wish, pray or hope, all things come and fade away at His will. Sometimes, they come back only to leave again.
S had an epiphany, which also come at the oddest times. S thought - perhaps, it would be wiser to embrace reality, as it is, instead of holding on to an imagined perfection. S was now looking at the road in front. S drove on, hoping that the pain of parting was, like much else, also fleeting.
*
