Why does it always rain on me!

    I complain about the AC not working all day. Sitting in one of the remotest corner of the office , I dance and sing to myself in the seat with earplugs on , so that I just get over the AC breakdown. Suddenly it does not seem as hot as before. I realize I am out of water and I go out for a refill. The drapes over one of the glass panes pulled up. Tiny drops of water covering them. Skies outside grey, the buildings drenched in the cooling showers. I rush back to my seat , push some change down my pockets and make a dash to the cafeteria. The sweet smell of the rains takes me spiraling down the memory lane.

April, a year before :

All my friends leaving. Everyone in my project gone. My friend-next-seat puts his bag to his shoulder.

 " See you then " 

 " I will come with you downstairs to see you off"

 The lift opens, " 10th floor"

 " You too must go back to Mumbai too" 

 " Maybe some day" , we exchange what-can-I-say looks.

 " Ground floor. Have a Nice day!" interrupts the voice in the lift.

   We reach the tower's main door and its raining. We wait in the lobby chattering away happily. Looks like the rain is subsiding. We exchange good wishes. I know I am going to miss this friend. Who will tell me about sites like jango , snapdeal , telugu movies and about his crazy guys night outs ;)  We smile weakly at each other and then he turns to leave.

   I call P  for tea, our regular tea time. And tea drenched in the flavour of rain, makes it all the more enjoyable. All umbrellas taken. I decide to make a dash to P's tower. As I run out of the tower, suddenly the rains come pouring down. I am drenched head to toe. My headphones are on and I cannot hear a word as its thundering and pouring like crazy. As I haplessly look around for help, I see him smiling at me.

   A smile I will never forget. I didnot know him , had never seen him before but half-pity, half-jovial smile just made me forget that I was in a real bad shape. He shook his head in disbelief, closed his eyes with the smile pasted to his face. The song in my ears became louder and clearer.

"You're beautiful its true! I saw your face in a crowded place and I dunno what to do!"

April , a year later:

   I am at the door again , the rains wetting the lawns. The same sweet smell. I cannot help but feel nostalgic. But the story is not the same this time around. No friend to say goodbye. No P to call for tea. I don't look at the umbrella stands. Just hop out in the rains. As drenched as a year back. I turn back to look where I saw him. But the place is empty. And once again, just like that , the same song is playing on the playlist but the lines that grow louder are different this time.

"But its time to face the truth, that I will never be with you"