Manasi remembered how Pawan Kumar had started for Railway station amidst heavy rain in the afternoon for his journey to Visakhapatnam. When she went to bed, it was raining. It had still been raining when she woke up the next morning. The rain bore down mercilessly upon the heart of the city, pounding on the rooftops and turning the streets of the area into muddy waters.
It was morning, Tapasi glanced down below from the bedroom window, she could see the rain beads up on the cars, upon each leaf, and she held her bare arm out of the window through the railings, the droplets splattered on her outstretched fingers, washing her outstretched fingers. Soon they would pull together, forming the puddles, opening up a whole new avenue of rain-related fun.
As Debashree uncovered her eyes from underneath the covers, she heard the gentle tapping of raindrops against her bedroom window. She got up and rubbed her knuckles onto her eyes. She made herself a hot cup of coffee, took a book and she plopped herself down on the couch right underneath her window. Seeing the drops trickle down her window brought a sense of calmness within her. This was the time she could be alone and be herself. She read away and let every moment sink in as it was not going to last forever. She retreated leaving the window open, this way she could hear the steady drumming all the louder while she turned age-worn pages of a long-forgotten book. She was remembering her mom (Rupa) she was missing her, it had been quite a long time she had gone to Chennai to be with Kakoli Didi (her elder sister). At least she got good news of becoming an aunt (Kakoli had a son recently). Yesterday Pawan Uncle had started for Chennai, and on his return, he would bring some further news of her mom and elder sister. Although she was alone in her flat, she never felt loneliness as her best friend Tapasi was always with her, and Manasi Aunty was providing breakfast to dinner to her.
Tapasi heard the creak of the door. Tapasi glanced backward. Manasi entered with a cup of hot coffee.
"Good morning, Mom," she greeted.
"Good morning," Manasi also greeted back.
"So, dear, what's the planning of both of you? Since it is raining heavily outside, I don't think, you both should go to college today. You should have a rainy day," said Manasi.
"No mom, what should we do the whole day here? Our college is walkable distance from here, once the rain recedes, we will go to college," replied Tapasi.
"OK, as you wish, but don't blame me if you both get drenched yourselves in rain and catch cold," replied Manasi.
"You know, Payal Aunty is not well nowadays as she is in her stage of pregnancy. Nobody is there to look after her as she is alone. Your Pawan Uncle was on his way to Visakhapatnam yesterday, most probably by this time, he must be reaching to Visakhapatnam. I have hired a taxi, after one hour, I will be going to your Payal Aunty, and I will be returning in the evening," said Manasi.
"OK, mom,' she replied.
Tapasi got up and moved towards the flat of Debashree. Debashree opened the door, and both the friends embraced each other tightly after greetings.
"Have you heard the rain this morning? It's crazy! Those drops are bigger than hailstones and coming down just as hard. It's almost as if the drops are striking your eardrums, right?" said Tapasi.
"I like it; I find it soothing. Anyhow, it's just you, me and the rain. look at that water on the street. Come over to the window, you'll see it way better. It's a shallow river over the tarmac, we get that so much. Did I say it's a temperate rainforest here? "said Debashree.
After one hour, the heavy rain was slightly decreased, and it was drizzling now. Manasi had already started for Payal's residence by hired taxi. Now, both the girls were ready for their college. With their umbrellas, within 15 minutes, they reached the college on foot.
Most of the girls were drenched due to rain. The first class was not started yet due to the absence of the Teacher. The murmuring amongst the girl turned into loud voices in the classroom. A large number of the thin stream of water was flowing in the classroom due to keeping of umbrellas by the students. Debashree and Tapasi sat on the bench in the 6th row of the classroom. They couldn't find Mona who was always sitting with them on the bench.
They had no much closer friends except Mona. Mona was the daughter of a high cadre Army Officer. Her mother was a Doctor, her parents being wealthy, she was given unrestricted freedom by her parents. She was very liberal in her thought. Money was not a problem for her, and God knew what affinities she had with these two girls, she had become a close friend of Debashree and Tapasi, she would sit with them throughout the classes. She would not hesitate to spend money after them, she would present them with costly gifts. But the most shocking factor was that under her influence, these two simple girls had become wayward adolescents. Their habitually associating with this immoral girl made them turning away from what was right or proper. Mona would steal way Vodka bottle from her Papa's liquor cabinet, she would always find it easy to access alcohol when it was readily available in her home and three of them would sneak away from college during leisure classes to the Apartment of Debashree and Tapasi which was a walkable distance from the college.
Since Vodka was colorless and there would be no smell, they would take drinks and involve in lesbian activities in Pawan Kumar's flat of course in absence of Manasi. But the irony of the fact was that these three girls were very good in their academics. They would always be in the best tenth in every exam of the college. Even in debate competitions, Essay writing competitions, or be it in Eloquence competitions of college, they would be the topper, second and third in college. Because of this only, Pawan Kumar loved Debashree and Tapasi more than his daughters, he had a high opinion towards these two girls, further these two girls aged 19 years of Manasi and Rupa were the youngest girls and Apple of the eye of their families, very close to Pawan Kumar also. These girls regarded Pawan Kumar as their father than their real fathers because he had nourished them from their teen ages.
Then they saw Mona moving towards them with a smile, greeted them, and sat on the bench. She was partially drenched in her dress.
Mona whispered, "Come on you two. With many difficulties, I have brought the thing for you. We would better get going to the Toilet."
Mona turned to the door. Debashree and Tapasi picked up their bags and made to follow her. Inside the Toilet, Mona handed over them the bottle of Vodka wrapped carefully in black polythene. Debashree immediately kept it in her bag before anybody approaching the Toilet. Then three of them returned to the classroom and three of them sat on the bench for a moment without saying anything.
Then Mona gave a long sigh and said, "Well, you two enjoy that one on this rainy day."
"Be quiet, my sweet," giggled Tapasi taking Mona's arm.
Then there was a hushed silence in the classroom. The girls stopped their murmuring and talking. Mrs. Ghosh, the math teacher entered the classroom. The rain had already picked up its speed outside. Mrs. Ghosh started her class, and she started writing in blackboard with a chalk. Suddenly, the Thunderstorm had raged over the area near college. In the Maths class, Mrs. Ghosh had to almost shout to be heard above the noise of the Thunder, and every so often an enormous fork of Lightning would light up the classroom, and the lights would flicker.
Debashree and Tapasi looked at each other as they sat together at their desks.
"I do not know about you Tapasi, but I am getting a bit scared," Debashree whispered to her best friend.
"Me too," Tapasi replied as another bright fork of Lightning hit the Playing fields close by, and almost
instantaneously, the lights in the classroom went out, leaving the class in almost total darkness, as although it was just afternoon, it was so dark outside as a result of the storm.
"It is all right class, just remain seated, the emergency power will come in and we will be ok," Mrs. Ghosh, the math teacher called out.
After about 5 minutes, the classroom was still without lights, and Mrs. Ghosh, told the class to stay in their seats, while she went to investigate. About 15 minutes later she returned and informed the class that the college Emergency generator had failed and that the college was closing for the day.
"We are for walking home Mona," Debashree said.
"Me too, if I get wet, I can get dried at my house, Bye you two, "said Mona, and picked up her bag and left from the classroom.
