The Rainy Day

A short story about how you realize your mistake and realize someone's love for you.

                                                                 The Rainy day...

 

Rainy days are beautiful. Any person would like to spend that day in his home, with a cup of hot coffee, some spicy snacks accompanied with a good movie. 

But, it’s not same for everyone. Especially for a person like Aamir, who’s workaholic and enjoy being a rich man. Aamir is a Cost and management accountant by profession. He has an office of his own and provides with cost auditing and tax advisory services for industries.

It wasn’t a happy day for aamir, he wasn’t able to go to an important meeting in an industry because of the rain, which made him cancel the meeting. He could have took his car to the industry, but he suddenly felt like taking a break from his busy 24/7 work schedule. But, having no work to do, he was bored to spend the rest of his day alone.

As he was thinking what to do on a day like this, his phone rang. It flashed the name which he never expected to see again in his life. It was preethi, seeing her name flashing on his phone his mind went back to those days when he loved rainy days. Where he had so much time and love to give it to someone. He didn’t pick the call. Old conversations echoed in his mind.

“This is neither your fault nor mine… it’s just the time which has decided this to happen aamir.”

- “Time has nothing to do about this preethi, time changes only days and nights, not our minds, thinking and priorities.” 

-“ I always loved the way you thought about certain things, I am not sad about things ending like this between us today, but I have a belief that one day you will believe that time has the power to change anything.”

 “You keep your belief preethi, but is there any other way to stop you from getting married?” 

-“No aamir, some questions have only one right answer. Stop blaming yourself for what’s happening, I always wanted you to be happy and I am sure that you will move on with your life and nothing can stop you from reaching your target in life.”

“I am not worried about myself, I know how to move on and nothing can distract me from my goals. I am worried about you preethi, I never thought this day will come in my life, all I can wish for you is happiness, promise me that you will never be sad after this and never lose that smile on your face.”

-“I promise that I will be happy, but tell me, is money and gaining a social status more important to you than me?  Will that answer never change aamir?”

“it will never change, I want to give an answer to those who laughed at me during my bad days, my empty pockets and my way of life, for which silence was  default answer.”

“Okay, I think there is no use talking again and again about the same thing, I can just say nobody in my life will ever be loved like this.”

She finished talking with him, kissed on his forehead and just walked away from the park.

He kept looking at the way she walked away from the park. He felt bad, but convinced himself that it was just a part of his life and remembered the saying of artists ‘whatever may happen, the show should go on’ and just moved away from that place.

The loud ring of his cell brought him back to present. He picked the call and started speaking.

“Hi”

-“hello Aamir, how are you?” 

‘I’m fine, how’re you?”

-“I’m fine too, can we catch up today?” 

“yes of course we can, but it’s raining cats and dogs, how are you going to come here?”

-“I will just hire a cab and come there. I don’t know why but I just felt like seeing and spend some time with you today.”

“After 5 years??”

-“Yes, just give me your address.”

She took the address from him and hung up before Aamir could say anything.

He again went back to the world of his memories. Where he met her after they broke up in the same park in an early morning and she didn’t even speak to him. He went up to her and held her hand and told her. “What’s happening preethi? Can’t we speak like normal friends also?” She smiled at him and said “I will speak to you when the time comes.” And just walked away from there.

He remembered how they met each other in their coaching classes, became friends and soon that friendship blossomed into love and how they decided to go in their ways.

Aamir came back to present and kept thinking about what made preethi to call him back and speak with him, was that the time to get back together? If it was time, his ego wouldn’t admit it because she broke up with him telling that her parents was looking forward to her marriage and Aamir wasn’t ready for such level of commitment. He had different plans, he wanted to start an audit firm of his own, which required much time and preethi’s family didn't have the patience to wait till then.

He didn't have any servants at home to prepare food or do the household activities. He used to do his own works. He started preparing food for both of them. He made her favourite dish and there was an old bottle of wine which he had preserved in the fridge and thought he had the right company today. So he finished preparing everything and was waiting near the gate. Preethi was more than an ex-girlfriend to him, she was his special friend, with whom he always loved to hang out.

He switched on his music system which played songs from the playlist named Preethi’s…

The long and winding road

That leads to your door

Will never disappear

I've seen that road before

It always leads me here,

Lead me to your door

Preethi arrived near his home and pressed the calling bell. Aamir opened it and as he saw her, he welcomed her with a hug. As they moved to hall, he noticed that her eyes looked beautiful than ever. Than they sat down and started to talk.

“Preethi… how are you? And what made you to meet me after such a long time?” 

- “I just felt like seeing you today.” 

“That’s what I meant. What made you feel so?” 

-“I just thought I should see a friend with whom I could be myself and treated special being with that person and I couldn’t find anyone else than you.” 

“Nice to hear that and how’s your married life?” 

-“It’s great actually, but I am moving to London next week, where my husband stays.” 

“That’s great news, have a nice time in there. So, you came to see me before going there?” 

-“Yes, I thought I couldn’t see you any sooner, so thought of at least spending a day with you. I am so happy to see you like this.”

“Like what?” 

-“like a man who has achieved all his goals which he wanted to.” 

“Yes but this life isn’t good as I thought. Now I am respected and loved everywhere because of my money and the social status.”

-“That’s all you wanted right? You wanted people to respect you anywhere you go” 

“Yes I wanted all that but once I got it, I never expected my life would change like this where people are behind me only for my money and name.” 

-“It’s bound to happen aamir. You are a famous man now.”

“Yeah, I think so.” 

-“So? You have a girlfriend now?” 

“No, I don’t have one and I don’t need one right now.”

-“Why? Don’t you feel like having someone with you in you life.”

“I feel like that but I never found anyone who likes me. I found plenty of girls who wanted to be my girlfriend for my money in fact those who never even knew I existed started proposing me as soon as they got to know what I have become in life.”

-“I feel bad for you aamir, how about i find a girl for you?”

“ Thanks for the help but I don’t feel like I need one, I have made up my mind and I have got used to this life so nothing will make a difference right now.”

Preethi had no words left to speak. She didn’t find any way to console him but she didn’t give up.

“Why don’t you take a break, move to a far place and find someone who know only you and not your money and status?” 

-“That sounds like a good idea but I am not interested to do all those things now. I am used to lonliness. I have started to like it too.” 

“Okay, I can’t convince you. You haven’t changed a bit.” 

-“Yes I haven’t changed a bit and I am happy knowing that”

“Who else will say that other than me?” 

They both smiled looking at each other’s faces. After a while preethi asked aamir “all these years, did you love anyone?” 

-“No, I think you were the last girl in my life who I loved the most” 

“I think now you accept time changes people!” 

-“Yes now I accept it, I shouldn’t have let you go, I have realized it. Please don’t rub it on my face again and again.” 

“Don’t worry I will not rub it. But please find someone I can’t see you like this.” 

-“don’t talk about that either. Tell me about you married life.” 

“I don’t like to talk about it either, I have less time left. If you had something to tell me all these years tell now.”

Aamir thought a little while and said “if there’s someone who can bring a smile on my face and a little happiness to heart it’s you and no one else can take that place. I miss you, if there was a chance I wanted you back in my life.” 

-“That’s all I wanted to hear for the last time. I miss you too and I miss the special coffee you used to make, can you make and bring one cup for me?”

“Yes of course.”

He went to kitchen to prepare one. As he came back with coffee. Preethi was not there. He searched the entire home. He couldn’t find her anywhere. He called her but her cell phone was switched off. 

He went outside and couldn’t find her there too. He became sad, depressed and felt low. His phone started to ring again. He went to pick his phone expecting preethi called again but it was from one of his friends.

“Hi Prashanth”

-“Hello aamir, how are you?” 

“I am fine, How are you?”

-“I’m fine and I have a sad news for you.” 

“What’s that?”

-“Preethi passed away in a road accident two days before”

“WHAT? She was here just now.” 

“Are you kidding aamir? I got the news just now. She didn’t have contact with any friends so even I couldn’t get information earlier”

Aamir hung up the phone and bent his head and kept on the floor. He cried loud. He felt like it’s the end of the world. He came outside. He thought the rain could wash away his pain. As he stood there, he felt like someone hugged him from back. As he was about to turn and see who it was he heard a voice “It’s me again, sorry to make you feel so sad but I just wanted to hear from you that you miss me too and it was my wish to see you once before I leave this world. Please find someone for yourself, that’s all you can do to keep me and my soul happy.” 

Aamir said “Yes I will” and suddenly turned back and saw only her face which dissolved in the air. Then he thought about priorities in life. Then he thought of fulfilling her last wish.

It’s better to be loved by someone who loves us for who we are rather than to be with people who loves us for what we have. 

                                                                                                                        -Abhilash Chandar

                                                                                                                  [email protected]

Reviews

[dw817]

⊰ℙℝ⊱
Don't know if you want me to review the grammar or spelling per your request. But the story hits home. As you mentioned in the end, would like to be thought of affectionately by one who loves us rather than be a friend because of what we have.

I sometimes wonder about my friendship with Chris & Rose in this respect.

It's the inside that counts. The gentle and honest human heart.

[dw817]

⊰ℙℝ⊱
You additionally requested a spelling and grammar check so here it is.

I saw no spelling errors, but you should make greater use of he, she, instead of the person's name, especially if the reader already knows who is speaking or doing something.

Checking your grammar immediately brought me to see you are using contractions (he'll) versus (he will). You should never use contractions in formal writing. Now, if it's spoken text,

Preethi said, "Don't worry, he'll be there."

Then this is fine. But if you have this,

Preethi assured me that [he'd] [he would] be there. Always do not use the contraction in this instance. So change, "he'd" to "he would."

I can't continue the grammatical review until these elements are corrected first. I will say, you have exceptional spelling ability and there were no errors at all I could find. Definitely good for a professional writer.