Rain From my Eyes

A soft music tuned the whole room. It was the favorite song of Mom and dad “nothing gonna change my love for you”.  Ashley was playing the piano as insisted by Dad.  Ashley turned 27 and it was her birthday today 25^th June. Mom and dad had planned a surprise for her which she was eagerly waiting for. It was the start of monsoon and the climate had turned hazy, cold breeze was running through the window. Clouds covered the bright sun and the town seemed protected under the blanket.  The wind chimp was making a low soft tune of her with the rush of wind. It was 4:00 pm but town was already dark. Mom went inside the kitchen to make coffee. Dad was too weak to do anything and was resting over the rocking chair listening to music. It was dad who thought Ashley play piano when she was nine years old. He thought her by holding her hands, knowing the keys, the sound, and the vibrations. He feels proud that he is a dad of one of the national award winner daughter in piano. He looked at the picture of Ashley holding the trophy over the shelf and smiled. He had tears in his eyes. Mom came in with coffee and kept it over the tee poi and she noticed dad’s eyes filled with tears, she did not speak anything and held his hand and nodded her head saying no.

Ashley was unmarried and this makes dad cry. Whenever they talked about her marriage she refused and always told them that she doesn't want to get married. She is indeed beautiful, charming, talented, and now popular too, but Ashley never knew her own beauty. Ashley stopped playing the piano and called out mom to ask her what is dad thinking. Dad wiped his tears with his sleeves. Mom went near her with the cup of coffee, she kept her hands over her shoulder and said, 

“He is enjoying your music and he is happy for you”

“Tell me something new mom” 

Mom handovers the cup to her-

“This is your coffee, Ashley”

Ashley held her hand, kissed it and said, 

“tell dad not to shed his precious tears or I will stop playing the piano”

Mom looked at dad with lump in her throat. She pats Ashley’s shoulder and went away. 

“The wind is cool and its perfect time to sip a coffee.” Mom said resting on the sofa.

Ashley stood up and heads towards the window; Mom stoop up in hurry to help her but dad stopped her. Ashley felt the cold gentle wind, her hair blew backward. She closed her eyes and sensed the fresh green grass from her garden. She could hear the noise of the swing which was moving on its own due to gust of air, the hushing trees leaves. It was soon to rain.

“What’s wrong Ashley?” Mom asked,

“Mom I want to play in the rain, can I?” asked Ashley

“What a great thought, we all will play when it rains, but before that let me bring the cake for you” Ashley laughed, “I am no more a kid mom”

“so what? Don’t me and your dad still cut cake during our birthday which you bring for us, is that we still younger then you” mom laughed. 

Mom lighted the candles, and Ashley blew off the candles, they sang the birthday song for her. Ashley cut the cake and gave a bite to her dad and hugged him. Dad wished her happy birthday and kissed her on forehead. Mom gave the bite of cake to Ashley and wished her for her 27^th birthday and whispered in her ears “we have one surprise for you.” Mom went inside the bedroom to bring her gift. The thunder started in the sky with few dewdrops wetting the soil. The earth gave up its lovely whiff. The earth got fresh with the excitement of the sky to shed its rain. 

“It’s raining Ashley” Dad said in thrill.

Ashley wanted to go outside and play with the drops of rain. She told dad to come outside and accompany her. Dad got up and held Ashley’s hand and stepped outside the door. Dad loosened her hand and told her to go ahead and enjoy the rain; he stood just outside the door getting wet. Meanwhile Mom came out with the gift and saw them outside enjoying in the rain. Mom called out Ashley for her gift, but she was lost with the rain. 

“Mom it’s raining and the water is so cold” she exclaimed.

Mom laughed and kept looking at Ashley playing in the rain as if she got everything in her life she needed. She stepped down from house keeping the gift over the table and stood beside dad and watched Ashley. 

Ashley ran here and there in the garden enjoying to her full heart. Seeing her, surrounding neighbours joined her too. Small children and parents came out to play in the garden. Soon Mom and dad saw the whole of the colony into their backyard garden playing in the rain. Some children insisted Ashley’s parents to come and play with them in the rain. Mom held Ashley hands and danced. Dad too was shaking his hip and his lifeless legs with one small boy. Ashley looked up and let the dewdrops touch her cornea. The rainwater ran through her forehead touching her eyelashes, to her pink soft lips and to the chin and plummeted to the ground. She thought god is so thankful to her for giving such a great parent and gifting her rain on her birthday.

It was 6:30 in the evening. Ashley took her bath and sat over the bed and was lost in her thoughts about the day. Drying her hair with the towel she thought about the fun she had in the rain with those small children. In a while, Mom entered the room and took the towel from her hand and helped dry her hair. Dad came in too and sat beside her. Mom slides the gift from the back and gave it to Ashley. Ashley in her excitement opened the gift. She touched the surface, sensing, and creating the image of it in her mind. 

“It’s a CD I guess” thought Ashley,

“Yes it is” said dad “but would  you like to know which CD is this?”

“oh yes yes!” exclaimed Ashley,

“well here you go…” Dad inserted the CD into the Audio Player.

A soft music started to play which Ashley could slowly recognize. Soon the music started to take its pace and there she could know it was the CD Album of Martha Argerich- the International Chopin Piano winner Pianist. She was so thrilled to hear that, she hugged mom and dad for this surprise.

Ashley lost her vision at the age of six in a car accident when they were travelling to go to a wedding and her dad happened to lose the vision due to the bright light of truck coming from front and dashed the divider of road. They always regretted this; however, Ashley never blamed them for her condition, she was indeed happy to get such lovely parent who took care of her. 

“You are the best mom dad in this world, I love you.” Ashley said.

At Twilight, it was dark at Ashley’s room but she hadn't slept yet. She was on her bed sitting and reading the Bible which she always does before sleeping. She read it not through her eyes but through her fingers. She does not need light to read it. The light is inside her the light of hope. She could listen to the sound of rain from the side window, which made her smile. She recollects the rain that flowed from her forehead touching her cornea of eyes, it was indeed the most beautiful experience, which she says to us “The rain from my eyes.”

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HUMAN

13th July, Mumbai 10.00pm

There was a lot of activity happening across the corridor of the J.J hospital with people moving their feet more than their speed limit dashing each other. Face straight and eyes looked for someone close, they wanted to cry, but held their tears by the hope that their friends or family members are in a safe hands. Few chanted their own God’s name and mantras with the hope that he will save them for sure. An old lady was sitting on the side bench outside the door of the ICU keeping her creasy wrinkled loose skinned hands over her white haired head. She kept her head down to avoid the crowd staring at her. She was waiting for the news from the doctors about her grandson who was going through operation.

The environment inside the Hospital had become more like a fish market with people speckled here and there and like fish there were bodies of people suffused with blood. Soon after, everyone inside the corridor get to hear a loud crying noise of that old lady who got the news from the doctor that they could not save her grandson. The premise was silent for few seconds. Everyone’s eyes were on that old lady. She could not stop her tears and broke out crying and banged her head with her hand. She fell down on her knees on the floor with no power to stand the news of the death of her grandson. She covered her face with choli of her dirty blood spitted sari and dabbed her eyes, but even her choli got wet and did not provide the dryness to help wipe her face. Few came near to console her and gave her a glass of water to drink but she refused to have it and kept crying. She removed one photo of her grandson from her blouse and showed it to the people and cried
“mera baba… mera baba hay ye” (this is my son).
Soon later people came to hear another women crying from the other side. She was crying for her husband’s death. With every other minute people got to hear such news inside the hospital as if it has become the trend. Patients were many, doctors were few making the doctors to rush, and difficult to give their hundred percent. The sudden entries of all the patients into the hospital started from 8.00pm which made the doctors restless. The reason was the bomb blast that took place near Zaveri Bazaar, Opera house and in Khao Gali. The big TV screen in the hospital was viewed by hundreds of people all sticking their eyes onto the TV screen about the news of the blast.

After a while the news came into the ears of the people by which the people reacted in such a way as if they already knew about it. The news reporter reported that the blast was made by the terrorist. People debated and conversations started with each other about it. They were angry and the blood was red hot inside them. They started shooting harsh words from their mouth about the blast and on terrorist. One of the men among the crowd who was very much in his anger started throwing abusing words on the Muslim community. His pitched his voice high and everybody around stare at him and agreed to what he said.
“Saale ye sab Musalman logo ko sabak shikana chahiye.”(These entire Muslim people should be taught a lesson). Expressing his full anger over the Muslim community, people got a very good subject to chat over.

About half an hour later there was a hush in the hospital, a young man in his 26 years age was brought to the hospital. The man was going through a critical situation, blood surged from his head and the right hand fractured with no hope of life. The heart pumped blood faster, tightening the chest and stomach. The nurses rushed towards the operation room and the doctor excused the people in front of him and parked the stretcher inside the operation room and closed the door. 

A man wearing a Topi (a cap often wore by a Muslim man during the prayer) was observing this silently and was chanting praying in his mouth for those who died
“inna lil-lahi wa inna ilaihi raji-un.”
He was wearing a white kurta with full sleeves and sat at one corner of the hospital room, tensed and anxious. His eyes were red and helpless. He scratched his skin under his long bushy beard over his chin. He seemed not much older than age of 30years. He looked at the watch on the wall, it was 11.25pm and then turned toward the door of the operation room, waiting for the doctor to come out and speak to him. He removed his topi and headed toward the washroom.

One of the doctors came out in hesitation and announced
“one of the patients need blood of blood group AB urgently, please if anybody is of the same group do help, we can save that person from dying , he is in a very critical situation. Please help.”
The doctor requested everybody to do the needful as humanity. One man came forward to check if his blood group matches with that person with an intension to help him, to give him life, to give him the chance to see the world again. People started to discuss about that person and prayed for him. The doctors happened to get that patient’s id from his pocket and they got to know his name, address, and home phone number. The nurse tried the number to call out Raj’s family to inform them about their son. The phone kept ringing and ringing. After an efforts of 3 to 4 times someone answered the call, it happened to be his mother on phone. The Mother cried on phone and asked about his son. The nurse did not said much so as to not to make her panic, she just consoled her and told to come soon.

It was not more than half an hour; her mother arrived in the hospital with two big boys and one girl who happened to be her neighbors. Everyone stared at them as they arrived with a force and hesitation. They headed towards the operation room. The doctors told her that Raj is running out of blood and they require a donor of the same blood group to proceed with the operation. She got panic and could not understand whom to approach. She requested doctor to take her blood. Unfortunately, her hemoglobin count was too low to take her blood. She cried and begged in front of the crowd to provide blood to his son if anyone has a match of AB group. The boys took her and made her sit on the bench trying to console her. The crowd was helpless as no one had a match of his son’s blood group. The old lady who lost his grandson few hours ago came and sat beside her and talked about his son and they both consoled each other.

It was 12.35 in the midnight and the hospital saw new patients coming in. Raj was kept in a general room with tubes and needles attached to him and to monitor to keep a check on his heartbeats. They are still waiting for someone to provide him the blood.

7 hours before, 13th July, Mumbai 6.10pm

Light rain showered the Mumbai city and the hawkers in the Zaveri Bazaar road were screaming about their Product they were selling. The reddish blue sky was filled with flights of pigeons who were heading towards their nest as the sun sets down. Cool dusty winds blew along with dew rains. The Bhutta cart was crowded with people who wanted to enjoy the rain with the bite of roast corn.

Raj was with his wife who was newly married and took her out to buy her some jewelry and show her the colors of Mumbai city. She was wearing a pink silk sari with the richness of the handwork at the border in which she looked beautiful. She didn’t wear much jewelry but just one thin necklace glowing on her white fair skin. They walked under one umbrella with Raj covering her with his other hand on her shoulder. Suddenly it started to rain heavily and people ran to seek shelter, some adjusted themselves in the congested bus stop, few in front of the store under the header, some even got inside the shops to get shelter and pretending to buy something so that the shopkeeper doesn’t throw them out. Young couples did not care of getting wet and walked over the road holding each other’s hand.

Between all this, the spiritual people did not forget their prayers. Leaving all this pleasure the Muslim people were offering their prayers at the nearby Masjid. The Magrib Namaz (evening Namaz just after the sunset) was going on in nearby Masjid. The loudspeaker gave the sign of Azan (the start of the Namaz). The Ruku (bowing) was over speaking the verse “Subhana rab-biyal” and when the Sijdah was to perform they heard a huge bang as if the earth had cracked opened and all are now going to dump inside. They left their Namaz incomplete and ran outside and what they saw was the horrifying scene which they never expected. Dead bodies were floating all over the road, there was fire and smoke all around and people running to save them. Shops were damaged, buses were on fire, gust of black smoke were clouded all over No one knew what had happened. Raj and his wife, who were waiting for the bus at the bus stop, were thrown away with the intensity of the blast. Unfortunately Raj lost his wife and he fell unconscious without knowing what had happened. It was all in sudden just like a blink of an eye and all over.

Raj opened his eyes, all fade and unclear. He saw something was rotating up, a kind of fan. He side his face and looked at the people standing beside him, unable to see them clearly, he blinked his eyes to make them moist and clear, he tried to see again but the tube light above him was focusing which made him blink. He heard one voice calling his name “raj…raj…!” he recognized it was his mother who was calling out his name. He tried to open his eyes again to see her. The vision was getting clearer and he looked at his mom and other three friends of him giving him a smile. Mother held his hand and cried. Raj recollected that his wife was no more with him. He turned his head to other side and had tears in his eyes and heart full of regret. He looked at the watch over the wall it showed 5.15am.

Raj saw his mother thanking one person outside the room; the door was half opened but he could not see the person whom her mother was talking to. He could hear people clapping outside. The doctor who treated him came to his room with a smile on his face. He greeted the doctor for saving his life.

“It was only possible because of that person who gave his blood to you, you were in very critical situation and we had almost lost our hope to save your life but all thanks to that person who helped you.”

Raj was curious to meet that person who had given him the second chance to live. He requested the doctor to call that person so that he can thank him. The doctor went outside to look out for that person.

After a while mother came into the room and called out Raj who was taking nap. He opened his eyes and saw her mother smiling at him.

“Raj I want you to meet someone who came as a helper to you who gave your heart a kick start again”

Mother side away and exposed that man in front of Raj. Raj looked at that man, wearing one white kurta with the topi over his head and with long bushy beard. Raj smiled to that person and asked him

“Who are you my friend?”

“I am just like you Raj………………. I am a Human”

“Thank you for saving me” Raj joined hands.

He was waiting for his brother’s operation to get successful but unfortunately the doctors could not save his brother’s life. He told Raj,

“I lost my brother in this blast but I am happy that I could save my fellow brother with my blood.”

Raj was sad to hear about his brother. He saw some roses on the side table by his bed he took one of the rose from the flask and gave it to him. The man left the room with good wishes to Raj.

He walked away from the hospital wearing his topi and headed towards his home. The sun was to rise soon and he was to perform his morning Namaz and make Dua for his brothers and sisters who lost their lives in this blast. He needs to inform his old father who was waiting for him at home for the news of his younger son. He is a true Human.

The end

Sujit Devnath

Absence

It was not his intention to drink that night. The time was 9 pm on Alex's watch. The moon was at his full phase looking down, brightening the earth. He was on the top floor terrace of his wing sitting over a wooden bench. He removed the two bottles of beer; uncorked two of the caps and gave one to Clara who was right next to him. He looked at her, the very excitement of sharing the drink with her. She was wearing a white full sleeves T-shirt which came up to her little finger. Her hair was open which blew with the air. She tucked the strips of hair behind her ear which came to her face, exposing her soft subtle cheeks which shone with the moon light. Alex was amazed to see her beauty; he kept watching her from the corner of his eyes. Clara was lost in her thoughts. She thought of the time when they both loved each other, tonight the time is different. They went through tough days that brought darkness between them. May be trust was the factor which he did not have on her, maybe he realized it now and want her back in his life.  Alex insisted to meet her tonight so that he can confess his feeling. However, he preferred to have drink and then speak up. He didn’t have the guts to look eye to eye at Clara and talk about their broken relationship. However, this shall be the last chance to get her back.
They looked at each other, raised the bottle high, and cheered up. Clara was getting restless now due to the silence talks between them. She was waiting for him to start the conversation. Clara knows that he loves her still, but at the same time, she is aware that Alex is responsible for this broken relation. Alex was sipping his beer thinking of when to start the conversation and with what topic. Soon taking one another sip he asked her; “Do you like this place? “ Clara smiled, “Yeah am loving the climate much to like this place” “I am glad to know that. So tell me.?” Clara exclaimed “what?”
Do you…… still love ….me? Alex asked, his words shaking. Clara paused for a while “my love never faded for you Alex”Alex looked at her with broken smile “even though you know I have hurt you?” Clara got up from the bench and walked a little reaching to the edge of the terrace wall. She looked at the bright twinkling city;” this is very big city Alex, do you know how many people live here? How many people get hurt? How many of them move on? “Do you? People fall in love Alex without knowing they will be hurt someday because they believe in their partner and have trust on them”Alex was quiet, “I am sorry Clara for hurting you” “Yes you have hurt me Alex but rather than you it’s this big city that has hurt me a lot. Alex was listening;This city is mean and cruel and has no taste of love which I got from you; we exchanged our love Alex, it’s just that you were little careless about me. If I say I don’t want you then it will be a lie, but if you say you want me back, I will say that you are too late.“Alex cuts her “wait wait what you mean I am too late? “ Clara continued “We loved each other for more than two years; I never thought this relation would go so long. Because somewhere I had a fear, like my past love this relation would eventually end up in the middle. I use to think is this because of me? Do I make mistake or is it I give no love?Alex stops her “Clara you know it is my mistake, I never complained about your love. I know I am not that good in giving my love to you but I know how much I love you”“It’s too late now Alex, I am sorry” she burst into tears and hugged Alex.
Don’t say that Clara, I will make everything perfect again, please trust me.
Alex saw the time on the watch; it was 11:30 pm.Alex emptied his beer with the last sip, he was little tipsy. Clara came and sat beside Alex. There was a complete silence. Alex removed his cell phone and kept it aside on the bench.“I am sorry Clara for whatever I did. I know I have hurt you a lot, I do not actually mean what I say sometimes in anger. However, yes this is true Clara I loved you always “Clara cried and hugged him. Alex held her tight and then loosens her, he looked at her eyes which were full of water, and he clears her face. He wants to kiss her. Clara too wants to sense the kiss of his lips and want to express her feeling. She closed her eyes. Alex gently kissed her soft lips making it wet. His hands are on her neck which he slide it slowly around her waist then brought it up cupping her breast. The phone beside Alex fell down from bench.

The kiss got passionate and deeper. A few minutes later the phone rang. Alex was looking for his phone, soon to notice that it had fallen down and bends to pick up the phone and quickly answered the call.
“Hello?” asked Alex. “Alex this is James here, where are you?”
“I am with Clara at my wing.“Are you drunk Alex? How can Clara be with you?”
Alex was confused “What you mean?”
“I have one bad news for you Alex. But please promise me that you will meet me now itself after listening to it and will not panic.”
Alex shouts “tell me what it is?”
 “Clara is dead Alex, I just got to hear this from her parents that she committed suicide“ Alex laughed “is this some kind of prank that you guys playing with me? She is right beside me here having beer how it is possible, you guys made yourself a fool.”
James shouts on phone, “You are drunk Alex, I don’t blame you. Just meet me now; I am coming to pick you up. Clara is dead two hours back.” Alex turned to speak to Clara but notices that she is not beside him. Alex calls out Clara.Clara! Clara!
 He got up to look for her but he found her not. James was on the call calling Alex;“Alex, listen to me, where are you? Alex!!” Alex was not in the condition to speak anything. His throat was dry.  He first looked at the bottle of beer, which Clara was drinking; he noticed that the bottle is full.“You are too late. You are too late!” Alex could hear this words echoing in his ears.Alex burst into tears and cried out loud.Clara, please come back. Please come back Clara, I can’t live without you. He sat on his knees and kept crying.Nevertheless, Alex was too scared to move his legs and get down of his terrace. It was 11.59 pm. He later felt some cold breeze from his backside; someone calling him. He turned back, and saw Clara hanging in the air stretching her hands and calling him. She was crying. Alex froze and moved back with no power to shout or ask for help. He kept moving back and his leg slipped to one of the emptied bottle of beer and he fell from the 13th floor of his wing.
Her absence was for his presence!                                                     The End
                                                            

MY ONLY LOVE

Kate was lying on bed like an insomniac and insisting her aunt to tell her a story. She loved her incredible stories about ancient days which were mostly based on plutocracy, aristocracy, theocracy and so on......

She began...... “ It’s a story about a boy named Jake he was a boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His father was an army officer and his mother was a housewife. When he was 1 year old his father, one night went at the 11^th hour due to an emergency. He never returned back. His uncle was very mean as soon as he came to know about the death of his brother he acquired all the property and money through illegal means and by greasing palms. He shed crocodile tears in front of relatives and neighbors. His mother was not educated and there was no sinecure from where she will earn money. She roamed like a pedestrian in the town as Jake’s uncle threw them out of the house on a rainy night. She carried Jake in one hand and a parasol in the other and felt helpless. She came across a well built house, she thought the family living there were rich and generous so decided to leave Jake at their doorstep.

In that house lived a man who was a misogamist and misogynist, he thought that women were the apple of discord for everything that happened in the world. He found Jake very innocent and poor, he accepted him with open arms. The man inculcated his thoughts and ideas in Jake who was now his son, all this thoughts made Jake a bit pessimist. His father’s temper blew hot and cold, he was unpredictable, but he loved his son very much. He sent Jake to a boy’s school and kept a bird’s eye view on him to make sure he did not interact or look at any girl or woman. Jake had now completed school it was time he joined college. His father wanted him to study law. He did as his father wished. They did not find a college specially meant for boys, his father thought that the values he gave his son were not brittle and he won’t break his trust. He enjoyed going to college, he did not interact with girls. Jake was very intelligent, versatile and handsome guy and many girls dreamed of going on a date with him, but for Jake they were invisible, they did not exist for him. 1 month passed by he made some male friends and was happy.

That day Jake went to the library to get some books for reference. He went through the large sections and searched for the books he wanted. He selected the book and came to the desk to issue it. It was a girl sitting there he turned his eyes around to look at other things so that he could ignore the girl sitting there. The girl entered the necessary information and passed the book to him saying, “ Sir your book”. As he took the book Jake took a quick glance at the girl. She was like an angel, he had never seen something more beautiful than that. She was simple and innocent, busy doing her work. Jake felt some unique feeling inside him, he then suddenly remembered his dad’s teaching and ran from there. He decided not to go there again but it was impossible for him. He could not forget that angelic innocent face. Now he went there almost every day sometimes with a reason to get or return the book whereas sometimes without any reason just to see her. He could not gather the courage to start a conversation or ask her name. One day she found him staring at him and gave him a smile, in return he gave the widest smile he ever gave, he was very happy. He thought of telling this to his dad, but then remembered all that his dad always taught him, he decided it’s better not to bell the cat. He told his friend Peter about his feelings. Peter told him he was in love. Jake was in love and it was the most amazing feeling he ever experienced. He built castles in the air thinking about the girl. This went on for months, they just smiled whenever they came across each other. Peter managed to get some information about the girl, he came to know her name was Lisa and she lived at a nearby orphanage and worked at the library to earn money for her education. Jake could not think of anything else except Lisa. One day he went to library and did not find Lisa there, he thought she must have taken a holiday. Weeks passed by but Lisa did not come. He enquired about her at the office. He got a stern look and was told she left her job. Months passed by but he did not see her anywhere. Finally he decided to go and visit the orphanage. The news which he got there broke him completely, he had lost his only love, his first love. Lisa was suffering from cancer and left the world 1 week back. He could never ever forget Lisa, his dad thought he was a misogynist and misogamist but he was in love, he is in love, and will always be in love with his only love Lisa.

--- Sanya Hamdani.