1. On September 15, 2023, yesterday evening, the office closing time indicated that a heavy rainfall was imminent. The sky was covered with dark clouds, the heaviest of monsoon clouds. Strong winds made all the trees sway, as I sat in my car, enjoying old songs. Around 7 o'clock in the evening, I headed towards my home. The roads were gradually becoming wet, and the smell of wet earth filled the air. Some people seemed happy to see the rain, while others were not. Rainy days are always the most beautiful from my childhood memories. The sense of peace and happiness I feel on these days cannot be put into words. As soon as it got dark, I quickly ate dinner with my family and retired to my bed. I listened to the rain falling outside my window and soon fell asleep.
2. When my alarm went off at 6 in the morning, I opened my eyes to find a cold, rainy morning outside. The sky was covered with dark clouds, and heavy rain was pouring down. It was so heavy that nothing was visible, and no other sound could be heard. The cool breeze made me wrap myself tighter in my blanket, and I didn't feel like going to the office. Just listening to the rain pouring outside, I wanted to sleep a little longer. Before my eyes closed again, the phone rang. I reluctantly answered it. "Hello! Ashu, don't come to the office today. No one is coming, it's a holiday," said my office friend, Shubham, on the other end of the line. With that, he hung up. I lay back on my warm bed, smiling contentedly. Although I didn't feel like sleeping anymore, I felt like stepping outside to watch the rain.
3. After getting ready and holding a warm cup of tea in one hand, I sat on my sofa, just watching the rain. Even the sound of raindrops falling into the water and their sound today seemed sweeter than usual. Watching the children in the neighborhood playing in the rain filled me with joy. Sometimes, they made paper boats and sailed them in the water, happy to see them float. Their playful voices warmed the hearts of all who heard them. Then Mr. Sharma, drenched in rain, appeared from his shop. "Hey, Sharma Ji, where have you been?" I called out. "Nothing much, just went to the shop for some supplies. I thought I'd enjoy some pakoras in this weather," Sharma Ji replied, smiling, and then left. Everywhere I looked, there was happiness and the smell of rain. Though there might not be much in this small town, there is a lot of peace. Seeing all this, I was happy today, just like that one rainy day from my childhood memories.
4. Memories, memories are what keeps our minds alive, allowing us to cherish our present. Just like how the smell of rain spreads in the air as soon as the raindrops fall, today all the beautiful memories of childhood were wafting around me. Today, I was remembering that one day of rain on August 17, 2010, when it rained until late at night, and school was canceled the next day. In the morning, my mother came to wake me up at 6 o'clock. "Ashu! Wake up, you have to get ready for school," my mother said lovingly. "Not today, Mommy, no one is coming to school today," I replied, still half asleep. This discussion was interrupted by my father's phone call. "Hello! Mr. Rai, school won't be held today due to heavy rain. It's the Collector's order. Don't send Ashu to school," it was a call from the school principal. Even though I was half asleep in my bed, the news of a holiday sounded like music to my ears. I lay back in my warm blanket, smiling contentedly. "Take his leave, and let him sleep a little longer," my mother said with a smile, and then went to the kitchen. But now I didn't feel like sleeping anymore. I wanted to step outside and watch the rain, knowing that I got a holiday from school because of it.
5. The smell of bread being toasted in the kitchen filled the air, and my father sat with his legs crossed, reading the newspaper while holding a cup of tea in his hand. The slow, soothing music playing in the background added to the relaxed atmosphere. My mother was busy with her work in the kitchen, my father was relaxed, and they both looked at each other with love as my mother handed him a cup of tea. I was ready, sitting in front of the TV, enjoying cartoons and eating hot potato parathas made by my mom. Rainy days are my mother's favorite, as she loves to make us our favorite breakfast. Hours passed as it continued to rain heavily. At one point, I saw my friend Shubham, wearing a raincoat and riding his bicycle towards our house. Shubham and I have always been close friends. We spend all our holidays together, either doing our homework, drawing, playing games, or just chatting away. My mother makes us a delicious breakfast, and just that makes us both happy. Then, with a pat on my back and a smile on his face, Shubham would take leave and pedal away on his cycle while I would head back inside.
6. As the evening approached, my mother would take care of all the household chores and prepare dinner, packing it in a nice box. "What's this, Mom?" I asked. "It's your grandpa's favorite 'salan,' he loves it," my mother replied with a smile, doing her chores with the same happiness as when she used to make such a dish for me and pack it for school. Once ready, we would head out. Walking hand in hand, we strolled down the damp streets, feeling the cool breeze. It felt like the night was approaching, and my mother held my hand tightly as we slowly made our way to grandpa's house. During the walk, I would share all the happenings of my school day, and she would listen attentively, adding her own interesting anecdotes. Arriving at grandpa's house, we were warmly greeted by him, grandma, uncle, and two aunts. Evening time was always the best time for us, as the sun set, bringing us all closer together.
7. Sitting around a bonfire, chatting and roasting corn, my siblings and I would make paper boats from old newspapers and see whose boat sailed fastest. Yet, there were no losers, no winners. We all remained happy. Childhood was so carefree, with hot summers, salty roasted corn, playing hopscotch with added lime, and engaging in word games. Back then, there were no phones to distract us; we were not lost in our own worlds but rather built a shared world together. As the evening deepened, so did our bond. We sat together, suddenly the lights would go out — power cuts were common then, but my great grandmother always had a solution. She often made lamps, which brought with them new stories and experiences. Those beautiful moments are still captured in our memories today. We reflect on our past and realize that we truly lived many lives in that one day alone. And just like that, as the evening faded, all our worries melted away, and a beautiful day passed by.
8. With a slight moisture in my eyes and a smile on my lips, I found myself lost in my thoughts when a voice brought me back to reality, "Hey there! Papa has sent some hot besan pakoras for everyone," Mohit, Sharma Ji's younger son, announced, carrying a plate of warm snacks. Mohit is Sharma Ji's youngest son. "Thank you, Mohit," I said, taking the plate from him and handing him a chocolate. As Mohit left, I was transported back to my memories. Suddenly, a car pulled up outside, it was my childhood friend Shubham's car. In that moment, seeing Shubham, I realized that some things never change in our lives. My same friend sat beside me, talking as we used to in childhood. Mom still greets us with the same warmth every morning, and dad still sits on his chair, reading the newspaper with full attention, although now he wears thick glasses. Mom still manages all the household chores efficiently, although her hair has turned a little gray, and I've also grown up just like before, just with a little more responsibility and age. Honestly, it feels like we haven't grown up at all. All the happiness and joy still surround us, and life still gives us so much, but our age keeps counting the things we haven't experienced yet. The truth of life is that happiness is never elusive; it's always within our reach, and whether we choose to be happy or not is entirely up to us. Perhaps aging is simply about accepting a little deviation in time and circumstances.
