The Last Rain

The sun was melting into the vast ocean and the last of its rays coloured the water a blushing pink and the windows were sparkling orange. This was probably the only colour that he had seen in the last one year!

His eyes went back to the bed where she lay, lifeless, silent and semi-conscious. So pretty as the first time he had laid his eyes on her but slightly pale yellowish in that cotton robe. Everything beside her was screaming out to her, telling her to break the spell and awake from the slumber! Her guitar, her books, her perfume, her favorite pink roses by the bedside and above all her husband!

She did wake up every once in a while to take her medication and to go for the chemotherapies. It had been quite a while since he had heard her laughter, her songs, her non-stop chatter.... and he missed it all. He would shed a few silent tears each night for the person he loved was going through so much pain, so much agony.... Instead, perhaps it would have been better if she quietly made her way to heaven. Of course heaven! That is the rightest place for an angel.

Life just went on endlessly from morning to night with him running from pillar to post to find out any possible way to save his angel. He didn't realise it was June already! The month of the rains, the month of romance and also her birthday happened to be in that beautiful month. He was wondering what he would give her on this birthday. Was there anything that she needed more than her life? No.... Was there anything that he needed more than her life?! And then tears started welling up in his eyes.... Would he ever be able to life his life with her? That was a question only the coming years would say.... There is nothing that a desperate man can have except for hope and that was what he had... And he would keep it going.For now, he needed a change of clothes and he headed home for a fresh set of clothing.

As soon as he stepped out of the hospital building, he felt a few drops of water on his head and he looked skywards.... It was drizzling, he rushed towards the parking lot before it started pouring. But it started raining cats and dogs before he could get to his car.

He remembered how she loved the rains... She would start strumming her guitar and he would prepare tea and both of them would sit by the French windows sipping tea and humming songs. And followed by the rain walk, a ritual coined by them who shared the common love for the gift of the heavens...

It was the magical first rains of the season, of this June.... He turned back and went to her room. He was sure she would be awake and playing her guitar... But the room was as still as before, as lifeless as before... He couldn't control himself anymore and tears started flowing freely. He was hoping against all odds that she would still be strumming that guitar and he would be getting them tea.... But no, she was too heavily sedated to even realise it was raining.

He just couldn't take it anymore. He took her in his arms and rushed down as soon as he could. And he just stood there with her in his arms in the lawn feeling the raindrops trickle through their clothes and drench them...

She felt some drops lashing at her and she opened her eyes slightly to see if it was really raining or if she was dreaming. And she saw the rain coming down by the evening lights. And for the first time in months, he saw that smile that he had always longed for! She was in no position to stand up by herself. She was yearning to stand on her own feet but just could not manage it. She held on to him and stood barefoot on the green grass taking in the sweet smell of the earth.

But she couldn't stand for more than a minute and he had to take her in his arms again. Anything for her he thought! As long as she is smiling and with me!

She felt her pain dissolving with the raindrops. She was at peace after long and felt no pain, as if she transcended into another world. She threw him the same loving glance like always and held his gaze. She was taking every bit of him with her because she realised her breaths were slowing down. He realised that but she gestured him to stop ans wait. She wanted her last trip to be with him around and not rushing away to get help like he had been doing throughout the year.... It was difficult for him to see the person he loved the most just fade away into nothingness. He just held her tight and secure with her turning into a lump in his arms.

The wardboy came running as he saw both of them standing in the torrential rain. He checked her pulse and her hearbeat and quietly shut her eyes and went inside to get the stretcher. He let out a painful scream. She was really not with him anymore..............

The death certificate read June 07, 2007 00.05 am.... He had given her a birthday gift that she would love and carry with her on her trip to heaven, an experience in the rains, with him!!!