Rainy Weather

Rainy Weather

Tessa leaned against the window, her nose pressed against the glass “I hate damp weather” she exclaimed to herself... she looked expressionless, staring outside hoping for the sun to come above the horizon again!

“Tessa, will you do me a favour?” her mother’s voice echoed from the kitchen.  “Yes, mother” she replied. “Dear get me some meat, spring onions and oyster sauce from the market” ,her mother said impatiently. “Mom, I hate the weather” Tessa winced in despair. “Please Tessie... aunt Harriet’s coming home and I ought to make something special” her mother sounded pleading. “Okay!” she finally agreed.

Tessa put on her gumboots and took her umbrella. The basket in one hand and the umbrella in the other she marched out of her house.

The sky was dark blue, pale grey colour. It smelled damp and muddy, moss grew over many old houses as she walked by... a chilly breeze blew past her, it made the hairs on her back trickle and her fingers tremble. She pulled her overcoat a little more close to her body. She looked up to see, a greying sky that arched overhead, threatening rain... “I thoroughly despise this!” she said with an awful expression.

She was soon in the market place. The hustle-bustle, the crowd, Smell of meat and fish. The market seemed damper than ever...Tessa was probably going to slip over the wet road but, her strong gripped boots were her saviour!

The sight of the market never fascinated her but, today it seemed different... people moved here and there holding vividly coloured umbrellas! The rain seemed like dew drops on the vegetables, it made them look more fresh and new... for the first time she noticed the market place so keenly...

Tessa bought the required ingredients and her way back home. She could smell damp-soil, earthy scent, trees, mud... everything rain like! As she walked by her gaze fell on something, as she looked at her side she saw wild flowers blooming. She neared them to take a closer look... they were tiny and white with deep green leaves. The rain drops that rested on their petals seemed like crystals! The big trees that had dry leaves in summer... now bore a whole new batch of leaves, brighter and greener than ever!

She got home, gave her mother the listed items and hurried to her room. She opened the window and let her hand out to feel the rain... the raindrops that feel on her hands trickled her fingers. They were cold and wet, she loved it. The rain had its own soft coldness, she thought... its own dampness... “Damp weather isn’t that bad!” she grinned to herself.

-Gauri Kadam