Do you have any special memories that were created during the monsoons? We invited Get Ahead readers to share their romantic monsoon memories with us, and we have been flooded with responses. As part of an ongoing series, we present three stories we received.
Just how romantic a rainy evening can get, who could know better than me? My first date was on a rainy evening.
I was in the second year of my course at the time. After my fourth semester ended, I visited my roomie's home in Jalpaiguri. On the day of my return, I left his house to catch the bus from Siliguri (40 km from my friend's house) at noon. When I got off at Siliguri, the only tickets available were for that night. Since my friend was leaving the same day for a summer tour, I decided not to disturb him by going back. I approached the ticket counter and kept my luggage in a locker. I had nearly six hours ahead of me with nothing to do. Then, suddenly, I thought of visiting her.
She lived in Siliguri. At the time she was only my friend's friend. I gave her a call on her cell phone. She and her mother arrived in no time; they had been out shopping and happened to be close by. They asked me to come to their home, but I declined. I explained that if I went home with them, I would be giving up the chance to see her town (Siliguri is a very beautiful place surrounded by hills). I invited her to be my guide and asked her mom to let her come with me that evening. Aunty gave in and headed home.
She asked me where I wanted to go, but I left it up to her. With a very gentle smile, she said 'There's nothing to see here in this crowded city, let's go somewhere else.' So we got into a rickshaw, and went to another bus stand from where we caught a bus. We continued to chat, she told me about her home, her school, her friends.
As I listened to her I suddenly realised that we were leaving town. I asked her where we were going? She just pointed towards the hills.
'Have you gone crazy? Darjeeling!' I said. She broke into a laugh, 'Just shut your mouth and follow me, I'm your guide, right?'
As I watched the hills roll by, the Teesta river came into view. She was silent. 'It's going to rain. We'll have nothing over our heads once we get out of our bus,' she said. As we reached our stop, it began to drizzle. We decided to take the bridge over the river. As we made our way to the bridge, all I coul do was gape at the beautiful landscape around us. The Teesta flowed and sang below us, and all around us were green hills.
The road was not too busy, there were no pedestrians, only vehicles passing us by. As we stood there in the drizzle and the smell of the earth enveloped us, I looked towards her. She was watching me with a mischievous smile playing on her lips. What more do you need to fall in love!
It was impossible to move my eyes away from her. I was dumbstruck. She reached out to me with her hand, and I kissed it lightly. We didn't realise when the drizzle became a downpour. We started walking along the road, hand in hand through the rain. After walking for a while, we got to a bench with a shade above. We sat down and I rested my head in her lap. We said nothing. We were just enjoying gazing at each other as the Teesta gurgled away and the rain came down.
I took her face in my hands and lowered it to mine. She pulled away with a shy smile. Once again I pulled her closer and kissed her. I don't know how long it was, but that heavenly feeling I felt, will never leave me. She hugged me tight and then whispered 'I love you'.
I don't know how many times we hugged and kissed each other that evening. We only stopped when we noticed that it had grown dark. The rain had lessened by then, but she was afraid we would not get a bus back. I told her not to worry and she put her head on my shoulder. I held her around her waist and we started to walk towards the bridge again.
As we crossed the bridge and boarded the bus, we promised the hills, river and trees that one day we would return.
-- Chiranjit Dutta
This happened on February 14, 2006. I got married in 2005 and within 20 days of our marriage we left for Scotland. Scotland is a beautiful place and never seemed more beautiful to me that it did that day.
It was our very first Valentine's Day.
I had left the office a little early that day. It was just the right time to spend some time with my love. The weather was just perfect -- a pleasant, cool breeze blowing with a slight drizzle -- and both of us just enjoying each other's company. I had always longed to kiss my darling and was just waiting for an opportunity -- it couldn't have been better than this one.
She gifted me a photo frame with a painting made by her in which a girl was kissing a boy and they were dancing. I gifted her flowers and a card. Later in the evening, we decided to visit an Indian restaurant nearby so that we did not have to take a taxi or train. As we were on our way, it started pouring. We ran fast for a minute or two and reached the restaurant easily. As we finished our dinner we saw that it was still raining heavily and we had to wait for some time for it to stop or slowdown so that we could leave for home (nearly 15-20 minute away).
The rain finally stopped and we left the restaurant. But just as we left it began pouring again. The umbrella could not withstand the rain and gusts of wind and in two minutes it got blown away and broke. I tried my best to make it work once more, but with not much success.
We started walking, holding each other and talking to each other. It was very dark and we could only hear the sound of the rain and the passing cars. It was also very cold (2-3 degree Celsius) and there was no shelter to stop, so we decided to continue walking and enjoy the rain.
When we reached home we were drenched and the water was dripping from our clothes like an open tap. We changed our cloths and slipped into our cosy bed.
I have never had the chance to get drenched in the rain like we did that day. We now live in Bangalore, and we always travel by car. However, I will always remember my first Valentine's Day because of my wife's lovely gift and the time we spent walking in the rain.
-- Vivek Verma, Bangalore
It was my very first year of college life and the first in my love life as well.
My birthday was just a few days after college started and I was pleasantly surprised when my love came down all the way to my college with one of his friends to wish me. As he entered the campus it started pouring and with just one umbrella between us, we were wondering what to do.
His friend very cleverly said goodbye and left us. We started our walk from Wadala through Five Gardens (Bombay's most romantic place) towards King's Circle under one umbrella. He was holding me tight with his hand on my shoulder. Within a few seconds we were completely wet, but we kept on walking and talking to each other. Throughout the walk he never ever removed his hand from my shoulder. I still remember the grip and warmth of that hold. We then went to a restaurant nearby, had something to eat and left for home.
That was a very, very special walk. Today I am married to someone else, but I still pray for him. I am very grateful that he has been blessed with a beautiful, loving and well-educated wife. I just hope he forgives me for what I have done.
-- Lost Love
Share your monsoon memories with us -- we want to hear all about your romantic rainy liasons and experiences. Write in to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: 'Monsoon Romance') with your monsoon memories. Include your name, age and hometown (those who prefer to keep their identities private may do so) and tell us your love story -- the most interesting ones will be published right here on rediff.com.
