Monsoon romances: A proposal in the dark

It was October 2000, in Thirthahalli. I was doing my 12th there. It was raining heavily at that time. I was in love with a girl for the past 4 years, and I was about to propose her. I used to ask her to meet me during her tuition class hours and she always did.

When we met, we would get wet in the rain and she would looking amazing with the raindrops on her head and passing over her innocent face. She often asked me when we met in those days what I wanted to talk to her about, but I had no answer. I would just enjoying those monsoon moments with her, without wanting to propose her.

One day we were in rain, it was just drizzling and I said, "I like your dress today, I like your bag..." and so on. To wyhatever I said, she would ask, "Amele?" (meaning "then?"). I did not understand her so-called 'amele''s meaning. I never ended up proposing to her and her tuition term got over and she went back to her college, away from where I lived.

After that, I met her only 3 years later and she was very distant from me. She got married 2 years back, but still, whenever I visit my home during the rainy season, I remember those moments, I remember my foolishness in understanding her feelings, I remember my stupidity for not saying anything, I remember the places we visited to talk.

It's been 8 years since then, but all those lovely moments still play before my eyes. Every time it rains, I think of those days. Moreover, she was my first love. Maleyali, jotheyali chennagithu...it didn't last long, but those memories lasted forever and I am still living with them.

--Ravi KS, 26, Bangalore

Who doesn't loves rainy season? But for me, this season became much more adorable after that wonderful rainy day. I was in my second year of college and as is common in college, was bunking clasess with my group. There were three of us, including one girl from my class and three others, including two girls from another class. I used to like one of the girls from the other class very much and knew that she too had similar feelings, but we never expressed our feelings to each other. We used to hang out together quite often and everyone else from the group knew about our liking for each other and always taunted and teased us about the same.

On that fateful day, we all decided to go for a movie, which was at walking distance from our college. The very reason we used to call our college ideal for! As we all were walking towards it, the clouded sky above our heads decided to open up. I suddenly noticed that everyone around me was carrying their rainwear or an umbrella at least. But I had nothing. Not that I forgot to carry anything, it was more to do with my laziness and dislike to carry anything. All the girls in the group were carrying umbrellas and guys their windcheaters. Taking shelter somewhere was out of the question as we would miss the movie.

Here I was getting wet in the rain and my friends were making fun of me, except for her. I could see her holding her umbrella and looking at me sadly but also smiling, maybe at my foolishness or my friends' teasing. Suddenly one of my friends cheekily asked her to take me under her umbrella. I expected her to ignore this request as a joke and she did exactly the same, but when one of the other girls teased her about being shy and afraid of helping me, she suddenly came to me and asked me rather angrily to come under her umbrella. I just can't forget that expression on her face, she looked so cute. My heart must have skipped a beat then. I couldn't believe my luck and wanted to accept her offer but I had to refuse, shying away because of my friends. She kept on insisting, though, along with my friends, who I think were enjoying all this more than me! Eventually she gave me her umbrella and shared one of the other girls' umbrellas.

I just can't forget the journey to the theatre after all this. We both kept on exchanging glances with each other now and then. The looks said it all, we both knew that there was nothing more to say and yes, we were in love. She looked so beautiful in that monsoon breeze and sharing the umbrella with the other girl got her wet -- she kept busy with her wet hair all the time. I was cursing myself for missing the opportunity of being under one umbrella with her -- all this because of my stupid friends. Coming out of the theatre after the movie, all I can say is that we finally shared one umbrella.

--Pankaj Choudhary, 27, Mumbai

This happened as recently as July 4. My girlfriend works with a leading bank in Mumbai and we normally catch up on Saturdays after she's done with work (it's half a day for her, me working for an IT company means an off on Saturdays).

This Saturday, Mumbai was blessed with one of the heaviest showers of the season till date. As usual, we met at Vile Parle Station and were all set to catch an auto to go to Fame Adlabs, Andheri to catch a movie. Though we managed to flag down one rickshaw, the engine couldn't endure the rain and it gave way. We were still about half a mile away from the theatre with just one umbrella and no buses/ autos around. Being movie freaks, we decided to walk to the mall.

By the time we reached our destination, we were completely drenched and were shivering with cold. We quickly procured two tickets for Ice Age 3 and went inside. It was in the elevator that I noticed my girlfriend and how awesome she was looking with all the cosmetics washed away from her body. I held her closely and I just couldn't feel anything else around me, but her. The feeling was so strong that deep within I wished that we could stay like that forever. Soon we entered the hall, it was dark and just at the entrance, I held her tightly and we kissed. This was the best kiss we have ever had. It was at that moment I popped the question and she said yes with a kiss. By the time we came to our senses and settled down in our seats, it was already time for the interval. We both laughed. and decided to leave. We were still wet and it was still raining outside (it was 7 pm already). We went to a nice cosy restaurent in Andheri, had nice food and the day ended. Needless to say it was the best monsoon shower I have ever experienced in my whole life.

--Sudhir Gupta, 28, Mumbai

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.