“What's
a rainy day without some delicious coffee-flavored loneliness?”
The above lines
stole my attention while I was browsing through some of the pages in internet.
I agree with the writer but there is lot more to do on a rainy day other than
the company of a coffee flavored loneliness… 4th June 2016 was one
such day, the morning wind through the windows of S11 coach woke me up. The
train was just crossing Ottappalam railway station. The hay hut and surrounding
greenery on the banks of river Nila mesmerized and made me nostalgic. Good to see Nila is half alive from the
recent mid-summer rains. It was raining outside, slight drizzles giving the
feel of rain in a very different way – rejuvenating.
Actually my journey
with rain started from previous day evening. I was at railway station and rain
came from nowhere. In very little time it went from drizzle to downpour. The
bright lamps at the station gave different color to the rain and it started
dancing with the accompanying wind. They danced till all of us at the platform
got drench. The bright light from an engine nearing the station reminded me of
my journey. It’s time to move…
The book in my
backpack also got a little flavor of rain. It was “Kunnolamundallo
Bhoothakalakulir” by Deepa Nishanth. The latest tick mark I made in “goodreads”
was yesterday on completion of this book. Coincidentally the very first story from the book is also about rain.
The RE Bullet 350
in the garage was just waiting for me in the morning. As my 2 year old Sidhu
says, the “du du du tata” is about to start. The rain from morning is still on,
seems like it’s going to give me company for the journey. The road is slightly slippery and I need to be
cautious while driving the bike. My cousin joined me for the ride from an in between
town.
We took a diversion
from the highway towards villages where one can feel the real beauty of Kerala.
Rain was along with us with its magical twists and turns. In some points it reminded of the fast rhythm
in Zakir Hussain’s Tabla concerts and in some it turn down as whispering voice
to ears. The road was getting narrow and has paddy fields on both sides of it with
water filled from the recent rains which gave a feeling of floating on the boundless
layer of water. In some routes, rain
water was flowing on the roads which gave us a good wading ride with our RE
350. Rain has changed the landscape a lot. She has given rebirth to nature from
the dry summer weather. The greenery is reborn which cherishes mind and soul. In
the beginning of the journey itself, we decided not to take any photographs as
it will spoil the numerous “wow” moments we were experiencing through. For us, eyes
and mind are the best cameras and storage device. Nothing else ever can match that. And this
journey was really a visual treat.
The bike ride ended
at the courtyard of a beautifully built house in a coastal village of Kerala.
The sea was not visible from the house but still the roaring sound is audible. We
met the author – Deepa Teacher – with a smiling face. We talked about the book,
the background on writing them and a lot more. The rain was silent outside. A
small drizzle, silently listening to what we were talking about. Meeting the
author was a dream come true for me since I read her book two days back. Till
yesterday evening at the railway station, I was not having any plan to chase
the dream and meet teacher. But the heavy rains at the station reminded me
about the first story from the book and I asked myself why can’t tomorrow I go
and meet her. When I started from my home with my bike, I was having nothing
with me except a “Name” to search for. So this time the Rain has conspired the
plan and led me to this unknown address to meet a special person.
The return journey
was through the highway. This time rain was not there. I think her role of guiding
us to the destination was over. Now it’s time to cherish the good memories had
from the day. The different faces of rain, the countryside drive in the bike
and moreover meeting a person whom you were spellbound about meeting since you
read the book. Sometimes a lot more a rainy day can offer you other than the
company of a coffee flavored loneliness…
