Chapter 2

                                    

                                          
Allepey was ready. There was a slight chill in the air, a hint of rain. Dark clouds, dark blue sky pulled a curtain over the sun. Birds in flocks dotted the skyline, glittering like stars. The earth looked like a bride, happy and excited to meet her lover. Kiss of droplets made the leaves shiver. 
                          
Coconut trees swayed and the leaves flying in one direction reminded me of a girl, standing on the rocks, looking out to the sea, waiting for the sailor to come home, hair swaying in the wind. 
                          
Water droplets created puddles, kids jumped and floated paper boats. A cyclist ducked his head to shield his eyes against the patter of raindrops as he pedaled furiously. People sat huddled together in two's and three's, sharing an umbrella as they crossed the river in a boat. 
                          
Vinayak stopped the car and pulled me out of my seat. Hiya jumped up and down as Vinayak started laughing and jumping around me, I too left all my inhibitions behind and jumped, happy, my face turned up, welcoming the fresh shower to wipe away all the stress of the city life. 
                          
People stopped to watch us, smiling at our antics, laughing. Kids joined us and started dancing too.
                          
We carried on walking ahead, leaving our car behind. Hiya skipped and hopped happily alongside us, holding my hand. Little bells jingled as the buffaloes were guided to plow the fields bordered by coconut trees, always in two's. 
                          
A woman wearing a petticoat-blouse and a man with lungi pulled up to his knees, walked by holding a yellow plastic bag over their heads. 
                          
Vibrant colours everywhere with sheets of rain fell down like confetti. Hiya walked over to watch a leaf shaped as a plate, holding water and it gave away under the weight of collected water which slid through one side. 
                          
Women in colourful blouses, yellow, blue, pink, orange and petticoats were cutting the tall, slender grass and tying them in a bundle. As if playing Frisbee, a fisherman expertly threw a net which stretched over the water. Little boys on rubber tires, floated on the water, taking turns diving. 
                          
Couple of boys were swinging back and forth over the water like Peter Pan, hands holding the branch of the coconut tree. Vinayak and I took turns swinging, the boys encouraging us but soon the branch gave out under my hefty brother in law's weight. 
                          
The rains were soon replaced by sunny interlude. Drops of water ornamented blades of grass. Little round and juicy fruits were hanging on the branches with drops of water sliding over them, caressing and falling down. Ducks pedalled furiously under water, sprinkled water as they fluttered their wings in the sunshine. 
                          
A rainbow made its special appearance completing the picture. And soon we were back at granny's house, drenched and in high spirits. I shaked my head like a dog and drops of water went flying around the room making the ladies jump at that, "Arvind!" they chorused. I winked at them and went inside my room.