The Rain

The rain that will never stop again

The traffic jam in Dhaka city is getting worse day by day.
Shimul is stuck in traffic. A thirty‑minute road, yet almost two hours have already passed because of the jam. Dark clouds gather in the sky. It might rain. Let it come—it’s been so long since he last smelled the rain.

A little girl came to the car window and said, “Sir, will you buy flowers? Roses, jasmine.” Shimul rolled down the window.

– How much?
– Twenty taka
– How many do you have?

The girl looked startled. Stammering, she said,
– Twelve
– I’ll take them all

A faint smile bloomed on the girl’s face. A tender, innocent smile.

Nishi had been standing for a long time; Shimul’s phone wasn’t connecting. It was irritating—she hated waiting, and she was already in a hurry. On top of that, it was raining heavily. Finally, a red car stopped in front of her. But Shimul’s car is black. Strange. As soon as the black-tinted window rolled down, Nishi was startled—Aakash! They had been good friends in university. Nishi had a soft corner for him, and Aakash had one for her too. But neither ever dared to say anything, afraid it might ruin their friendship. Every day Aakash would give her a rose. In return, Nishi would give him a sweet smile. She would never know that Aakash had grown an entire rose garden just for her. From the outside, they looked like two people who could never think of each other as anything more than friends. Yet inside, both were burning silently. After so many years, they met again. Aakash leaned out and said,

– Hey Nishi, what are you doing here?

Nishi smiled softly and walked closer to the car.
– Waiting for Shimul
– Shimul?
– Yes, my husband
– Wow, you’ve become a proper family woman. But you don’t look like one
– So how are you?
– I’m fine, busy with business
– Didn’t you get married?
– No. A good girl isn’t something you can find whenever you want
– Should I find one for you?
– That would help
– What kind of girl should I look for?
– Your photocopy
– If you had wanted earlier, you could’ve had the original

Aakash fell silent at her words.
– Oh, I have a rose for you
– Saying this, he reached out from the car and handed her a rose
– You carry roses around with you?
– Yes
– Why?
– I knew I’d run into you like this someday
– Crazy. You were crazy then, still are. Alright, I’m leaving. We’ll meet again

Nishi had been feeling good all this time. But Aakash leaving so suddenly made her feel strangely empty. Even if the man had changed, the feeling hadn’t. Shimul’s car finally stopped in front of her.

– Sorry, I’m late. Let’s go

Nishi looked at Shimul’s face and said,
– I’m not going today
– Why?
– I’m not feeling well
– I came all this way and you…

Suddenly her eyes fell on the rose in her hand. Without a moment’s pause, Nishi ran upstairs. Shimul stood there like a marble statue. The rain began to fall in large, heavy drops. Today, the rain will not stop.