SwaSan OS: PLAY

It was pouring outside. Eight in the evening and dark as doom. The clouds had completely ambushed the Moon and the stars had fled. Black sheets of rain pelted themselves...tapping at the windows as though they would quite like to come in.

Swara loved the rain. Pitter-patter. It reminded her of carefree childhood...of warm coffee, cosy snuggles in her Ma's lap and tasty snacks her Dida baked for her.

Khichdi---khichdi...the Bongs' special menu for rainy nights.. Swara could almost relive those smells. Pity, Sanskaar hated it and she did not feel like having it, without him.

Her phone rang.

"Hey Gorgeous. Whatcha doing?"

"Looking at the rain. Thinking of childhood. Ummm" Swara sighed.

"You like rain?" Shocked Hubby alert.😲

"you don't?" Even more shocked Wife Red alert.😲

"Not much. Are you a Pluviophile?"

"What is that, a homicidal maniac🤢?' Swara asked.

"No. A Pluviophile gets peace of mind in the rainy weather"

"Well maybe. Depends on my mood I suppose. Why don't you like rain?"

"Umm...power blackouts. Traffic jams, mud, Fungus, puddles...and musty weather" Swara could well imagine the faces Sanskaar was making, thinking of these. He hated all forms of dampness.😔

"Haven't you ever danced in the rain?"

"Not much. Why?" Sanskaar frowned at the thought.

"Not even when you were a kid?" Swara face-palmed.😲

"No. I tried it once. Caught my death of cold...and of course, Uttara and me slipped and nearly broke both of our legs. Dad gave me such a dose on that" Sanskaar remembered, laughing.

"Hmmm. Where are you?"

"About two streets away from home. Near theChildren's Park. Where I have been parked for the last 45 minutes. Traffic has not moved an inch because of the goddamn potholes" Sanskaar said impatiently.

"Chalo, park it there..and get out...I am coming"

"Hain? Why? its dark Swara" Sanskaar vexed.

"Arre park na. Back the car and side it. I'll run to you. There's no one about"😃

Swara came running with an umbrella, taking a beeline shortcut through the children's playground which separated their home from the highway, where Sanskaar was parked.

Swara was covered from the knee downwards with muck..and God knows what..with a red umbrella held aloft...which apparently had done nothing to shield her from the whipping showers. Sanskaar was about to pull her into the car...and rebuke her..but of course...Swara yanked him out.

"What!?"

"Arre chalo na!!"

And straight dive into a huge puddle behind an Oak.😆

"Swara...my suit." Sanskaar exclaimed rather cross.

"We'll send it for Laundry." Swara was already dancing. Now she had her favourite rain and her favourite person to share it with.

"We will both get Pneumonia. You are crazy" Sanskaar made futile attempts to drag his splashing Wife under the umbrella.

"No baba. What are you, ten years old? Kuch nahi hoga. See no ones watching." Swara jiggled her eyebrows invitingly.

Both their shoes were now full of puddle water.

"Toh?" Sanskaar started enjoying the fresh feel of the droplets swatting his face.

"Toh? Batana parega toh kya?" Swara enquired big-eyed and suggestive.😉

"You..? You actually want me to kiss you here? In the park? In this rain? Filmy Swara" Sanskaar teased.

"Uh-huh. Otherwise, I'll go to that chaatwala. I love chaatwalas. Especially baarish mein" Swara pouted.

"Come here, you" Sanskaar pulled his Wife close...and they kissed in the rain. Its a different feeling. Cool and hot and comfy and fearless all at once. Invigorating.

The streetlamps outside twinkled at the onslaught of precipitation...small wisps misting against the condensing effect of cool, on their scorching surfaces.

When they had had their fill of lovingly smoothing raindrops away from each others' faces...

Swara persuaded Sanskaar to buy her some chaat. Which she proceeded to chug away at, in the car. Sanskaar did not get more than a few licks off her fingers.😆

The Traffic Jam was over. They were going home. Swara loved falling asleep in her Husband's arms listening to the sound of rain.

Of course, the next day saw Swara in bed with a hot water bottle, and Sanskaar driving her to the Doctor's.😆