a walk beneath the clouds

The forecast said 9 degrees in the morning and 15 during daytime. 15 seemed normal and I didn’t bother carrying an umbrella or a jacket. At arnd 11 am it started raining. And it continued to rain throughout the day. I waited for the rains to stop but it just wudnt. So I stepped out..very ill equipped to deal with the rains, thinking a drizzle wont be that much of a problem. I shudnt have overlooked the temperature though.

The mercury had already dropped down a couple of places. I stepped out of the building and tried to light a cigarette. A gush of wind blew off the flame. I somehow knew that the walk to the station wudnt be like any other day. By the time I crossed the road my shirt had already darkened. I was the only one on the road with no umbrella or jacket on myself. It is at this time that I started to feel the sting.

Each drop felt like a needle going thru my skin and flesh right up to the bone. And the wind acted like salt on a festering wound. The only thing that kept me going was tht cigarette. I kept switching the cigg bet both the hands. As soon as that switch was made the hand tht was free went into my trouser pocket (and I was too fuckin cold to think wht ur prolly thinking now). And everytime I made tht switch I felt pins and needles. My hands were shivering so much that even smoking was difficult. Before the cigg butt cud go in between my lips it touched the entire periphery as if telling me on a subconscious level on how harmful its effects are…ironic considering how tht was the only thing tht somehow distracted me from the cold.

I rched the station only to find the trains running late. There wasn’t any more walking to be done once I board the train. After about half an hr i was at my station. I looked outside..it was still raning. I took out the cigg packet..still one left. I wud reach home before I can finish half of it…. :)