"The Cloud Burst"

It was a surprise that heavens should shower few rain drops on the parched earth on a summer night. I had just gone to bed the night before, when the mother earth started giving out sweet fragrance as a symbol of joy; the joy of receiving blessings from the clouds.

I kept on lying on the bed and waited in anticipation of a heavy shower. It materialized very soon and the rain drops started falling slowly and steadily. 

It was a welcome change and I could not resist the temptation to go on to the terrace and catch a glimpse of the summer guest. The rain was gathering momentum by the time I reached the terrace. I pulled a chair and sat under the open sky. Thick dark clouds were looming large over the sky and were making their presence felt through loud thunder and bright lightening.

All of a sudden, the clouds burst at their seams and emptied themselves to their heart’s content. I kept looking at the clouds, sat on the chair all through the “Cloud Burst” and was fully drenched.

 “Are you happy that you have lightened your heart’s burden?”I asked the clouds.  “Yes. We are” was the answer.

I was taken aback when the clouds asked me “You also must be feeling light since you also unburdened yourself”.

“Who? Me? What have I got to unburden? I was just watching you burst in joy and shower  your gifts on the parched earth” I replied.

“Then, why were you sobbing?”The clouds asked me.

“No. I wasn’t. It must be the sound of the thunder”. I replied.

The clouds smiled and asked another question “What is that which is rolling down on your cheeks”?

“It must be the rain water” I said.

The clouds laughed loudly and said “The rain water doesn’t taste salty. We can make out from your lips that the water rolling down your cheeks is salty. Your parched lips bear testimony. Were you not crying”?

I had no way of escaping from the truth and simply said “yes”. It was with great difficulty that the words left my parched lips.

The clouds were in an upbeat mood and asked another question “May we know the reason for your getting drenched in the rain and unburdening your heart”?

When I spoke, I found myself opening up. “With the rain water, I was cleansing myself of all the mistakes; both committed and perceived; both intentional and unintentional; and since God has not gifted me to shower sweet rain drops on my parched lips, my heart, while unburdening itself has gifted me salty water.  Even if it is salty, I am savoring it since it is my own”

The clouds nodded their heads and said “is that the reason for a big smile on your face? May we know why a smile under these circumstances?”

“I am smiling at myself” I said as if to deviate from the topic and asked the clouds “now that you have unburdened yourself what will you do further”?

The clouds said “during the summer we go out into the hot Sun, gather water and preserve it for our beloved earth and its precious children; during spring, we shield the flower beds from heat and dust; during the long wintry nights we hang around the warm houses to keep them more warm; and you already know what we do during the rainy season; we give back everything and bring smiles on the faces of all the living creatures”

It was a perfect narration, which brought me back to my smiling self and I said “Please take me with you my dear clouds; make me light and help me take flight”