The rain was heavy that day, even at 3 pm the sky looked like it was well past 7. The roads were starting to become partially submerged under rainwater which was rushing to the nearest opening into the drainage.
The sound of heavy rain could be heard everywhere.
Except for those who considered it an unavoidable necessity, no one else attempted to step out in the rain except for a few children who could be seen rejoicing on the terraces along with adults who were still as young at heart.
Devendra had been sitting in his car waiting for the right time to get out, he bent forward a little to have a better look at the sky through the windshield. Clearly, the rain had no intention of slowing down or stopping anytime soon. There was no other option and he opened the door of the car, and the raindrops started invading. Devendra quickly got out, closed the door and proceeded with quick steps after locking the car.
He tried to cover his face with this right arm to allow his eyes to see better of what was ahead. The rain water seeped into the shoes, soon the water was felt inside.
Devendra reached the iron gates of an old house. He quickly took out the keys from his pocket and opened the 70 mm lock on the gate. As he stepped inside, he found the compound flooded and more water adding through the downspout. There was no way to reach the wooden door of the house without submerging the feet in water.
Devendra felt like on that day he had made up for all those adult years of staying away from the rain. He opened the door to almost everything inside covered by dust. The furniture was covered with dust covers.
Devendra walked inside leaving water drenched shoeprints behind. He switched the lights open and closed the door, then he took out his smartphone and wallet which had been packed in a plastic bag before stepping out of the car and he kept them on a central table in the drawing room.
The windows took some time to open with some of them having been tied shut with strong stretches of strings. As the outside air poured in through the window, some life returned to the otherwise empty house. Devendra looked around and his eyes fell on the portrait photos on the wall, especially of his maternal grandmother. If she were alive and here, she would be rushing to find a dry towel and dry clothes for Devendra. Devendra knew where he would find them.
Devendra headed for his grandparents’ room where in a cupboard, neatly packed, he found his grandfather’s clothes and in another compartment of the cupboard a towel. He dried himself and wore the dry clothes and he sat down with his eyes closed on the bed, listening to the familiar and nostalgic sound of the house.
How long had it been, years about four. The house had remained empty after Devendra’s uncle decided to shift to another city from here, leaving Devendra’s maternal grandparents no other option but to shift along with them. The house was in a small town, almost a two-hour drive from Devendra’s house.
Devendra used to come more often, for cleaning and maintenance of the house, something his grandparents were always worried about. None of his grandparents were able to come back here again. The last time they closely saw the house was through a video call of Devendra. There had been a few conversations about selling the house. However unknown to all, Devendra and his wife were making up their minds to live here with some plans of their own.
There is something about some old houses, it’s like they are the perfect storehouse of memories and also the place where memories are created. Even if you don’t know the story that formed within them, you can always feel that emotion in the air. People do say home is where family is, but I have seen quite many people recalling their old houses, the one piece of architecture which would forever remain the most important to them in the world.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Faded Echoes
Early Morning Memories 