Feature

Two cups
and coffee' machine

Yamin Tauseef Jahangir

Ireached my hand out and waited. The long wait was over, I could almost feel it. A gusty wind made me shiver. Somehow I always been ecstatic for this moment; a moment when I would see the charisma of nature, its treachery, its amazing contrasts, and I in fact dreamt of sinking into this strange yet fascinating aura, one that can only be kept in my memory.

I looked up at the sky, the sign was quite unique. Sitting on a small bench beside a coffee vendor I focused on the busy evening street. It was not long before the darkness began to prowl over the daylight. Lightning then struck somewhere in a distance and thunder growled. The roar of the thunder suddenly turned into an ear splitting crescendo and it seemed even a gentle southern breeze failed to calm the infuriated beast in its captivity. Then it just happened, quite unexpectedly, and I felt it. The first drop; a gentle touch of the cold water, splashed on my palm, soothing my mind. The rain drops then started to fall one after the other and finally in torrents.

One drop merged with the other and trickled down my arm. Within few minutes, the whole scenario of the busy street changed. I saw a rickshaw-puller pulling up right near to me. He then hurriedly slid himself into the passenger's seat and gave me an ambiguous smile. Being a bit perplexed with his actions, I preferred to sip on my cup of coffee. The warmth of the liquor made me feel so alive, as if I was full of youthful exuberance and with a desire to unlock every secret of life. Few tall eucalyptus trees, which stood boastfully near a park, swayed with the wind and the heavy downpour silenced all the other elements of life, just leaving the beautiful trickling sound to echo in the ears. Suddenly it seemed life just came to a stand still. People stopped their usual chores and the rain drew their attentions. I then saw a couple scuttling along the road, completely drenched. The girl put her arms across her man, assuring a last resort of security from the cruel nature. At that moment it occurred to me that maybe people were not looking for shades for shelter; they all were waiting anxiously to see the serene beauty that would impart different meanings of life. Perceptions of the mind, emphasizing love, solitude, faith, happiness, all of which were so vividly clear in every drop and that got lost into nothingness the moment it touched the earth. The atmosphere then got worse; the wind almost bent the trees near the park. They were more like performers, and with a drama queen at the middle they just bowed out from an evening show.

Lightning flashed like strobe lights, creating an absolute aura of stardom. I wondered how nature became a perfectionist in making the moment to be a memorable one. I then scanned the surrounding and was pretty amazed to see the changes in people. The rickshaw puller had a smile on his face, being all so cuddled inside the hood, he was having a slice of monsoon. The couple was holding onto each other, walking to an unknown destination, yet enjoying to their hearts' content.

The street lights were turned on, and I could see the drizzles in glittering gold. I could sit no longer and decided to swing to the harmony of a magnificent environment. I stood on the street and soon was lost in the rain. I closed my eyes and lifted my head up; the drops made me feel numb. Holding the cup of coffee I slowly turned. I then saw her; with her hairs plastered over her face she looked at me. She held a similar mug and sipped the liquor. The sodium light then shed its luminance onto two shadows as they slowly walked together down the empty street.

(Student of EWU)