Giving Love another Chance
Giving Love another Chance.
Priya watched the waves kissing the shore endlessly. Far away, she could see the approaching storm, the dark clouds looming in the horizon. Lightning flashed at a distance. Thunder rolled. Even from the comforts of her balcony, Priya gave a little shiver.
As the storm came nearer and rain started to fall, Priya went inside and shut the door. Old habits die hard. After a childhood of observing her father take precautions unfailingly, every thunderstorm, Priya could recite them perfectly. “Close the doors and windows. Unplug all electronic equipments.” In her mind, Priya pictured her father walking around the house hurriedly, unplugging all the devices.
Priya had been afraid of thunderstorms when she was small. She would run and hide in Papa’s welcome lap, close her eyes and press her hands to her ears. Each time, her father would explain, “Listen, baby, there is nothing to be afraid of. It is Mother Nature’s dance.”
Then he would tell Priya about the boy who had looked to the sky and smiled, every time the lightning flashed, because he thought God was taking his picture. Priya always laughed at the foolish little boy and soon forgot all about the raging storm. Yes, Papa’s lap was the safest place on earth! Priya thought wistfully and a small sigh escaped her.
Priya was an only child, thoroughly loved and pampered by her parents. Studies and college had taken her away from her sleepy little seaside town to the city. Feeling lonely and homesick, Priya had searched for ‘Papa’s lap’ everywhere. In desperation, she had turned to love, to Praveen. Soon they became inseparable; two of the college’s many lovebirds. They inhabited the corridors, empty classrooms and shades of trees and whispered sweet nothings into each other’s ears.
Their respective jobs took them away to different cities. Priya tried to keep the love alive through frequent phone calls, but it was not to be. Scarred for life, Priya went back to her father for comfort. Time was to heal the wounds, but Priya declared in a fit of passion, “I will never love anyone again, Papa. I have lost faith in love.”
In his distinct style, her father reasoned, “Priya, life need not be like that always. Maybe you could give it one more chance.”
Priya refused to listen. She went back to her job and directed all her efforts into it. Recognition came easily; her work became much noticed and talked about.
Priya became a loner, withdrawing from all offers of friendship. She was not willing to trust anyone. Her vacations were spent alone, mostly at home. Once in a while, she would go to some seaside resort, to unwind and relieve herself of the stresses of her job. She would spend a week, lazing about at the beach, or curled up with a book.
The storm unleashed its full fury now. Trees swayed and the sea growled. Priya watched the lightning flash, a trace of the old fear still in her. She remembered her Papa’s words and pictured Mother Nature dancing away her anger, earth shaking beneath her feet.
She sat there for a long time watching the storm. Soon she felt a strange calm invading her mind. Sitting in that room safe and secure, even in the violent thunderstorm, somehow put things in perspective. She was suddenly aware of the magnitude of the world, and her own tiny presence in it. Yet, here she was, weathering the storm alone. Tears flew down her cheeks, and she was at peace.
The storm subsided. The sea grew calm again. Priya opened the door. A cool, gentle breeze rushed in. She took a deep breath.
Priya took her mobile and dialled Home.
“Papa, I want to give love another chance.”
Written one stormy evening.
For my dear Achan, who celebrates his birthday today. He would love it if I wrote poetry; this is as much poetry as I can manage 
© Usha M., all rights reserved.
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