(All pics courtesy: Google.com)

Hello dear friends,

I hope this blog finds you in a cheerful mood, even if the skies above are heavy with clouds.

Today’s strong winds and heavy rain have covered Bengal in grey. Luckily, it changed direction, sparing us from the worst of it.

Now, as I sit in my portico, sipping a warm cup of tea, the rhythmic music of falling rain surrounds me. Something about the monsoon has a way of tugging at memory’s curtain.

And suddenly, I’m no longer a man in his sixties with greying hair—I’m a mischievous boy again, drenched and barefoot, chasing guavas with my gang of childhood friends in our sleepy little town of Khagaul.

☔ Rain, Mischief, and Mishra Ji

Back then, rainy days weren’t a reason to stay indoors. In fact, they were a call to action.

For us kids, they were an open invitation to wade through puddles, climb trees, and cook up mischief. And nothing spelled “adventure” like Mishra Ji—our cantankerous neighbor with a fortress of a garden.

His lush, meticulously maintained patch was a legend in our colony. Juicy papayas, fragrant guavas, and the kind of greenery that would make any gardener jealous.

But he was as possessive as he was proud—especially of his prized guava tree.

We called him “Grumpy Gardener,” though never to his face, of course. To him, we were nothing but “troublemakers” and “study-phobic brats.”

But his daughter, Sita, was a spark of light. She was our age—kind, spirited, and clearly the odd one out in that fortress of frowns. She’d sneak us fruits whenever she could, her little acts of kindness hidden behind innocent smiles.

Even in those early days, I knew her small rebellions weren’t just about fruit. They were gestures of friendship—pure, simple, and sweet.

🎣 The Day of the Great Guava Heist

One unforgettable monsoon afternoon, we were out fishing by the local pond using a bent nail tied to a string—our idea of a “fishing rod.” Of course, we caught nothing. What we did catch was a full-blown downpour.

Drenched and shivering under a porch, Raju, the self-declared ringleader of our group, whispered an idea that would go down in our childhood legend:
“Let’s raid Mishra Ji’s garden! He’ll never come out in this rain.”

Of course, we were instantly sold.

Moments later, our soggy squad was scaling the wall into his garden. Like clumsy ninjas in wet school uniforms, we climbed guava trees, giggling like maniacs, stuffing our shirts with stolen fruit. The thrill, the fear, the laughter—everything felt larger than life.

But just when I thought I’d reached guava heaven, a shout rang out, slicing through the rain like thunder.

“Oi! You monkeys!”

It was Mishra Ji, yelling from his verandah, waving his Stick like a sword. We paused for a moment, startled—then smirked. He wouldn’t dare come out in this storm, right?

Wrong.

He darted back inside, and that’s when panic set in. Moments later, Sita emerged, running toward us, her soaked hair plastered to her face.

“Bhola! Get down now! He’s letting Jhabru loose!”

Now, Jhabru wasn’t a dog. He was a mythical beast in our eyes—an enormous Alsatian with eyes that could melt courage. He was the last line of Mishra Ji’s defense, and he meant business.

I don’t remember climbing down that tree. I just remember falling, twisting my ankle, and somehow managing to limp-run like my life depended on it—because it did.

Behind us, the barking grew louder, echoing like a war cry through the drizzle. At the gate, I turned back once, breathless. Sita stood in the rain, smiling—not with pity, but pride. In that moment, she was the unsung hero of our rain-drenched rebellion.

🌼 Friendship, Then and Now

That soaked afternoon lives in my memory not because we stole guavas, but because we shared something far richer—connection, courage, and unspoken loyalty.

We didn’t need Instagram captions or WhatsApp statuses to express our friendship. We had scraped knees, secret smiles, shared umbrellas, and fruit-stained fingers.

Friendship, then, was about showing up—whether it was to climb a tree, cover for a friend, or face the wrath of Jhabru. And Sita, in her quiet courage, showed us what it truly meant to stand by your friends—even if it meant breaking a rule or two.

💛 On This Friendship Day…

Let’s not just celebrate the friends who post wishes online, but the ones who stood with us when we were hiding from the rain—both literal and metaphorical.

Let’s cherish the ones who made us laugh during our darkest days, who stole guavas with us, who shouted warnings when danger approached, and who helped us run—sometimes limping, sometimes laughing, but always together.

Friendship Day isn’t about flowers or chocolates.
It’s about stories.
It’s about rain-drenched memories.
It’s about Sita.
It’s about us.
Happy Friendship Day! 🌧️🥭💛

BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE

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Categories: मेरे संस्मरण

Tags: #creativity, #emotions, #Friendship Day, #happiness, #wellness, featured