The RAINBOW

When i was a child, i was innocent. I believe so were you. So, considering both of us, indeed all of us- when we were told that "Sunlight + Rain= Rainbow." Ever since i was told this, i had a fantasy to see what a RAINBOW really meant. How it looked? Where it came from? And where it would go?

All i knew was the same repeated formula, the very known recipe, "Sunlight + Rain = Rainbow". I waited days, weeks and seasons for the rain to come. So i believe you did. But it didn't.

In my case it came when it was least expected. On a special school function day. A day when I was expected to be neatly dressed. It ran me down with its grace, drenching me head to toe. my shoes filled with water and I walked in a heavy water dripping gait like a leaking diaper.

But for some reasons, I wasn't sad. I wasn't angry. I wasn't dissapointed. Rather there was a hope, I was intrigued and there was a conflict betwween my heart and the mind about the appearance of the much awaited bow. There were fantasies, anxieties and commotions within me. A total gulf of emotions turmoiled within me.

The appearance of the silver lined clouds sparked a new ray of hope and as rich the wetness outside, so rich became the belief within.

I was spellbounded, hooked and startled to see the slow sunlight coming back into form. The belief to the numerous tales, that- the rainbow is a manifestation of lord Ram's bow, that it was lord Indra, who brought the rain. I joined my hands and prayed to all. To Rama, to Indra and even to Vishnu, the lord of the seas ('coz the theory of evaporation stated that it was from his collection of vast ocean's that lord Indra borrowed and filled his pots).

I tell you i was a true believer, a true devotee and a decent pilgrim who would do the char-dhams when needed. But, as i opened my eyes gloominess started engulfing me. Like a ship in the middle of Pacific  surrounded by heavy waves. Ironically, to my prayers the silver lining of the clouds dissapeared and a dark shadow spelled over the sky. In no time the happy scenic imagination dissapeared. And i realised that I was actually wet!