Summer Showers by Writingpal

This story is part of the Summer Lovin' Writing Challenge, where we invited writers to explore the storytelling possibilities of a simple situation. We gave authors free reign to interpret the prompt as they see fit, provided that they give their story a clear ending.

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Note: This story has not yet been proofread.

“Being true to your essence is not a job, it is called being human! Don’t you dare hide behind “It’s not personal, it’s my job!” cliche! You and your client owe these people an apology!” 

Her voice still echoes somewhere in my head from time to time. Six months. Summer monsoons have arrived and I’m still not over that one settlement case. That was not the first time I have handled delicate land transfer settlements for corporate clients. But it was definitely the first time I had personally gone head on with this firebrand of a litigator.

I cannot unsee the pure disgust in her eyes for me or may be it was for what I was there representing. The mighty wealthy, having their way time and again over the underprivileged and the voiceless. I could contend with the verbal argument and definitely a physical expression of frustration and anger and indignation. But what do one do with the cold calculated calm delivery that was so characteristic of Adv. Roshni Santhosh. All my team and I could do was issue an apology on behalf of the client that I personally delivered to the office of the NGO she represented.

Now, those same eyes were hovering over me from across the table at this quaint little coffee shop, in this beautiful little ancestral hometown of mine. I cannot say it made me uncomfortable but rather amused. The same cold eyes, but instead of disgust, was plain uninhibited surprise.

“So this is the surprise you hinted at, Vaani?” I ask Vaani with her sitting right there, beside.

She gave Vaani a raised eyebrow.

“Mmhmm, yes,” Vaani answered, hooking her arm around hers. “My true soulmate,” she chirps.

“Then who am I?” Chris interrupts, from beside me.

“For now, just the fiance, Chris. Don’t worry, you have a lifetime to displace me,” Adv. Roshni jokes with the same hint of icicles on the fringes of her voice.

“What! Displace you! Never!” Vaani reacts, glaring at her friend.

“Oh come on Kichu! Wait a few years, and one day, you will realize it has been a year since we last talked!” she chuckles.

The ice thaws a miniscule in that comment.

Vaani swats her arm and leans on her shoulder.

“And am I the only one missing some parts of this set-up?” I feel left out.

“Yes. Just you!” Vaani giggles. “This is Rosh, my soulmate, aren’t you?”

“Yes we are, for as long as I can remember, love at first sight, sorry Chris!”  she agrees with Vaani.

“So childhood friends?” I seek confirmation.

Vaani nods.

Her eyes are still on me, though she hasn’t spoken directly to me, yet.

“Dude, we are just college mates,” I say as I throw my arms around Chris’ shoulder.

“No competition here, mate,” Chris warns. “That streak of yours needs to take a break, if you have to join in this party!”

“What streak?”

“I know there is a scoreboard in your head,” Chris shakes his head.

I chuckle in agreement. Adv. Roshni has the lead in this tally. For now.

Her eyes were still on me, and finally, I had a reason to look back, into hers. The challenge was definitely evident. I make sure, mine was evident too.

No one gets to walk away from me with disgust in their eyes. I am a good person and no one can make me feel otherwise. They have no right. I define myself! I am my judge and jury! And I will win this round! I’m not my job!

“Making an argument for your unethical insensitivity?” she finally directed a question to me. I swear I could feel the imminent blizzard taking shape behind those eyes.

How the hell does she know what I was… never mind! Her tally is up again. I need a freaking comeback!

“There is nothing unethical about advocacy,” I say.

She smiles. Or smirks? I cannot for the life of me fathom!

“Rosh, please, you promised,” Vaani muttered.

“I know,” Roshni replies, tapping her friend's arm, still around hers. “No more.”

“Peace, for the sake of the soon to be newly-weds,” she says as she extends her hands for a shake.

“I have made no such promises,” I pull my arms from Chris’ shoulder and lean back crossing my arms.

I expect a thaw with a hint of humiliation. But the cold turns bone chilling as she shrugs and pulls her arms back.

“My offer still stands, though, for Vaani’s sake. But fire will not be met with just all douching water,” the calm in her voice was maddeningly infuriating. This woman was born to be a lawyer. The realization came a little too late.

Vaani looks at me amused. Chris looks at Roshni. We, on the other hand, seemed to be enlisted in a staring contest.

“Oh don’t be such a spoil-sport, Viki,” Vaani pleads.

“Viki, who? Sweetheart, there is no Viki here, apparently Viki is on vacation. This, here is Adv. Vikram Agastya, Senior Associate, Corporate law, Agastya Associates. And evidently, a wounded one too. There is some other history between you two, isn’t there?” Chris observes.

“You don’t know?” Vaani asks.

“No,” Chris shakes his head.

“Will tell you tonight,” Vaani makes a gesture of a phone call with her hands, and laughs.

Our staring contest is still on. I am fighting the ice. I struggle to understand what she is fighting for or defending against. And it is throwing me off my game. I should be able to see her game plan, her strategy but all I can see is a blizzard masking everything including her objective behind this challenge thrown back at me.

“For now, let us just finish this coffee, my folks will be expecting me back by now, the only reason I was allowed to meet you is because Rosh agreed to come,” Vaani taps on a friend's arm.

She blinks, but does not look away. I blink too, but cannot look away.

I do not want to admit, not just yet, to the thought that just surfaced in my head. No!

“Don’t want to displease the in-laws this early,” Chris chuckles.

“You guys take a minute or two. I will wait in the car. Also will settle the bill on the way out. Nice meeting you,” Adv. Roshni stands up, nods at me and picks her bag from the floor and moves to the cash counter.

“Take a hint, Viki,” Chris shakes me out of the bloody one-sided staring contest.

“Give me your car keys,” I say, my eyes still on her.

“Here, now enough,” he whispers.  “Get going.”

I smile as I take the keys from him and head toward where she is. Though, it turns out, she is quicker than I estimated and is almost gone through the door which I grab on to before it closes on her back.

“Thank you. That was kind of you,” she notices.

“You are welcome,” I try not to smile.

My scrambled brain cannot come up with any topic of interest to hold her in my space, or some reason to keep looking at her. Why this sudden change toward the woman whose voice has been literally haunting my inner being for the past six months? I refuse to delve into that right now.

I watch her as she unlocks a car and slides in. Chris’ is parked right next to it. I walk toward the one she is in and knock on the glass.

She looks up questioningly.

“Was wondering how you would get to the city in the evening,” I say.

“We are hiring a ride,” she replies.

“And back?”

“Same,” she reponds.

“It will be past midnight and both of you are likely to be drunk,” I remind her.

“So?”

“It might not be safe,” I point out the obvious. Surely, she cannot be that naive.

“Is the “might” necessary,” she smirks.

“It is not safe. With the wedding less than two days away, not advisable at all,” I take a stance.

“We understand the risks and I am responsible for her safety,” she says. Her nonchalance is beginning to bother me.

“Don’t you think you are a tad bit over confident in your abilities,” I did not mean to be sarcastic.

She sighs.

Not what I expected. No glare. No huffs. No indignation. No over the top responses. I cannot read this woman.

“I am afforded the freedom to be able to have confidence in myself, irrespective of a stranger’s opinion of me,” she finally says.

Bloody lawyer!

I was supposed to get under her skin, instead I am beginning to sound like the annoyed party in this conversation! Some conundrum this is turning out to be!

“Well that you are,” I concede. “But if I can be of any help, do not, please do not hesitate to ask. Vaani is as important to me as Chris is, now,” I say.

“You should offer your help and service where it is warranted for a change. May save many from tears and heartbreaks and injustice,” she remarks, coldly.

That hit home!

But before I could justify my stance, Chris and Vaani appeared behind me.

“What’s going on?” Vaani asks, looking from me to Roshni.

“Nothing. Come, get in. It is already late. We need to start now, if we are to leave as on time,” Roshni says, starting the car.

Chris blows his fiance a kiss.

“See you tonight,” Vaani says.

“You seemed to be hooked,” Chris remarked, after a silence that stretched half way through the ride back home.

“What?” I am amused at his observation.

“You followed her to the cash counter and out the cafe. That looks “hooked” to me,” Chris notes.

“We are very different people, Chris. You do not know the details,” I explain. “She is into activism and NGOs and I am in corporate law. Where do you think our worlds meet?”

“An ecological hotspot?” Chris turns towards me.

“Yes. A land acquisition six months ago, along the tribal belt in the valley,” I sigh. “Usually, it shouldn’t have taken as long as it took, because compensations were actually ready for disbursement, both monetary and material, but then her team stepped in, and blew the whole thing up. It was humiliating.”

“Was your Dad furious that you could not handle it?” Chris knows better.

“You can imagine, a prestigious client, even bigger deal, plus the hefty retainer, and Dad promising personal attention with me as their primary attorney and team lead,” I chuckle. “She left no crumbs.”

“I am sorry mate. I did not realise it was that bad,” Chris sounded upset.

“Oh no, please don’t be. I am up for a challenge,” I did not sound as convincing as I thought I was.

“I did not think much of it when Vaani said, she knew you, the first time I mentioned you nor when she said, you were in for a surprise today. From where I am, it seemed like a pleasant surprise to you,” Chris sounds cautious now.

I laugh.

“I hope you are not planning anything,” Chris says.

“Plan?”

“Yes, orchestrate a heart break or humiliation in retaliation,” Chris reminds me.

“Chris, we were young and stupid,” I remind him.

“We are still young and not much wiser,” Chris argues.

“Very young and much less wiser,” I qualify my facts.

“Still. Just so you know, from what little I know of her, I can tell you she has had enough heartbreaks for a lifetime,” Chris grows quiet.

“Elaborate, please,” I say.

“Her only parent passed away a few months ago after a long battle with cancer. I do not know what happened to the other parent. And she is a widow,” Chris clears his throat.

“She was married!” I cannot mask the surprise.

“Yes, apparently to her childhood sweetheart. Vaani knew him too. They married very young, I assume, because it has been five years since his passing. That is all I know,” Chris was clearly sympathetic towards her.

“No Chris, I am not planning any heartbreak, I promise. But also, have you seen her eyes when she looks at me? Cold. Undeniable frost. But at least, it is better than the disgust she gave me six months ago,” I let out an awkward chuckle.

“So you want to prove your worth?”

I sigh in response.

“Oh, here we are. You staying or heading to the hotel?” Chris asks as I park his car in his garage.

“Hotel. Give my regards to you folks. I will catch them at the wedding. I will come by six. You said it’d take two hours to the city?” I ask.

“Yes, and we will take your car. Dad would  want all vehicles here on hand for any errands and emergencies. Family are coming in,” Chris says.

I nod and wave at him as I drive away.

“I am not drunk. Just tired. I just booked a taxi and we will be on our way. I will message Chris’ phone when we reach home,” Roshni voice edged on annoyance at my insistence that I would drive them both home along with Chris.

“You are being stubborn.” 

“Who the hell are you? If you are Chris’ friend, be his friend! We do not need your attention nor help,” she was clearly agitated.

“I am sorry, I did not mean to be that harsh. But for now, I need to get both these people safely to their homes and Chris is the least of my concern,” and I genuinely mean that.

“I do not have to stand here and listen to you. Vaani!” she calls out and walks back to where Chris was unabashedly flirting with his future wife.

I watch helplessly as she supports Vaani into the hired ride and disappear into the busy street.

Both know that the busy street would soon give way to deserted intercity highway and the route to our hometown is not lit as well.

And I stood there, wondering if I should get my unbothered drunk friend and follow for the sake of his fiance or for the sake of the woman who mercilessly humiliated me six months ago.

“Chris! Get in, we need to follow them,” I bark at him without remorse. Chris stumbles into the car. 

I thought I was driving with appropriate urgency until Chris motioned to stop the car. He has to throw up and we halt a couple of times more.

The taxi they go in is nowhere to be found. Panic threatened to take over my system when Chris’ phone rings in his pocket.

The drunk man takes forever to fish the thing out of his pocket and I grab it from his fumbling fingers.

“Chris! Help!” Roshni's voice wavered on the other end.

“Where are you?” I sounded surprisingly calm for the storm inside me.

The phone vibrated in my hands. She shares her live location.

“Hold on,” I say both to her and Chris.

“You can say, I told you so,” her voice was soft and guilt ridden.

I look over at her through the rear view mirror. Chris is passed out beside me. Vaani on Roshni’s lap. We are the only sober, awake ones in the middle of nowhere.

“I do not want to,” I admit. “I am just glad both of you are unhurt and safe.”

“Thank you,” her eyes are focussed on the mirror, reflecting back at me.

“You are welcome,” I reply.

“And I am sorry,” she continues.

“You don’t have to be. You have every right to make decisions for yourself,” I answer.

“No. I am sorry for what happened to you after the settlement,” she does not blink.

“Information travels fast,” I huff.

“I have former classmates working at your firm, Vikram,” she clarifies.

“I see,” was all I could muster.

The wedding. I feel elated. Chris has found happiness in this wonderful lady who seems to anchor him and steady him. And beside his new bride, is the woman who ruined my peace, questioned my purpose and broke my pride, looking ravishing. One photograph for keepsake. With her and me on either side of the brand new couple. I know, I would cherish this moment forever.

Two nights ago, with Vaani safe in her bed and Chris snoozing in my car, Roshni and I finally settled the score under the moonless night sky in the dim verandah light of the temporary abode of Vaani’s family.

“I cannot pretend you are just a professional rival,” I concede. “And have to admit, I am hooked, and have been since the first time I saw you.” 

“I know,” she answers. I do not know how she remains straight faced, still looking into my eyes.

“You and I are different beings,” I proceed with caution.

“I know.”

“But I have my battles to fight and you have yours. We fight it the way that is right for us,” I take a stance.

“I know.”

“If we can keep our battles for the world, maybe we could build a world of our own,” my insides are on fire.

She is silent way too long.

“I am used to fighting alone and like it that way too,” she finally replies.

“I know,” it is my turn.

“I do ask for help from time to time,” she admits.

“I know.”

“I keep my battles aside for the ones dear to me,” she professes.

“I know.”

“We could end up breaking each other’s hearts,” she sounds nervous.

“I know.”

“But I cannot not see the human behind the corporate lawyer, who came all the way from the city to the valley to deliver that apology letter. I lost that day,” she whispers.

“And the cold front?”

“To scare you off,” she smiles.

“Didn’t work,” I chuckle. She giggles.

“Can I have your number?” I extend my phone to her.

She nods and takes it from me.

The last of the summer showers drizzle around us.

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