Monsoon and the melodrama that follows

It's that time of the year again when paradox is at it's best as monsoon may bring both comfort and distress at the same time in the fanatical lives of the people in this country. But let's be optimistic because this year, the rain seems to be dreadfully important to everyone. Whether it's the benefits for the crop makers, the traffic-haters or the Juliet pleasers, the raindrops truly bring about a drastic change in people's lifestyle.

Just listen carefully to the ferry-wallahs as they flash out 32 Colgate intimidating teeth at the news of good rain. It means good crops, hence good savings, leading to "Now I can easily get my sister married with the profits made by selling the crops and she will be out of the house for good!"

That's when all uncontrollable women rights fortitude wants to bulge out of me where I wouldn't mind being imprisoned for murder anymore! Nevertheless, the idea is that good rain means a tipsy better lifestyle for those in the villages. I mean, just the scene of them dancing with joy at the display of misty clouds reminds you of the song in Laagan as well as to how the whole Indian rain dance must have come into full swing!

After a great few months of torrid and stifling heat, nothing cools away the engines of the sweat glands like a good shower of breezy downpour! It's like that soothing bath in the bubbly tube with the song "the way you look tonight" being played in the background and you just don't want to get out (But then you realise that you are roving in your own muck so…well…. hmm)

It's also a moment when with the impulsive outburst of the vapours, the roads suddenly clear and you actually wonder if doomsday had struck with you being the only living survivor(?) Therefore, not only are the streets herd-free of human flesh and classy metal transport (which by the way could sometimes mean that someone has been very naughty this year with Saifur Rahman's budget plan by taking too many bribes!) but for once you can really drive around in ease. Though very risky if the rain is heavy, a laid back driving down the road in the monsoon can also be incredibly refreshing to the mind.

While some love getting wet in the rain, others argue that rain is best taken advantage of indoors. It just depends on how dynamic you are or how often you can handle mummy's spanking! If you are not out there then perhaps a good novel, with the right jazz or blue music along with Swiss chocolates, as you lay comfy under your blankets could overwhelm you! Then again, if you like being wild, then running around with a football in old damped clothes with friends can really winch up your spirits as well!

"Bheegi bheegi raate, oh Barsaate" That's right; monsoon is also that season where certain hormones kick in. Get yourself an umbrella please (even if it's pink and yellow!) because this is the only chance for you to (ahem) share it with someone as you run from class to class, shop to restaurant, heaven to hell…(right, you get the point).

It's amazing when you walk around in the monsoon and are bound to find couples hidden inside the umbrellas where one wonders why the umbrella is so small? Well, we all know the answer to that but then again umbrellas or no umbrellas, couples that haven't quite become an "item" as some like to call it, can actually protect each other from the rain.

Usually, the "hero" takes off his jacket to give the "heroine" and she faints in wonder that the hero will catch a cold. But then he streches out his muscles and says he'll be fine so she smiles, batters her eye-lashes and they end up dreaming of a jhatka dance on the hills of Geneva (Hey, don't ask why but monsoon always ends up meaning sub continental local movies!)

For the more mature couple, meaning the ones where their parents actually know and there are no bunking classes, there is more bliss found in the drizzle on the country side, or maybe just a less populated place, like Bashundhara, with a yielding walk in the knee high green grass and the comfort in each other's arms with the tapping of rain drops on the tin roof. In the end, rain itself represents the outpouring of emotions.

It could mean joy, stress or sadness and will straightforwardly reflect whatever you feel. If you want to relief nervous tension, rain will help, but at the same time if you are heart broken, the very sight of rain also helps unconsciously. So this year, with the coming of rainfall take advantage of it in whatever way you feel secure or at ease. Enjoy it instead of complaining about it and you will find all worries washed away.

By Shayera Moula

The curse that killed my friend

“Look at her, just LOOK at her!" whispered Sue from behind. I hissed under my breath, "Shut up, Sue. Just because someone's a bit of a weirdo doesn't mean you have to bully the hell out of her!" But Sue went on, "Yeh, big deal! ....Why does she have to wear her hair like that? And talk about 'colour-sense'! That green paint's just making me SICK!"

I glanced backwards at the new kid. She joined our class a few weeks ago. Her name's Shatira Ross. To tell the truth, she IS a bit creepy if you consider her appearance. Really messy and tangled waist-long hair coloured in a dark green shade (and I don't remember ever seeing her hair combed), torn T-shirt and jeans, dangling scull-shaped earrings and last but not the least, the menacingly scary look on her face make her look even queerer. There are rumors about her that she has some kind of supernatural powers. But surely enough most people don't believe that's true. Sue and I belong to that group.

The next day during Break, we all filed up in the Cafeteria for lunch. Shatira got herself a table and sat there alone. She didn't have any friends to give her company. Most people rather avoided her. Even while sitting alone, she was attacked by people's occasional glances, either annoyed or apprehensive. But it seemed she didn't care. She just sat still with her hands flat on the table, muttering gibberish under her breath. Nobody dared to disturb her. But things got a bit messed up a while later. Sue had gone over to the counter to get some sandwiches and orange juice for the two of us. On her way to the table, she accidentally tripped over and dropped the tray carrying food. Unfortunately, she tripped near Shatira's table and the whole lot fell right over her. Shatira looked really angry, covered in mayonnaise and juice. She hissed at Sue with a dangerous look on her face, "YOU…you did that on purpose…How dare you disturb my meditation?" Sue was simply taken aback. She was about to say sorry, but Shatira's unjust remarks made her mad"Excuse me! I am 'SORRY' if I bothered her royal 'Voodoo'-ness, but I did NOT drop the tray on you intentionally. I got better things to do than wasting my time here with you!" Shatira's eyes suddenly turned blood-shot. She looked scarier than ever. I stood up from my chair in tension. Shatira said in an almost inaudible menacing voice, "You shall pay for your arrogant, insolent act. Suzanne Howard, beware! Beware of the last day of the next dark fortnight. Because that will be the night you die…I curse you to be burnt alive to death. May your soul rot in HELL!" And she stormed out of the Cafeteria without even looking back at anyone.

"Sue, CALM DOWN!" I shouted at my enraged friend. "Calm down! What do you mean 'CALM DOWN'?" My counseling obviously wasn't working. "Who the hell does she think she is? The great Blair Witch or Countess Dracula?! If she thinks I'll be scared of her ridiculous little curse, I'd say she's a mental patient…!" We were talking a few hours later. I said, "You didn't really have to shout at her like that, Sue. I don't believe she has super powers or anything, but there ARE some people who do. I heard some weeks back she told Ramiha Rashid that she was going to lose someone she loved very much and Ramiha's mother died the very next week. Shatira is a queer person and I don't think it was wise to pick on her." Sue burst out, "Who picked on her? Me!? No way! It was an accident. And you know it better. Listen Trish, I'm not a bit worried about her rotten curse or her pathetic little powers. And Ramiha's incident might have been coincidental. There's no such thing as 'Supernatural Voodoo', and besides…" "Okay, okay, you're a very brave brat and you're not scared of any loony…I get it already, now SHUT UP!"

It was pretty late at night when the phone rang. "Who would call at a time like this?" I thought to myself. When I got the phone I heard a very nervous voice. It was Sue's. "H-Hello, Trish…oh, thanks God! Mom and dad are out…Trish could you please come over to my house?" I was surprised, "Now! It's pretty late now. Is anything wrong? ...Hey, why are you crying…SUE!" The line went dead. I was worried. What if something WAS wrong? I grabbed a jacket, left a note for mom and set out for Sue's place. When I reached there, the place was really dark. It was a cold night. I looked up at the sky and suddenly felt a chill run down my back. There was no moon. "Beware of the last day of the dark fortnight…" the words rang in my head. I rushed inside the house shouting Sue's name. There seemed to be a small ray of light coming from the kitchen. Reaching there I found Sue standing near the kitchen table, staring blankly at the oven-fire. I called at her, "Sue!! SUE!!" But it was as if she didn't hear me. I went near her and gave her a good jerk, "Sue, snap out of it!" Now she seemed to respond. "T-Trish, she's gonna kill me…Trish, tonight's my last night…" "Sue, what's gotten into you? You were so brave even yesterday?" But Sue was not herself, "Help me, Trish, please, save me…oh…water, a glass of water…please.." and she started coughing. I took a glass and ran out of the kitchen to get water from the big container Sue's mother keeps in the dining hall. When I was about to get back to her I heard a loud Bang of the kitchen door slamming shut, followed by Sue's scared screams. I dashed towards the kitchen and started pounding the door madly. But it was locked from the inside. "Sue open the door, please, Sue.." I shouted. Through the window beside the door, I saw Sue curled up on the floor. And in the dark shadows in front of her stood a black-robed hooded figure. The figure unhooded itself to reveal a head full of long messy green hair. I watched breathlessly as Shatira stood in front of Sue, with dangling scully earrings and the same menacingly wicked grin on her face. She said in a cold cruel tone, "Suzanne Howard, the curse must be fulfilled. Prepare to meet your doom." "NO!! Stop!" I shouted.

But she held out a hand and pointed a finger at Sue who was moaning in shock on the ground. I felt like rooted to the spot. Shatira looked like a devil from hell. Her eyes were blood-shot and her lips crooked in a nasty grin. She said, "Burn in hell!" And before my very eyes, a ring of fire was conjured out of nowhere. It encircled Sue, who was screaming crazily, with the utmost horror in her eyes.

The flames grew higher and higher, closing in every second to devour Sue. I felt helpless. Right before my very own eyes my friend was dying and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't take it anymore. I felt I was fainting. The moment before I lost conscience I heard the small kitchen explode and felt myself being blown away. And my thoughts were invaded by a shrill sound of laughter, "Die Suzanne, Die…Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha……."

By Raisa Rafique