That Stormy Night

*Inspired by- #SmokingKills... it just mentions cigarettes, not exactly the same kind of story.

The sky was grey, saturated with clouds as they roared and thundered along with the continuously pouring rain. She was sulky, disturbed yet silent. However, on the inside her mind was violent and confused, just like the night. The thoughts in her mind rushed vigorously, forcing her eyes to push litres of water outside. She wanted to scream but didn't have the courage to. Perhaps, the weather did it for her. The night was just a picture of her soul. She was standing under the roof of a little shop waiting for the rain to stop. There were a few other people also waiting for the same reason. It was dry under the roof but she was drenched in her own tears and her heart drowned in sorrow.
"Stop smoking," she ordered irritated but soon realised that she needs to be polite. "Please," she added. "Why?" asked the boy standing next to her, returning the politeness. She turned to him and with a serious face, replied, "It reminds me of someone.” The boy had probably got a hint of what lay behind her serious tone and said, "Sure, madam. As you wish." Saying so, he smiled hoping to see her smile back. But no - situations had snatched away her rights to smile. It had been long that she joked or played. The boy threw his cigarette away and looked curiously at the girl. "So, Suzy, where do you stay?" The girl stared in shock, paused for a while and asked in surprise, "Oh! I read it on the book you are carrying. Suzy James. I like the name." Thanks," she replied solemnly. But Suzy really did not mean it. There was nothing great about her name. "Well, what's your name?" she inquired. Though not in a mood to converse, she thought it was a good manner to speak to someone when they are speaking to you. The best way to start is to ask a name. So, Suzy did what she thought was the best. "I'm Edward Kraft. Call me Ed. That's what friends call me." Suzy wondered for a second and resumed, this time interested to continue speaking to Edward, "So you are implying that I am your friend, is it?" "Why? Wouldn't you like to be?" "Why not?" Suzy replied reflexively uncertain of what she said. However, she somehow developed a kind of trust towards Ed in those few moments. She was lost in deep thought for a while. She looked instinctively at Ed as though she had found something - or, maybe, someone - in him that had been lost long ago.
"So, Suzy, is it okay if I drop you off home? My friend will be arriving anytime now to drive me home and it seems as if the rain is in no mood to stop," Ed said with a sudden break and it was evident that he wanted to speak ahead but fell short of breath.
Amidst the mist, they spotted a faint glow far away together with a continuous honking sound. David had arrived. He pushed the brakes and this was assisted by the car’s booming horns. It seemed like David had glued his hand to the car’s horn eternally. The car stopped with a jerk and two repeated honks accompanied it. Ed new tout de suite who it was. Without a moment’s thought he held Suzy’s hand tightly and rushed to open the door. He seated Suzy and then himself comfortably behind David. Suzy, who was already astonished, now gasped at Ed, hardly knowing what to say. “Come on, it’s late and then the rains too. I will drop you off home…and yes, safely. No need to worry!” said Edward taking pauses every now and then, the biggest being the one between the first two sentences. Suzy looked out of the window and spoke, “I know I will always be safe with you, Ed,” her voice so soft that no one except her could hear it. David leapt behind, with something in his hand, giving it to Ed. “Here, buddy. You might need it,” he almost screamt in his squeaky voice. Suzye was still looking outside the window. “I am sorry, Dave. I've stopped smoking.” This sentence suddenly caught Suzy’s attention. She pulled up her ears to listen clearly, not changing her gaze. However, David, as usual, looked at Ed through the mirror and winked, “Oh, I see!” Then, with a quick glance at Suzy and then back at Ed, he re-exclaimed, “Oh, I see!” Ed looked at David and rolled his eyes, then, turning towards Suzy, continued, “Can I know why you said that smoking reminds you of someone? Don’t get me wrong; I really don’t want to hurt you but –”, he was interrupted by Suzy’s sweet, flowing voice, “no, you’re not. And it is not a problem to tell you but,” she paused. “I am just waiting for the right time.”
Both Ed and Suzy spoke about a lot of things, from nature to science to politics to philosophy to literature to history. Their conversation ran through the shiny, green meadows during summers and through the smooth sinking white snow that covers it during winters. Eventually, they returned to the dark, wet monsoon. “Looks like the rain wants to see you wet,” the words followed a quick ‘honk, honk!’ of the car. “Perhaps, your friend doesn’t possess a good sense of humour, Ed,” Suzy winked at Ed and gave a quick look in David’s direction. Then, turning back to Ed, “Hope to see you soon.” She pushed the car door strongly to close it. She ran to the porch and Ed’s gaze simply followed. On their way home, David kept speaking to Ed while he kept mum all through the journey. He is not really talkative. In fact, he is a recluse - someone who hardly speaks even when spoken to.
The next day, Edward walked over to Suzy’s house expecting to catch a glimpse of a face. He couldn't forget that white face, thin and pointed nose, mince rose-coloured lips, an unforgettable beam that forces her flushed cheeks upward and her soft, blue, starry eyes that captures him in a mystery and the long, curved eyelashes covering them. His eyes were addicted to the beauty of Suzy’s soul. It was only he who understood her and it was only her who he ever spoke to.
She was there too, looking for a familiar face. When, all of a sudden, their gazes met. She went close to him, trying to rationalize what she was seeing. She wasn't dreaming. “Please pinch me if I am dreaming,” she whispered, holding his rough hands in her untouched, smooth ones. “I can’t. It would hurt me if I pinched you,’ a faint, manly voice replied. “I miss him,” she said, her voice shaky. Ed looked confused and questioned instantly, “Who?” “Dad,” she continued. I lost him when I was nine. I remember he promised me that he would bring me a doll bigger than myself if I let him go. He worked for the Organization for Relief from Disasters, you see. And there was a flood that day. I wasn't ready to let him go…I cried a lot and he was almost about to stay. But determined to work, as he was, he pleased me with a little lie. He said he would bring the doll when he comes back home. He probably would have…only if he would have returned home that night.” “So did he, I mean–” Ed said feeling sorry for her. “Yes, he is dead. He was a heavy chain-smoker. I wish he would have just stopped it before leaving me alone.”
Suddenly those words struck Ed and kept oscillating in his mind. Other than Suzy, there was also something else he couldn't live without – his cigarette. He couldn't smoke without hurting her and he couldn't care for her by continuing to smoke. He had to make a choice; a really difficult one. He was going mad, unable to think of a solution to his problem. He chose to pursue the third path. He decided to go away from Suzy just for her good.
A few days passed by. It was raining cats and dogs outside the house. Suzy hugged Ed tight due to fear. She hated rains. A weird kind of fear surrounded her along with the dark pouring clouds during rains. Suzy did want to let go of Ed’s hand but Ed insisted. He said he had to go due to some important work. She couldn't stop him. His twinkling eyes made it difficult for her to refuse him. He went, shutting the door slowly behind him. He didn't turn back. He went determined with the aim of being lost in the storm that night.
Suzy awaited his arrival. A day passed. Another desperate day passed. She waited for hours full of despair. He was not to come. He had succeeded in achieving his aim. For her, he was dead, just like her father. Life betrayed her. Even death wasn't fair to her. She would have better died than going through things like that in life. However, there was always a voice, magically similar to Ed’s that kept telling her, “There are such kind of stormy nights in everybody’s life. It depends on how you deal with it. Your strength tells you if you can survive, not what you have lost.”