It was a warm and radiant sunny day in a perturbed rainy season. Little Akira is overwhelmed with joy and excitement to go to school on her birthday. She couldn’t sleep well the previous night, but she woke up really without any trace of sleeplessness.

She stroked her new pink Kimono which is her birthday dress and made sure that she has kept the chocolate box inside her bag for the 15th time. Akira hastily finished her daily routine and got ready for her big day.

“Happy Birthday, dear Akira” mother wished the little one with a plastered kiss on her forehead. “Where is my gift” Akira shouted in a zest. She was promised that she would get a brand-new umbrella this time.

“Akira you will get your gift once you come back from school,” her mother replied. Her heart started to ebb. Finally, she set out to the school wearing her new gorgeous dress and school bag enclosing a chocolate box. She was over the moon and exhilarated.

Akira covered halfway suddenly something happened out of the blue. The sky became overcast, and the clouds scudded by like huge smoky cotton balls. Weather soon became stormy. Thunder roared like lions, within no time a downpour began. Akira was taken by disappointment. She was devastated and didn’t know what to do.

Akira’s palpitation started to increase she wept bitterly in the chiding rain all alone. Providentially she found a small broken shed Akira ran and stood inside it to escape from the slashing rain. Tears were pouring down from her lustrous little eyes.

She was devastated by the fact that she was not able to reach the school on time and dress were too damp and soggy . Akira felt resentment towards her parents for not giving her present in the morning. If she had her new umbrella, she would never have been in this plight.

Time flew, the rain was still pouring down. She glanced the distant horizon with blue curves like a beautiful portrait. No more tears are left in her timid eyes.

After a while she could see a man approaching towards her with a flamboyant and colorful umbrella. He was tall and well built. Hence, she watched an aura of smile in his lips. His voice was quite masculine but clear and mild. Few drops of tears had fallen on her chubby cheek like a white pearl.

He asked in a soothing voice: “Where do you want me to take you my little girl.”

Without any hesitation she told him “To my school” and she pointed out her tiny little fingers to the northern side of the road.

The man grabbed little Akira on his firm arm. He consoled her and she was all safe on the left side of his bosom. Felt could feel the warmth and protection. He has a smell of red cherries and peanut.

The man strode towards her school. Akira had a ray of hope into her dismal face now. She stared at the man and that beautiful umbrella without blinking her eyes. Finally, they reached the school. The man let her down and stood on the veranda.

Little Akira cheerfully darted into her class. Kept her bag on her desk and she went into her bag and grabbed a handful of chocolates in her tiny little hand and stepped out of the classroom to give the man who fetched her to school on her birthday, without getting wet.

She badly wanted to thank him and tell him that today is her birthday. But surprisingly the man was not there!

Akira was stumped for a while, with her curious eyes she searched for him everywhere. No one else had seen him. She could not find his trace anywhere. But in vain, she cried profusely.

Little Akira went back into the class with a heavy heart. The rain was still lashing outside. Still there was a sun shower at the moment. The sun winked at her with a merriment amidst the rain!

Name = TV Swathi krishna

Age = 28

Manama, Bahrain