Pellets of rain were pouring heavily, and total darkness blanketed the world. A few times, sparkles of light flashed in the sky as lightning struck, followed by frightening thunder. Only a handful of vehicles were on the highway. A few cars drove through the dark, their dazzling headlights illuminating the road. They reminded me of my helplessness as a biker on a rainy evening.

I was returning home from a distant city when the heavy rain suddenly came. Though the possibility of rain and a cyclone was broadcast on TV, it was due 3-4 days later. The unpredictable rain kept me perplexed, as I had no raincoat.

Desperately seeking shelter to avoid the rain, I searched for any nearby shop on the highway. Luckily, I saw a small tea shop just close to the highway. Its dim light scattered rays of hope amid the deep darkness. I thanked God and went to the shop to park my bike.

The shop owner was a lady in her late sixties. The shop had only one or two benches for passersby to sit. A stove, an emergency light, some biscuits, and snacks were scattered here and there in that tiny place. The roof was covered with asbestos, leaking a small amount in the back. During the thunder, it felt like the roof would collapse. As the roof was made of asbestos, the heavy rain made a terrifying sound. Despite these issues, Aunty gave me an assuring smile as I entered the small shop for shelter.

The wind was disturbing the stove fire, but Aunty made me tea. I promptly accepted the drink to calm my nerves, as I shivered from the wetness in the rain. The hot tea gave me instant energy. Aunty’s reassuring smile gave me hope that I would survive this disastrous weather.

As time passed, we chatted, and I learned a little about her. During the rains, her husband was stuck somewhere else, and Aunty checked on him with her old Nokia phone. My parents were worried and called to ask where I was. Aunty’s Presence gave me the calm I needed to get through the situation. I saw a picture of a little child hanging on the shop’s walls. A striking resemblance can be spotted in Aunty.

Being curious, I asked Aunty who it was. Aunty didn’t reply at first. The giggling, chatty old lady remained silent for a few seconds. I saw a few tears running down her cheeks. But that was not water. She was crying at the behest of her lost son. I calmed her down and listened to her story of how the boy died in an accident. Both inside and outside the shop were sobbing—some in human tears, others in natural tears from the sky!
Four or five cups of tea later, she became calm and joyful again. I sensed the aura of a strong woman at work, even after losing her life’s precious gift. She had forgotten the incident, but the heavy rain and my curiosity brought the bad memories back to her.

After an hour or so, the rain stopped. I decided to drive again in the dark evening to return home. Surprisingly, Aunty didn’t take a single penny from me for the endless tea. Instead, she blessed me and wrapped a cotton thread around my wrist. She said it was a good-luck charm for my safe travels.

I initially came to the shop for shelter. Still, I returned home with a profound sense of humanity. This feeling will stay with me for the rest of my life. My belief in humanity was restored. There are a few good people still living amongst us. I said goodbye to her and promised to stop by her little shop whenever I drive that route.