Chasing the Thunder Drum

Chapter 1: The Thunder Drum

Rain taps the kitchen window like a hundred small fingers. ⟨Character 1⟩, seven years old, is under the table with her knees against her chin.

⟨Character 1⟩: It’s coming again. The big one. I can feel it in the floor.

⟨Character 2⟩: Aanya, come out. I’ll show you a cricket trick. You know how to make a ball spin? You just flick your wrist like this. The thunder can’t get you under a table, but it also can’t get you if you’re spinning a ball.

⟨Character 1⟩: I don’t want to spin a ball. I want the noise to stop.

⟨Character 3⟩: Aanya, listen. When I was a ⟨role⟩ in Thanjavur, the thunder used to roll over the roofs like someone dragging a big iron trunk. I used to hide behind the grain sack and sing to myself. Would you like to hear the song?

⟨Character 1⟩: Does it help? The song?

⟨Character 3⟩: It made me feel like I had a friend in the noise. And I used to think of the thunder as a big drum. A drum can’t hurt you. It just wants to be heard. Now the rice needs salt. Where did I put the salt?

⟨Character 2⟩: A drum! That’s it. You know what we should do? We should build a rocket and chase the thunder. Fly right up to it and say, ‘Excuse me, Mr. Thunder, we’re not scared of you.’ Wouldn’t that be something?

⟨Character 1⟩: A rocket? Out of what? We don’t have a rocket.

⟨Character 2⟩: We’ve got that broken umbrella in the scrap pile. The one with the bent spoke. I bet we could fix it up. Make it fly. You’re good at drawing rockets. You could draw flames on it.

⟨Character 1⟩: I could draw flames. And stars. And a big drum on the side. But will it really fly?

⟨Character 3⟩: If anyone can make it fly, you can. You’re stubborn like your grandmother. Now, where are my glasses? I need them to see the salt.

⟨Character 2⟩: They’re on your head, Kamala. Come on, Aanya. Let’s go find that umbrella before the rain stops. Then we’ll show the thunder what we’re made of.

⟨Character 1⟩: Okay. But if it gets too loud, I’m bringing my drum drawing. The thunder might want to see it.

Chapter 2: The Umbrella Rocket

Morning sun on the courtyard. The scrap pile leans against the wall: old pipes, a cracked bucket, and one bent black umbrella with a loose handle.

⟨Character 1⟩: Found it! Look, Rohan, the handle is wobbly but the cloth is all here. It just needs a bit of straightening. We can use the bent spoke as a fin.

⟨Character 2⟩: Good eye. Sticky tape, a cardboard fin, a whistle for the signal. And Kamala said she has string in her sewing box. This is going to be the finest rocket in all of Pune. Maybe the finest rocket in all of Maharashtra.

⟨Character 3⟩: String, scissors, and two laddoos for the builders. And before you ask, I found my glasses this time. They were in the fridge. I don’t want to talk about it.

⟨Character 1⟩: Thank you, Kamala. I’m going to draw flames on the cloth. Red and orange. And a big drum on the side, so the thunder knows we’re friendly.

⟨Character 2⟩: I’ll cover the sharp bit of the broken spoke with tape so nobody gets poked. And the string here goes through these two holes. You pull left, you go left. Pull right, you go right. Easy.

The doorbell rings. ⟨Character 4⟩, who has been asleep on Rohan’s sandals, jumps up and lets out a long, wobbly howl.

⟨Character 1⟩: ⟨Character 4⟩, it’s just a bell. It’s not a tiger. You lie back down. You’re making my drawing shake.

⟨Character 2⟩: Every single time. One day a bell will ring and ⟨Character 4⟩ will just snore. Today is not that day. Right, boy?

⟨Character 3⟩: There. A jingle bell. When the wind blows, it sings. So you won’t be alone up there. You’ll have a little music.

By afternoon the rocket stands ready: the black umbrella stretched wide, flames painted on the cloth, a cardboard fin at the back, and string running through two neat holes.

⟨Character 1⟩: Okay, I’m in. The handle’s a bit wobbly but I can hold it. When I pull the string, I go up. When I let go, I come down. Simple.

⟨Character 2⟩: Countdown! Three, two, one. And remember, if the thunder gets too loud, you sing back. That’s an order from your brother.

⟨Character 3⟩: Go, go, little rocket. Fly up and touch the clouds. And come home for dinner. No thunder can catch a ⟨role⟩ who sings.

Rohan pushes. The rocket wobbles, tips, then lifts with the umbrella billowing open. Aanya rises over the rooftops of Pune as ⟨Character 4⟩ barks once, then twice, then settles back down on Rohan’s feet.

Chapter 3: Over Pune

High above the city, Aanya floats on her umbrella rocket. The wind pushes her hair back. Below her, rooftops and trees and the silver bend of the river.

⟨Character 1⟩: The houses look like little boxes. And there’s the temple, with the orange flag. And birds flying next to me, like they want to race. Where’s the thunder? I thought it would be right up here.

A gust slaps the umbrella and spins her sideways. She pulls the left string hard and levels out, then steers toward a dark grey cloud ahead.

⟨Character 1⟩: Oru naal, oru naal, the drum will beat, the drum will beat. I’m not scared. I’m not scared. It’s only a drum. It’s only a big drum in the sky.

⟨Character 1⟩: Jingle, jingle. You hear that? That rumble. It’s far away. It’s soft. Like Kamala said. It just wants to be heard. And I’m right here, listening.

The rumbling fades to a low grumble, then to nothing. The grey cloud thins and shows a patch of blue. Aanya laughs, the sound bright and small in the open air.

⟨Character 1⟩: I did it. I flew right up to you and I sang right at you. And you didn’t hurt me one bit. You’re just a drum. A big, soft drum. Bye, thunder. I’m going home.

The umbrella dips. The sky slowly darkens to late afternoon. Below her, the courtyard grows bigger and bigger, and two figures wave their arms.

⟨Character 2⟩: Left string! Left string! That’s it, nice and easy. Right over the scooter. Perfect, perfect, I’ve got you.

⟨Character 3⟩: There she is. Our little drummer girl. Come down, come down. There’s rice and sambar and a laddoo waiting.

The rocket wobbles, tips, and lands with a soft bump against the courtyard wall. Aanya climbs out and runs straight into her brother and grandmother.

⟨Character 2⟩: You did it. You actually did it. And the thunder? Did you see it? Was it loud?

⟨Character 1⟩: It was a drum. And I sang to it. And it got quiet. So I came home.

⟨Character 2⟩: And your glasses? On your head, Kamala. I know, I know. Let’s go inside. The rain is coming back but it’s far away now.

They sit on the kitchen floor as the far-off thunder grumbles and fades. Aanya yawns. ⟨Character 4⟩ curls up on Rohan’s feet, then wriggles over to lean against Aanya’s side. Kamala hums her Tamil song, slow and soft. Aanya closes her eyes.