Rain
Moving to this landlocked city, after being
born and bred along the coastline for all my life meant change in
seasons. Until this point in time, my temperament was determined by
the moderating influence of the sea. I am still adapting to the
seasons in this Karma Bhoomi (place of work.)
Home, situated at the confluence provided me
with the assurance that no matter how uncomfortably we sweat in
daytime, evenings would always be pleasant. For those of you who do
not remember: here is a reminder that land close to ocean always gets
its doze of sea breeze. The only time we were caught off guard was
during the Monsoon season. Our city was partially submerged every
year, due to heavy rain. Known for its spirit, all of us continued to
move relentlessly. Maybe pace is a superlative difference between
rural and urban areas. Cities are always in motion. Buses and trains
wading through clogged water displayed the stubborn resolve to move
here. During this season, black clouds didn’t have silver linings.
Given that our skin is waterproof and we were residents of this
industrious land, most of us continued to work in spite of the
downpour. White noise from the pouring rain became the background noise
to our daydreams painted on the gossamer windows of these transporting
vehicles. Peculiarly so, rain in the home city always fell with a
diagonal slant. Even if you covered yourself under umbrellas or roofs,
the rain found its way into a shaft and drenched you. It’s almost the
end of June! My mother tells me that it has been raining heavily for
the whole month at home.
And in this part of the world, the rain
bearing winds have just arrived. Needless to say, most of the rain has
been lost to the narrower parts of our peninsular sub-continent. It
will rain, but only for a bit. The rain will come and go in short
intervals between ostensibly permanent sunshine.
It was a year full of unfamiliar seasons:
prodigal winter, dry summer and unrequited (ongoing) monsoon. While
the winter was about surrendering to a tranquil sun and jittering in
the harsh company of sharp winds; the summer came with burning winds
lit up by a tenacious sun leaving us dehydrated yet sturdier than we
ever were. As for the monsoon – the rain clouds in this arid city will
thunder more than they can deliver.
I am parched.
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