Here comes the rain again...

I believe there are 2 kinds of people in the world, those who love the rain and those who hate everything about it. I am definitely the first kind! But no matter what kind you are, there is one thing we all have in common, the longing for the first showers after a long scorching summer. One can understand the intensity of this longing by the fact that my Ma, who has been away on vacation since a week, always had 2 questions in our daily conversations 1. How are you? 2. Has it rained yet?

Like every year, the clouds were taunting us since the past couple of weeks (around 1^st week of June). Big dark thundering clouds would march down making me hopeful, sometimes even certain that it was about to pour. But then they would just march away with the same elegance leaving me wanting more. All of this changed though a couple of days ago when a few clouds (thankfully!!) went on a rebellion and decided its time they showered down on us (Note: theory of the rebellion is something that I and bhai have developed and we so far have no evidence to prove it). We were out on a drive when this happened and I was just plain delighted! We stopped at a place to pick up some food and I used this opportunity for my annual ritual of getting wet in the rain (Oh yes, I and bhai have an annual ritual of getting drenched once in the monsoons). I still remember when I was in school I would deliberately “forget” the umbrella at home every day so I could get wet in the rain while walking back home. This is my best memory of the rains. Every year when the first drops of rain come down and the fragrance of the wet earth fills the air, this is the memory that flashes in my eyes.

Trust me; I have had my share of bad rainy days. The Traffic, car break downs, being stranded in the middle of nowhere with no cabs ready to go in your direction (oh…sorry…this one can actually happen even without the monsoons when you are in Mumbai). Yet the thought that the first showers always bring to me is not an unpleasant one but one of happiness and excitement.  I suppose we choose our memories, ones that are more important to us. In a way I suppose, we also choose our happiness and I would rather choose dancing in the rain and raincoats and gumboots and paper boats over anything thing else!  

So here’s to the shower of Happiness! Happy Monsoons Mumbaikars!

P.S. For my dear friend Ankita (the inspiration for this blog) and all my other dear friends who have missed the rains this year..a picture of the first showers to cheer you up!