The Monsoon Dairies

 

Its always a very pleasing experience to receive God's gift, "rain". The soothing earthy smell of the first showers is something that can't be expressed in words. It fills our mind and body with such freshness that no bathroom shower can offer. A simple rain can nourish all our sense organs, be it the unbeatable fragrance of wet earth, the sound of the pattering drops, the sight of the planet getting a quick wash, the freshness of the touch of the raindrops, the songs that unknowingly flow from our lips, everything in totality creates a magical vibe.

Every one of us would surely have some childhood memories related to the monsoon. So do I. On our yearly vacation to the South, we would always be blessed with some rain while we were at our mom's place. The extended family would sit on the L-shaped verandah of her ancestral home and enjoy the splashes while sipping our filter coffee and evening snack. Our three uncles would crack jokes, our grandparents would share their childhood memories with us and our aunties would narrate how their life was before marriage. All in all it was a family time never to be forgotten and myself, my elder sister and younger brother would look forward to our next vacation to experience all of it again.

Back in Delhi, my memories of monsoon is having hot pakodas and garam adrak wali chai. Rain would be an excuse to have all the fried delicacies and some family chit-chat. My dad used to narrate all his official and unofficial stories which would inadvertently be filled with lots of adventure, humour, wit and passion. My mom would run down her memory lane and give us a detailed narration of how the 1st day of school would be the start of monsoon and how she and her friends used to deliberately jump onto the puddles of water to splash water on their uniform etc etc. The tales were varied and interesting. I remember wishing to be in their era to enjoy all that they were reminiscing. My personal joys of Delhi monsoon were walking to school with my umbrella with my friends and upon reaching our class, we would enjoy the rain from inside. School assembly would be canceled or shifted to the indoor auditorium. We would all get excited and joyous just by the wet season and no particular reason.

Monsoon always revitalizes everything and everyone. It fills up the streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, seas, oceans and also our hearts. There is an overall charm in this particular season. Its a boom time for the hardware shops, umbrella & raincoat sellers, snack vendors etc. Some places which receive more than average rain announce a temporary closure of schools, educational institutions etc. Imagine the happiness those school children experience. Some children even pray for the rain god to bless their city with more than normal rain so that the school gets closed or the exams are postponed. Such mischiefs also happen during monsoon but everything is in good spirit.

All in all monsoon season is not only a welcoming season in many ways but also a much needed one. The farmers and harvesters look forward to this every year for their fields to replenish and their crops to bear the fruit of their labour. This season is one which brings back memories for the young and the old.

The pages of "Monsoon Dairies" are filled with droplets of lovely memories to cherish for a lifetime.