Saturday, July 4, 2009

I am back like the Mumbai Rains!

Wow, it has caught on. Finally, Lord Varuna (Rain God) has obliged to the many prayers of Mumbaites. It has been a pouring inferno, and once again the city with its bursting population has been seen adjusting and accommodating to this downpour.

Some things that I was an eye witness since morning are what I seem to be scribbling. Knee deep water and the consequent breakdown of cars and taxis and auto rickshaws. Some fretting and fuming and showing their anger through their blaring horns and glaring stares. Those affected trying to take help of whoever passing by. Street urchins demanding huge sums to push their vehicles and make a fast buck. The office going public running fast to catch slow trains which seem to meander only to stop. The good Samaritan tea vendors serving hot tea and providing succour to those stranded passengers and motorists.

But I also observe those who are just out to enjoy the rains with gay abandon. College going couples daring the rains and taking the opportunity to get closer to each other and in a way trying to create heat for themselves. The best are the school going children bunking schools because of their parents fear of Mumbai floods. A virtual swimming pool created by them , enjoying themselves in this heavenly deluge. Pushing and jostling one another with not a care in the world. The really small ones with their parents in toe making paper boats and allowing them to sail.

And me, enjoying all these with my wife sitting by the window sill sipping steaming tea with hot pakodas. What more can you ask on a rainy day and that too after having waited for the rains for more than a month.

22 comments:

priya said...

lovely simple post, Sir

everyone has been talking about the delayed rains... n am sure everyone's happy that its finally raining.

was nice to note the simply observations you made about the rains and how it affects people.

wish we would age with the innocence with which the little kid makes a paper boat n waits for it to float on the water puddle. wonder why we need to graduate to getting irked and fighting with each other at traffic snarls!!!

life's funny... she brings you the best, lets you choose between enjoying what she offers and what you may be forced to do... and then sits back and looks at us whilst we end up choosing the latter!!!

i'm getting my paper boat ready... for the first heavy shower that i witness at bangalore :)

Kavi said...

Tea and Pakodas ! Hmm. I am sure you are having a swell time !

And an observant swell time ! Watching the rain and the puddle and the puzzle in the human faces..

Super sir. Welcome back ! And do stay here !!!

:)

Lovely to have you back.

Ugich Konitari said...

Great post....

The monsoon has always been something to enjoy,getting wet , adrak chai, pakodas , bhuttaas , and the works.

Its only in the last 4 years, that fear has entered the mind. One fears the downpours. And worries about those out at work, school etc. This was never so earlier.

Is Global warming affecting the mind too ?

nsiyer said...

great thoughts, Priya. I liked your line about life sitting back and looking at us making choices.Thanks a million for coming over.

Sylvia K said...

Wonderful post! I always enjoy so much your observations and reflections. Here in Seattle we are finally enjoying no rain and lots of beautiful sun which is soooo welcome after the very long, very cold winter. I wonder, too, sometimes if global warming is affecting us as much as the weather. Have a lovely day, stay dry and enjoy the tea and Pakodas!

nsiyer said...

happy to be back. Thanks Kavi for your comments.

Thanks ugich konitari and I agree with your remark on 'global warming'. What with concrete jungles eating up greenery.our children and the next generation will be affected.

nsiyer said...

happy to be back. Thanks Kavi for your comments.

Thanks ugich konitari and I agree with your remark on 'global warming'. What with concrete jungles eating up greenery.our children and the next generation will be affected.

sujata sengupta said...

wow tea and pakodas and the rain..truly a heavenly combination!!great post enjoyed the visual descriptions

Greener Bangalore said...

Rain! Steaming tea! Hot pakodas!.....Oh Please stop it sir..i cant stand that combination...:) lol....Reading that sentence made me go to the near by pakoda shop :)

nsiyer said...

thanks Sylvia for your nice comments. folks like you make me write

nsiyer said...

thanks Sujata . Hmm the rains and the accompaniments.

Greener bangalore! You can't just resist pakodas/ tea combination. Praying for more rains.

Anu...:) said...

Nice post...:)


And thank you for your comments on my blog! :)

Sharmistha Guha said...

Rain, teas & pakodas...aahh deadly combo!!

And loved your description of the rainwashed Mumbai...

nsiyer said...

thank you 'It's me' shall keep visiting your blog.

SGD, wondering where you were. I was out of action .thanks.

Amit said...

a few things never change, mumbai rains n delhi's heat :P

nsiyer said...

thanks Amit for coming over. How are you in Australia ?

Aleta said...

Oh, I do like this post! New Orleans has been very dry (and hot and humid) since last month and finally, we are getting rain too.

I remember playing in the flood waters when I was a child with little boats and thinking it was fun. Good memories. I'm glad you're enjoying the rain as well.

Sharmistha Guha said...

Sir! you have an AWARD & a TAG at

http://whimsnwishes.blogspot.com/2009/07/tagetty-tagetty-tag.html

nsiyer said...

thanks Aleta for coming over. Yeah ! Nothing like rains: i wiil visit your blog sooon.

SGD', the last time i was tagged was when I got married. I am still tagged with my beautiful and great wife. I will visit the site and respond

Sucharita Sarkar said...

Although the Mumbai rains are appearing and disappearing, I am indeed glad to have you back.

Vancouver, Canada said...

One can learn a lot from a child..and your post just proved that! Patience truly is a great virtue..and gratitude to the Almighty is shown in so many ways. Even though there was such an outpoor of rain, the delight on the faces of those who have had their prayers answered is evident. We all should see the good in everything. Many ask HIM for something, once he showers them.. they forget and start whining and complaining..still not being happy.

Thanks for The Enlightening Post Hun..Much Love, Sandy :)

syed ahamed saqi said...

sir.. i just went thru your post now, in august, when the rains are on the wane........

reading your blog just brought back my first monsoon in mumbai ( how else can i call it ) when i was just terrified at the clogged water everywhere, at the same time ,there were scores of school children coming out of non-descript coaching classes that have sprung across the city, and were just jumping around the puddles.. with the rain affecting them the least.
After spending 3 monsoons in the city, i think monsoons are a season one waits for.

Every other comment talked about Tea and Pakoda :) wah wah...

The time spent watching the rain fall by the window is just amazing. Adding to the list of tea,pakoda, a fine novel would make it a awesome combination.......