Rains!!

Who doesn't like the smell of the wet earth after the first spell of rains? It gives rise to a mix of emotions which differ from person to person ranging from high spirited, cozy, romantic disposition in some to gloomy depressive feelings as ominous as the threatening dark clouds above! What is the secret behind this? The reasons seem obscure.

Talking of rains in Mumbai, which are as unpredictable as the Indian cricket team, these showers from heaven are perfectly capable of conjuring images of joy and relief, parallely with a looming sense of imminent destruction and loss to the extent of death.

Although I wasn't there in Mumbai during the incessant rainfall 2 years back on the 26th July, reading and watching the coverage of the havoc created and mass scale destruction wrought by nature was apalling. This only goes on to prove that man has little control over the will of Mother Nature. The least we can do is perhaps improve the disaster management system and engage in prevention of activities which harm the environment.

On a positive note, rains are hailed ecstatically by kids and younsters who get the perfect excuse for bunking school due to 'rainy day holiday' and get to enjoy the cool spells happily drenching themselves and floating paper boats. A little older ones- teenagers and young adults- find all their fervent passions gushing out. This is the best time to find couples hand in hand, under an umbrella along the sea shores soaking up the romantic season. And of course there are folks who stay at home and immerse themselves in the heavenly experience of a steaming hot cup of tea and munch into piping hot crispies. What ever be one's source of enjoying this blissful season with the pitter patter of raindrops on the window sill, there is no denying the fact that this is one of the most anxiously waited for seasons in the Indian calendar!