It rains…

The clock strikes 12 in the night, the only time shared both by today and tomorrow. In Mumbai the rain has finally had a start; the month long wait ends. And what was a drizzle in the day is now a downpour. The TV Channels have started telecasting the fresh rainy scenes of roads and lanes. Certainly, tomorrow’s newspapers will not be free from the same pictures with lyrical captions.

Like any other year I have placed myself in the balcony to welcome the newly arrived monsoon.

It rains…when nature craves for beauty. Perhaps rain is the most beautiful attire of nature - more beautiful than summer and winter. Everybody, be it human or animals, insects or trees – all look so fresh, lively and natural. Beauty unbound.

It rains… when body cries for wetness. Rain moistures the palms, the lips and the voices. Yes, the skin, which has got tanned in summer and dried in winter needs rains the most. It turns soft and sweet. Once strong and wild, now looks so delicate. Especially, the fairer species mesmerise the onlookers as rain drops play hide and seek in their long curly hair.

It rains... when air wishes to be neat and cool, water wishes to be pure and full; when land wants to be clean and green. Rain symbolizes serenity and peace of mind. It embodies happiness and completeness.

The Jamun tree from my balcony looks lovely. Each leaf of it appears as if it is carrying an offspring to bring about new life. The branches look as gentle as sponge. The swimming pool behind looks contented with unbounded pleasure. The overflowing water gives a sense of submission and satisfaction after being free its limbs from chains of artificiality. I can see through the drowsy streetlight a small plant peeping out of the neighbouring building crack planning for a revenge on concrete. Two street children wrapped in polythene play pebbles under the lights as if they are out for a trip to moon.

I come back to my desk with a drenched mood. My YouTube is playing popular lines of the hashyakabi Dr Kumar Biswas … Koi deewana kehta hai, koi pagal samjhta hai; magar dharti ki bechaini ko bas badal samjhta hai…

The restlessness of the earth finally has the answer.