“I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain; what a wonderful feeling ; i'm happy again"
- arthur freed
The rains in kolkata strike you, seemingly without any warning...dark foreboding chariots loom up in the sky suddenly replacing the meek sun, and signal their coming by the mighty roars the thunderclaps make...
what semed like an oppressive summer afternoon suddenly transforms...
the first few drops arrive quickly, and the rain slowly picks up pace like a champion runner quelling all competition and starts pouring in gusto.
everyone around, inclusive of the ubiquitous 'shady' looking dogs that hang all around salt lake rush to the nearest shelter...pan stalls, tea vendors, building stairs...
and the rain plays on...like a spoilt child unwilling to leave his favourite plaything...much to the dismay of the dripping folk...
a few brave souls have it rather diferently...
a couple takes advantage of the sudden privacy on the roads and the romantic weather and walk hand in hand...a lucky few who do have umbrellas walk gingerly past with just the hint of a smirk lingering on their faces....a group of boys take to the streets noisily, having the time of their lives...a few bewildered crows with their dripping coats huddle up on the telephone wires...
cars whiz by through the massive pools created....sometimes leading to the bystanders addressing them in the choicest baangali expletives...
the chai wallahs do brisk business...the drenched softies exchange wry sympathetic grins with each other...
as a classmate of mine says 'kolkata e baarish ka morshum pooro varsh cholchhe..."
not that i mind though ! every drenched outing in the rain is like a much deserved break from monotony...a one off meeting with a much loved childhood playmate...
an old friend who remembers the little boats you used to make..the puddles you loved getting into much to your mom's dismay...the times when you played football that transformed to rugby in school...even the times you walked alongside someone along a deserted road to college...wishing that the rain would linger just a while longer..
......
......
nourishment for the soul...well...enough of reflection...
henry wordsworth longfellow once said....
“the best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain"
period....
