DELHI- when it rains !

" Every season has its own reasons and charm. To me rain symbolizes the start of new things, the catharsis of broken souls and the hope of reuniting the broken strings. What with the traffic jams and potholes- the lush green lawns and the earthworms have a different story to tell!"





Delhi can act funny in a lot of things. Temperature fluctuations, political hazards, traffic sense, auto wallas… just to name a few. But what really makes me wonder is the craziness that dawns upon the city when it rains.

May- June you get scorched. Its relentless and heartless. Come July and the rain gods smile at the parched city. But they would surely play hide and seek. Early morning you’ll wake up to the clouds laden with rain, ready to burst any given moment. Mothers reschedule their laundry for another day and those who have already washed the whole family’s raiment will rush to terrace and put them back in stands inside the rooms under ceiling fans working on full swing. Children would linger around the telephone with a hope of receiving a call from school declaring a “rainy day” while the adolescents would make it a point to meet their beloved in such a romantic weather. Fathers would opine on the weather forecasts for the week (based on their experience) while the grand mothers would talk of the crop cultivation boom for the year (also based on their experience).
One hour later and you would again be gazing at the sky- this time bright sunlight all around, temperature soaring and atmosphere getting increasingly humid. And every one is left stupefied.
It does rain when it does. Sometimes in spurts, sometimes in gushes. The reactions are obvious. Everyone sighs in relief and look up to the skies with gratitude. A smile everywhere, the city readies itself to embrace the monsoons.
Now what happens after rains is quiet interesting. Traffic jam with immediate effect. And if you are traveling you will realize that it is not the best time for you to be out in the roads. Its wet, stuffy, difficult and endless. The traffic seems to increase manifold. The waiting time at every signal is at least 15 min. And this amazes me. It’s not that the traffic stops when it rains. Neither does it slow down so much. Then why such a fuss after rains, I fail to understand.
Apart from traffic, the rain gives autowallas a reason to increase their rates, take the longest way to the destination, not to go by the meter installed and to charge any amount they fancy. Rains also act in their favour in a way that the number of passengers increase.
Also, you will find increasing number of men releaving themselves by the roadside ;). The numbers here also seem to increase. May be the outpour pressurizes them to compete or may be they feel its already wet and some more won’t harm anything.

Every season has its own reasons and charm. To me rain symbolizes the start of new things, the catharsis of broken souls and the hope of reuniting the broken strings. What with the traffic jams and potholes- the lush green lawns and the earthworms have a different story to tell!