Rainbow From My 16th Floor Window!

“Next few days would be blazing hot with frequent power cut in the city ” – The newspaper headline grabbed my attention for a while I was glancing through. This was around the month of June and as per Met department updates are to go by, monsoon has already hit one of the southern states. So, 'This ( the summer) too shall pass', - I paused for a deep breath.

Scripting my daily mundane life strikes me off with a hindrance as it adds no flavor, I could entice my readers with. But when one could perceive or conceive a little variation or digress to an extent, that stimulates and syncs up body, mind and soul in unison, it triggers the flow.

“A rainy day at the beach is better than a sunny day in office’ !

Through the window, just besides my current work location at home, I never miss a chance to observe the gradual change in color of azure sky stretched till the horizon at different point of time. Especially when the air is a little heavier with tiny droplets driven seamlessly in the direction of the wind.

The sky fascinates me since childhood. I used to wonder , how small my existence has been, as compared to the vastness spread across its expanse. Specifically during seasonal shower, I tend to have my window glass half open to get a sudden splash of swirling rain while looking at the sky beaming with rafts of dancing clouds!

 

My high rise is located a little off the city limit. But that does not limit the far reaching view across the green land surrounding our residential campus. The rustic essence draws its unique signature to the majestic view of distant Kolar Hills at the background of dark cloud spreading its wings so fast. The countdown for my next office call goes slow , in a fragile attempt to savor the beauty so distant, but with a feeling so close to my heart.

My Monsoon canvas captivates the dark layers of cloud, extending from the skyline of distant hills. It paints the horizon with gravel grey. The gutsy wind embraces me into the prelude of heavy rain I have been longing for a long time. A brief respite from the summer sun, the earthy scent at the onset of monsoon clouds make me glued to the window, my little paradise, bridging my gap with the nature. The sky opens up with a mission, washing away all the 'Blues and Glues' of my daily stress, to start with a new vigor!

It was just a few hours past 12 noon, in official term, post lunch sessions. At the backdrop of a blanket-grey sky, brilliant flash with crazy zig-zag flickers with its blinding incandescence and disappears instantaneously. A loud grumbling makes my kid a little frightened – “Rain God is very angry, right Mum-mum?” – the curious voice takes me to the long gone past, my childhood, when I used to perceive in similar manner.

 One special day in our calendar used to be of big fun with an unplanned holiday declared by the school. The morning rush which was prevailing till 9 am, just fizzled out with big black board near the school entrance displayed magical words ‘The School Remains Closed For Rainy Day’. The road in front of my school was a little lower and used to be the harbor for knee-dip water resulting from heavy rain. I knew what was written on the black board already but purposefully strolled ahead till the school gate to make my white socks, well protected in Bata Black shoes, completely drenched. Now the day would be mine , I would decide the next course of action, adding more fun and frolic , which eventually have been baked into precious memories as I am playing my current innings ( second half of course 😊 ) towards half century !

As they say, there is always a dependable ‘Partner’ in crime. I used to be a little luckier in a way, I had a group of friends /school mates used to take the same route because of close proximity of our houses. Below had been some of the activities we used to indulge in , to celebrate 'Monsoon Holiday' 😊

 No bus, only walking down the road, to ensure we could find more time to be exposed to the rain.

Raincoat was a mandatory ‘headache’ to bear with , otherwise obvious question we had to face back home, “In spite of the raincoat, how are you so drenched?

 By the time we used to reach home, we could ensure we were drenched, as much as we can,playfully and peacefully, with Rain-coat on, umbrella was made wet too to give an impression it was in use, socks and shoes full of water with sparse black mark of mud from the puddles.

Getting drenched in the rain used to give me an eligibility ( for a day only! ) to sip in piping hot tea, when I was in the lower classes.That was, indeed , an advantage over drinking milk ,being a small step towards attaining adulthood ( as per my perception ). For that day at least, I was not a kid , a feeling of pride over-weighed a suppressed prejudice , I had nurtured for a long time.

A rainy day lunch used to be a big differentiator by mom-cooked ‘ Khichudi R Begun Bhaja’ (Bengali version of 'Khichdi' along with deep fried big round pieces of Brinjal slathered in turmeric and a pinch of salt) . Incessant pearls of rain spreading a mystic touch around, I just curled up in a sofa , flipping through the pages of my favorite story books , driving me away to a fairy land ,to meet the princess at the backdrop of a beautiful rainbow.

Today , I can rediscover myself in my kid , when he pulls out his jacket, intentionally, while playing in the rain, in his small attempt to soak in warmth of joy and happiness emanating from the raindrops , his fast running from the drop location of school-bus on a drizzly day, along the walker’s path , taking a sudden detour towards the car-parking zone , to splash into a puddle, and a childish yearn “Mum mum, may I taste the hot soup “, pointing to my cup of tea, bring back the memories I left behind in my journey towards cross-roads of life.

When I look down from my 16th floor window , I could see the kids playing blissfully in the rain, sliding down the slippery slope gleefully, some daring to immerse in the baby pool, some of them jumping around the swings with no hurry to go back home. Such a bundle of innocent souls, is in absolute sync with the rhythm of falling rains. I could follow my dreamworld around these cute little hearts, twinkling with the streaks of seven colors!

The tears trickle down my cheeks as I tend to hold on to my past, my long lost childhood , my very own Rainbow land , through their presence , wish I could reverse the time machine!

 

******The End ******

Hello Readers,

Thanks for taking your precious time to read my blog!. Pls . do let me know your comments/feedback , this would make my journey more memorable 😊

Picture Courtesy : Pinterest , Adobe Stock  and a few clicked by me .