When it rains

Dark rumbling clouds,  expectant trees, the eager earth, quickening steps hurrying to reach destinations, women running to get drying clothes inside, birds seeking shelter, scent of wet soil... 
Clogged drains, traffic jams, commuting problems, closed schools, empty roads...
Joy, mayhem, excitement, despair, destruction, rebirth, life, death - rains never fail to leave an impression!
Never disrespected nor ignored, rain definitely does elicit strong emotions in all. Every single time, its arrival is announced with glee or pain.

As a child...

Getting drenched in the rain was such a joy; it still is, but now, conditions apply...

Running in the rain, feeling the drops on the face...

Looking up at the rain to find the raindrop's origin, following its route till it lands on the face...

Paper boats on little temporary streams...

Running out of home to gather hail...

Hiding inside dad's huge army raincoat, enjoying the warmth and wishing the rain never stopped...

Hindi films convince my gullible mind that rain is a phenomena which does crazy things to some people. It drives some women crazy, who get into white sarees, get drenched, sing songs and go into convulsions. I remember wondering why my mom or any of her friends didn't do the same.

When rain showers romance...

That rainy evening, i was 9, he was 10. We were playing hide and seek (ice spice). Since it was raining we could not hide outdoors. I found refuge inside a scooter cover and he joined me there. The awareness of the rain and this boy sitting so close to me is still so fresh. I can see him taking my hands in his and saying, your hands are so cold...
Special effects – thunder and lightning...

Pensive rain...

I remember those rains when i sat at my window, looking at the rain, wondering at the whole mystery of life and nature. And invariably I ended up feeling very lonely...

Rain also switches on the memory button in you. When the world stops its routine motions due to rains, the mind starts to process thoughts, memories and hopes, heightening the awareness of self and life. It also heightens the joy of food and good company. :)

The beauty...

The mornings after nights of incessant rains are forever-joys that i carry in my heart. The freshly washed trees, leaves and flowers look so content. Water, dripping down in drops everywhere, adds more shades of green to the existing million in kerala. For a while you are in this make-believe world where everything is clean, fresh and beautiful. Humans and animals gingerly step outside to test the new world. And the aroma of mother's food wafting from the kitchen adds another dimension to the perfection. Especially, the sound and smell of crackling firewood. 

Rains always meant power cuts in kerala. In the absolute silence one could hear the music rain created, like the percussion instruments of kerala. Whole nature danced to its beats. In the brief lull one could hear frogs croaking. After the rain, one could see a new world emerging with hitherto unseen species of insects making cautious appearances. Those black nights, heavy with rain, thunder and lightning, i sought refuge in my parents' bed. 

The amazing feeling of swimming when it rains, watching raindrops fall on the water in the pool and taking the onslaught of raindrops lying on your back in the water...awesome...

The fury...

It was in Mumbai. I was supposed to catch a train to Vishakapatnam that night. It had been raining continuously for the past 24 hours and when I stepped out, water reached my chest level. In spite of this i waded through the water in the hope of catching the train. But the scenes that unfolded before me were real scary. When i somehow managed to reach the station after hours, i got to know that train services had been cancelled as the tracks were many feet under water. I could only reach home by early morning. I can never forget that dreadful rainy night. The power and fury of nature...and man's total helplessness...

Then, there was this rain which unleashed the fury in me. I remember walking in the rain, yelling, crying, hurt and burning with rage.

Igot to know the power of rain again when i was caught in a hailstorm. The onslaught was painful and awe-inspiring.

Romance, loneliness, family togetherness, destruction, loss, gain, prosperity, happiness - rains have seen it all.