Every day I heard people discussing it with anguish in their voices. In the bus…during the coffee breaks.. on the streets.. the chaiwala at the corner..so much so even dinner is not complete without a generous helping of the monsoons fever.

The scorching sun is gently shrouded by a thick black blanket of nimbus and ahh!!what a relief to the burning skin. As I gaze outside my window,lost in thought, a tiny raindrop hits me on the face. I wake up from my reverie with a start and notice the rain drops pitter patter on the window pane.

Soon the rage of the Gods lash out. Thunder and lightning scare innocent mortals who had not armed themselves against the fury. On the window sill, lined with pots of zarberas, I notice a trail of ants scurrying into the safety of their mud hills. The cool breeze hits my face and I can feel the thrill. Soon the streets are filled with young people, rejoicing the arrival of the much awaited monsoons. I remember my college days when I would jump into the puddles much to the annoyance of the other students, drenching them from head to foot. . But who cares…the 40 degrees of summer days would have gone into my head and made me dizzy.

We were a bunch of naughty kids in college, always ready to heed the call of adventure. For us the monsoons meant  bike trips up the pictursqe mountain to the Sihagad Fort. The hour long journey through the greenery of the hills, the while immaculate clouds floating above the mountain tops and the milky waters from the many waterfalls made for the ideal Bollyhood romance. I think its good to break rules and listen to your heart, when you are still in college. Looking back I realise, that was the only time I would have dared to do things which my parents would never approve of! Now  I have to think twice before running outside to the balcony, to get drenched.

Hey isn’t it time to have some hot steaming pakodas, straight out of the kadai? never mind which refined oil is used! I would happily walk to my grave a day earlier than miss the joy of that bite into the crunchy onion pakoda with hot chilli sauce! I hastily prepare the pakodas and return to my seat in front of the window.

Its true that a change in weather definitely helps in recovering the ailing heart.