Ek shyaam... barsaath ke naam...

It was a fine Sunday evening. I had comfortably curled myself on the couch by the window side wit a book. The crisp air welcomed itself thru the windows of my room and the red blinds flew as if it were welcoming the zephyr. Suddenly I heard the thunder, roar and rumble. And the next thing I did was to run to the terrace. I saw that the dull blue sky silently made way to the thick cottony black clouds that crept in from the west. They beautifully unfurled as they sailed. I could also get a glimpse of large grey cumulous heavy cloud on the horizon. The canvas was splashed wit hues of blue and green and brown. Yet the shades of grey over shadowed the rest! The cool breeze swept my hair. My hair flew with the gentle wind. The weather had a very romantic feel to it. It was Lovely! I threw my face to the sky and flung my hands apart. I wanted to run… as if the wind was chasing me. I stood there with my eyes closed. The earthy refreshing smell of the damp mud, the smell of rain, filled up my senses. It was mint fresh. I had tiny goose bumps on my hands. Took another deeeeeeeeep breath… And made a sincere attempt to lock this scent in my mind. I realized that it’s the most captivating smell. It turned me on, more than any perfume or cologne ever could. It jus filled me up. Completely! I kinda had a strange but pleasant feeling. I felt as if all my senses were unifying with the nature. And it was indeed! It was Meditative! It reminded me of some long forgotten abstractions and everything good in the world… I was spellbound… The tiny drops fell on my eyes.. It was soothing.. The next couple of drops kissed my lips until I opened them up to let it be a part of me! My soul was now wedded to it.

I ran inside the house hurriedly. I wanted my slickers but I couldn’t find them. I took out the umbrella from the cupboard and made my way out. The rain gushed. It poured heavily.The umbrella served no purpose. It rained from every other direction possible…It cupped and I got drenched. Exactly what I wanted. Loved this! I folded the umbrella.. I wasn’t feeling good walking with my flip-flops on… I removed them and held the flip-flops in my hand, umbrella in another and started walking. Yes, barefoot!! The joy of walking barefoot either on grass or on concrete or where eva u r, is best experienced than described! My feet were enjoying the pampering. The rain water was cold and had a mystic feel that could heal! Indeed… the rain can heal all the wounds.. Trust me on this! As I walked, there was an inner voice that was talking to me about how much I could connect with solitude, freedom and peace, of higher degree! The revelation it brought with it was absolute. It was so relieving. I immediately began to think myself into a state of ethereal otherworldliness. I enjoyed and rejoiced it. I realized - the festivity rain brings along is second to none. I was singing… “enu ninna hanigala leele?” It was a glorious feeling.

I saw no signs of the rain stopping. I made my way back home. I was sopping. I changed and switched on my music system which played Pt. Shivakumar Sharma’s instrumental, santoor. One of the instruments I love. Need a better instrument to connect wit the rain? I wanted some thing to warm up my bones now. What better than a cup of thick soup or some really hot ‘menasinakayi(chilli) bajji or pakoris’. And a hot, dark, rich cup of coffee of course! Hmmm….. Heaven…. Heaven!! Nothing else can substitute this feeling. I couldn’t wait now. So I rushed into my kitchen. Between, it was still dark. I somehow was not in the mood to switch on the light. I lit up some candles. I thought the more the better. I lit up as many as I could. The feeling was jus amazing. Ineffable! In a while, I was relishing the hot pakoris wit some coffee in the candle light, santoor playing behind coupled with the pitter-patters of the rain!! Hmmm……[Smile]. Bliss! It was the most beautiful evening of my life. Safe locked in my memory chest!

I am simply fascinated wit rain. Every time it rains, I am healed. I am transcended to an enchanted world. And those of you who hate rain, hear it from me –“Its best to love ur slickers than to hate the rain..Rather, its is easy to like the rain than to hate your slickers (take wat eva best makes sense to you)”. Jus get out of ur house.. Walk.. Sing.. Dance.. Lemme assure you, you will not regret it.. You’ll realize that its magical! I read this somewhere – “People believe that there are 1, 009, 4567, 899 more things to do in the rain than when it doesn’t rain”. Amazing isn’t it? :) U love rain too? U have some special memories tagged wit rain? :) I am listening…