The monsoon wreaks havoc on the land and people annually, irrespective of whether the rainfall is in deficit or in surplus. This year, most of us are heartbroken to learn of the devastating floods in different parts of the world and the cataclysmic landslide in Wayanad. Closer home and to many of us, the first thundering shower of July pelted down for a few hours and left our colony roads flooded with water levels reaching new heights. Accounts are unlimited of damage to material goods lying in waist-high water levels in basements and cars.
However, there is always a silver lining to every monsoon cloud and in August we have had some days of ‘good old-fashioned’ rain, pitter-pattering benevolently as it can only during this season. A walk in this rain is highly conducive to raising one’s spirits in the enjoyment of the sights and sounds of nature. The leaves sway gently; swish-swishing- to fan the light pleasant breeze so soothing to the mind and soul. The fragrance of wet earth – petrichor – is omnipresent in these days. We wish we could capture and bottle it for the rest of the year.
Nature is at its most resplendent – luxuriant and generous are the freshly rain-washed leaves of Delhi’s varied trees, diverse shades of green seen only during this season. Green is the predominant color scattered with the white of iridescent champa and motia flowers, metaphors for the night sky stars descended on earth. They lend their heady fragrance to the ambient evening air.
Let’s hope for end-of-season light pleasant rain that we can enjoy and revel in, give the monsoon an affectionate send-off and a prayer to meet again in calmer times next year.
