Rain rain come again
Rains in Bangalore! They bring joy, pain, anger, and many other feelings know to man in Bangalore. I guess it is the same anywhere in the world! For example, people wonder how a torrential downpour sent water surging through New York's subway system and highway tunnels and across airport runways Wednesday. Back home, we know!
I remember when I was four and got drenched returning from school. It was messy to say the least - the only book I had got wet, shoes were soggy and there wasn’t a single dry bone in my body. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience (I had got the permission from the powers that be to get wet). And since then, have never missed the opportunity of getting wet when it rains in Bangalore. I suppose it is one of those childhood things which you don’t want to outgrow. When the bunch of us was walking home from school, I simply couldn’t resist shaking the branches of trees, which still had the rain in them.
And when it rains here in our town (yes Bangalore is a town with big city trappings!), it resembles a misty mountaintop with chill breeze blowing in one direction. Most of the times, the electricity is shut down. The freshness of rain makes the trees resemble a green carpet. You could see it very well, from among other places, if you were staying in an apartment 5 floors above in South Bangalore. Now with the mallisation of town Bangalore, this too is a luxury. As I grew up and got a bicycle, I loved to cycle around in the rain or just go to National College grounds, Basavanagudi a field or Madhavan Park in college. And get wet of course. Post which get some hot pakodas for a 50 paise or something.
Amongst the most joyful experiences, ranks the bike ride from Nandi Hills back to Bangalore City. The rain gods were kind, it poured and for whatever reason there was not much traffic for over 40 kms on the stretch. This was much before the widening of the stretch, you see today. When I reached home, there was no absolutely no feeling in my toes or fingers. The rain hitting the face and piercing sometimes was so good, it made me forget the discomfort of the numbness.
As you grow up, responsibilities try to rob you of these simple joys. Well I firmly believe that rains shouldn’t stop you from doing things you want to. No wonder football is a universal sport, come rain or sun, the game is on!
Now it is time to pass the baton and it is circa 2007 monsoon, am still young at heart with a little one who is 4 years old. Rains scare the little one. So we tread carefully. It pours and I take him to the terrace and he watches me dance around in the rain. Must have wondered whether his old man has gone senile a bit too early. He watched me for 10 minutes, finally saw that I was having fun, stepped out but the rain stopped! Then we went to the railway station (at Malleswaram), sat on the clean and pleasant platform to watch the rains followed by a drizzle that was eventually blown away by a strong breeze. Mind you, Malleswaram railway station is not an ordinary place. Among other things, it is the inspiration behind the railway station in R. K.Narayan’s Malgudi Days. It is a treasure of nostalgia, a calm and scenic place to hang out in the evening while watching the little one play in the parking lot. The place has humongous greenery and a small idly vada shop to boot, which also dishing serves piping hot coffee. Watching the rains come down and hit the already clean tracks is a joy one can only experience in this setting.
Now I still get wet and have the hot pakodas – only difference is I make them at home. And our family sits next to the window to watch the rain. I hope the little one soon learn the joys of rains soon before he decides to lose his innocence.
I remember when I was four and got drenched returning from school. It was messy to say the least - the only book I had got wet, shoes were soggy and there wasn’t a single dry bone in my body. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience (I had got the permission from the powers that be to get wet). And since then, have never missed the opportunity of getting wet when it rains in Bangalore. I suppose it is one of those childhood things which you don’t want to outgrow. When the bunch of us was walking home from school, I simply couldn’t resist shaking the branches of trees, which still had the rain in them.
And when it rains here in our town (yes Bangalore is a town with big city trappings!), it resembles a misty mountaintop with chill breeze blowing in one direction. Most of the times, the electricity is shut down. The freshness of rain makes the trees resemble a green carpet. You could see it very well, from among other places, if you were staying in an apartment 5 floors above in South Bangalore. Now with the mallisation of town Bangalore, this too is a luxury. As I grew up and got a bicycle, I loved to cycle around in the rain or just go to National College grounds, Basavanagudi a field or Madhavan Park in college. And get wet of course. Post which get some hot pakodas for a 50 paise or something.
Amongst the most joyful experiences, ranks the bike ride from Nandi Hills back to Bangalore City. The rain gods were kind, it poured and for whatever reason there was not much traffic for over 40 kms on the stretch. This was much before the widening of the stretch, you see today. When I reached home, there was no absolutely no feeling in my toes or fingers. The rain hitting the face and piercing sometimes was so good, it made me forget the discomfort of the numbness.
As you grow up, responsibilities try to rob you of these simple joys. Well I firmly believe that rains shouldn’t stop you from doing things you want to. No wonder football is a universal sport, come rain or sun, the game is on!
Now it is time to pass the baton and it is circa 2007 monsoon, am still young at heart with a little one who is 4 years old. Rains scare the little one. So we tread carefully. It pours and I take him to the terrace and he watches me dance around in the rain. Must have wondered whether his old man has gone senile a bit too early. He watched me for 10 minutes, finally saw that I was having fun, stepped out but the rain stopped! Then we went to the railway station (at Malleswaram), sat on the clean and pleasant platform to watch the rains followed by a drizzle that was eventually blown away by a strong breeze. Mind you, Malleswaram railway station is not an ordinary place. Among other things, it is the inspiration behind the railway station in R. K.Narayan’s Malgudi Days. It is a treasure of nostalgia, a calm and scenic place to hang out in the evening while watching the little one play in the parking lot. The place has humongous greenery and a small idly vada shop to boot, which also dishing serves piping hot coffee. Watching the rains come down and hit the already clean tracks is a joy one can only experience in this setting.
Now I still get wet and have the hot pakodas – only difference is I make them at home. And our family sits next to the window to watch the rain. I hope the little one soon learn the joys of rains soon before he decides to lose his innocence.
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This is the wonder of devotion - I seek the torch we all must hold.
This is the mystery of the quotient - Upon us all a little rain must fall.
The rain song--Artist-Led Zeppelin