A Rainy Day

Nature has bestowed upon us a pleasant variety of seasons. Gujarati Author Kumar Jaimini Shashtri says that life is everything about being in rains. We spend the entire life in sweet memories of dear ones.

Rainy season is called the queen of seasons. It gives a new life to the flora and fauna. Not only the queen but also the rainy season is regarded as goddess of food.

The fragrance of wet mud and a slavoury in hand best describes a rainy day. A rainy day of July provides the opportunity to watch the raging wild heavens pouring down sweet fury on sun burnt exhausted earth. Monsoon were a mere memory, Rains seem to have forgotten for a year now. A good shower has become a rarity to be savored in dreams or old grandma's tale.

Due to unbearable heat, green covers of the earth have vanished; small streams and lakes have all gone dry. Animals are tired of the unbearable hotness. The farmers are also tired of waiting for the rains with tension. The farmers were becoming gaunter and their beasts even thinner. For ages cows haven't chewed green cud or buffaloes waddled in muddy pools. People seem to have given up hope but finally a rainy day comes.

It is a day which comes as a welcome relief from the oppressive heat of sultry May and June. Dark clouds begin gathering in the sky with the first rays of the rising sun. By noon it is pitch dark. The wind drops. Trees do not stir. The whole nature seems to stand still in anticipation of heavy rains.

The atmosphere suddenly changes. Cold winds begin to blow and gradually grow gusty. It whistles furiously over the land. Trees sway and bend, their branches are almost touching Mother Earth .Mountain like waves perform tandav dance in the mighty sea. Occasional flashes of lightning pierce the pitch black darkness atmosphere. Binding flashes of lightning are accompanied by deafening peals of thunder. It seems as if the sky is going to torn as under.

Seeing the atmosphere made for a rainy day, the suffocation, sadness and instead of hotness...cool atmosphere and joy and enjoyment is spread all over..

Gradually rains begin the environment shakes with the different voices of peacocks, frogs; etc .Mankind is boosted by a new wave of energy and indescribable joy and happiness. Farmers set to their work with new power. Birds and trees celebrate the onset of monsoon and seem to come alive with the rains. Cities and country side is transformed, lanes are flooded and streets, swell our rills and rivers, dams are overflowing and lakes are brimming. Water birds have a field day as fish and other aquatic animals spawning profusely, Drongos and green bee eaters' dart around chasing innumerable flying insects.

Then more rains come, not in drops or drizzles but in cascades. Clouds burst open pouring down tones of rains. It seems that the flood gates of heaven have opened u to flood the earth with a great deluge. The more nervous hearted predict doom.

Within a few minutes of this cat and dog rain there's water everywhere. Not only the streets but all houses are flooded, all vehicular traffic comes to a standstill Low lying areas are submerged. People are stranded. They have to wade through knee deep water. Phone is succumbed to a cloudburst, computer is thunderstruck. Rooms' starts leaking and staircase transforms into a mini water fall. The dampness in air frames is warped and doors creak. Now its time to sing "Rain Rain go away, Little Mary wants to play"

Children are jubilant. NO school for them, today. Yet they feign studiousness and leave home for school. On their way to school and back home they splash water on one another. Small children float paper boats in streams and puddles; the people safe and sound in their homes sit in their balconies watching the splashing rains, draining guys and take full fun of the rains with a cup of hot tea or coffee....and a dish of hot snacks.

Even poets and artists like the beauty of the rainy scene. The fierce beauty of the landscape and their great joy become subjects for their poetry and artistic exhibit. A rainy day in July is a welcome respite from the sweltering heat. It is the day of farmers delight and the city man's relief.