If anyone says “The rains are here. It’s time to stay home with a cup of hot chai and steaming pakoras”, I’ll scream blue murder. In fact, the social networking sites were crammed with the chai-and-pakora exultations as soon as the clouds burst forth earlier this week. A clear case of tautology there. I’ve never heard of anyone relishing cold chai and colder pakoras, whatever the weather.
And I’m dreading that phrase too, “The city limped back to normal” after that one Big Downpour, when the roads will resemble rivulets, local train services will go haywire and the flights run erratically (which they do anyway). Maybe there’s something thoroughly predictable about the Mumbai lexicon, but it can be experienced at its worst – or best – from June to September end.
And is there any point in flagellating the municipal corporation for inadequate damage-control measures, potholes deeper than Deepika Padukone’s dimples. Or fly-overs, which are complete but wait to be inaugurated by a VIP? Just call in a common man to do the honours, please.
Truly, the city of pronounced resilience becomes a crib machine during the monsoon. And there are those who describe the greyness as romance-friendly. Photos of couples at the searocks are suddenly topical although they’re more than all over the place under the scorching sun too. The only difference is that the canoodling couples now unfurl rickety umbrellas.
Attendance at offices dip (they do during the festival seasons, too). School kids are sent off early (and they’re thrilled). Doctors’ clinics are jam-packed, and research graphs indicate that flu, viral, and etc nasty illnesses are in the air. Taxis and autorickshaw drivers act tough which they do 365x12 anyway.
Gulmohar trees shed fiery petals, grand old trees buckle under the pressures of wind and rain. The tetrapods at Marine Drive, Worli Seaface and where-have-you are lashed by angry waves. So what’s new? It’s just another manic monsoon, enough for me to opt for roasted cashews and a stiff Scotch over the err..hot chai and hotter pakoras.