Splashes

Splashes

From hot and dry plateaus of Punjab, for work, she travelled to a city settled by the seaside. To a place, whose air is impregnated with moisture round the year!

De-boarding her Mumbai bound flight, she felt a sudden bout of breathlessness - for doesn't humid air equal no air?

But such is the character of a Sea, first it engulfs you; and then makes you its own.

It was the month of June and the notorious Mumbai Monsoon was imminent.

Soon enough, it felt as if the cover of humid air had just condensed. It was water all around!

Nevertheless, the maximum city was not completely alien to her. Destiny had brought her brother there for similar reasons, 3yrs back.

The weather briefing began from Day 1.

 Necessities first.

Umbrella or a Raincoat? What to spend on right away?

A thin, knee-length, purple raincoat was bought then. As much as it looks foolish, they didn’t want a sudden gush of wind and strong rains to disbalance them because of an umbrella. Yes, they were to commute together on his motorbike. 😊

Water would run down her face and seep into the raincoat through her neck. The legs were already unprotected from rains. She would reach office half drenched; and sit under the unrelenting ac, shivering. Office work did not begin until the cafe’s ‘Adrak cutting’ went down her throat and warmed her up somewhat.

Mumbai Rains are unpredictable in essence - How fortunate she felt to be traveling under the flyovers rather since they would be impelled to take a halt! One would halt mid-way to wear a raincoat to cover the already drenched body, only to remain wet when the rains stop quarter to a minute later. And who halts again to take the raincoat off for letting his clothes airdry? None.

Anyway, Mumbai in rains is exciting. It’s one big, colourful carnival.

One or the other colleague would reach the office with his/her footwear tearing apart. People kept spare formal shoes/ballerinas in the office. Some would rather prefer wearing their rubber flip-flops or Crocs, and no one bothered. Corporate people would travel wearing Formals, but pants folded 3 rolls from the seams, and again, no one bothered.

Pillion riding is fun - no worries of the muddy roads, broken roads, jammed roads - just no worries of the ensuing chaos. Crossing the Airoli-Mulund Bridge built over the Thane creek marked their everyday commute. The juxtaposition of the hills and skyscrapers, the man-made yet natural skyline of Mulund looked every inch a painting we see on those postcards! Traveling back to home those beautiful evenings, at times, she would spread out her arms wide and tilt her head back to gaze up into the sky – in a gesture to welcome the freshness and vitality that rains bring into our lives.

The shops were lined with plastics everywhere. Either they were selling such items, or they were covered in them.  Before putting them in the bag, she would cover her laptop, charger, cables, phone, earphones et al in one big polythene. Need and Want never make good friends; we all need water and we all want electronics, but we all care for electronics and waste water!

But beyond the professional life, there are those blissful days we call weekends. Monsoon Weekends in Mumbai are not meant to be spent on the balconies of home alone. The lush green mountains filled her heart with joy she had never known before. Drenched in water, trekking those beautiful Sahyadri hills, clouds hovering over as if the whole area was covered with fog! And to add to the delight – ‘a Vada Pav with garam chaaha’ when you descend the mighty forts of Maharashtra.

Reminiscing here is a girl who lived it all, looking through the rainwater splashes at the window panes of her current Gurgaon office.