Hemanth.Net: The Personal Website of Hemanth Meka Rao

The Magic of Mumbai's monsoon
Sunday, October 01, 2006 [My views]

For those of you who've been on this site earlier, you probably already know about my love for the monsoons. Every year, the monsoon hits Bombay (Mumbai) around the end of May and leaves around early September.

While it brings with it flooded roads, delayed trains, disruption of many essential services, mudslides, exponential traffic, potholes, and many other annoyances, it brings with it prosperity to a parched India waiting for its fields to be quenched and for its dams to fill to the brim with the all essential water.

In Bombay, it brings with it a cleaning effect. One where it washes the city clean of all the dust and grime, preparing it for the Hindu festivals of Dassera and Diwali. The dark clouds, rain and gloom of the monsoon is my favourite season of the year. Maybe it reminds me of my students days in Wales, or maybe I just love it anyway, but the monsoon is my favourite time. Yes, it becomes harder to work as the lethargy creeps in with the gloom. I guess it comes with a romance. And what better way to enjoy the monsoon than tuck into a nice warm duvet with a cup of hot cocoa, with rain, wind and waves lashing outside.

This monsoon however, I was unable to enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. Over the last few years, I've not stood in the rain just to enjoy it.. I've not walked on Worli seaface as the waves lash the stone embankment.. I've not kept my window open letting the wind and water come and hit my face. I became.. an adult.

It made me think of one of my favourite verses, something I was exposed to in the 5th grade in school. Its a beautiful poem called Leisure, by William Henry Davies.

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

- William Henry Davies
(Intereting, Mr. Davies was a Welshman! )

So, I noticed that more and more, as we grow up, we stop enjoying the simple things in life and focus more and more on work and earning so that ONE day we can enjoy the simple things. But life is not a destination. It is a process, which we need to enjoy and experience to the fullest.

This morning, I woke up and saw this beautiful monsoon and loved it. But instead of going out and enjoying it, I decided to go to the gym in the morning. When I got to the gym, the security told me that on Sundays' the gym opens at 9am - an hour later (Yes, as was evident, I had not been to the gym in a few months!). This made me think for a second - should I wait? Should I come back in an hour?

No.. I drove straight to Worli seaface, parked my car - and ran. Yes, I got out and ran in the rain. It was such an amazing feeling. Its the 1st of October - the monsoon has stayed on more than a month after its usual departure. And I felt like it was waiting for me to enjoy it. And I did.. I ran across Worli seaface, watching as the waves lashed the stone embankment, with me getting progressively more and more drenched yet loving every drop of it.. I drove with the windows down as the wind and water hit my face.. Finally, I was at Leisure.. I did find time to stand and stare.

Hopefully I will find more and more. Try and join in and find your Leisure.. Mr. Davies will be almost as thrilled as you.

Comments:

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Noni Sunday, October 01, 2006

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Nice one Hemanth :) i could hear the excitement in your voice when you were describing your day earlier.. dont you wish there were more days like this.

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