This is the second installment of the #WordsMatter Blog Hop and our prompt for September is ‘when it rains’. Thank you Shalini, Parul and Corinne for hosting it.
Rains and emotions seem to go hand in hand. Rains make you nostalgic, romantic, happy, sad. They are associated with seasons in our lives, linked to memories and people.
Fun in the rain
When we were kids, the rains were fun. Puddles were meant to splash in, and overflowing gutters meant paper boats going on fantasy voyages.
We were allowed to get wet, to play in the water and enjoy the rains. There was no fear of getting ill and words like pollution , leptospirosis and acid rain were not in our dictionary.
We rejoiced when the wells in our compounds filled up and when the plants in our gardens danced in joy as they drank in the water.
Poetry and chai
As I grew into a young adult, the feelings changed. The rains now incited longings which were new. Haldi doodh gave way to chai and bhajiyas. Splashing in puddles gave way to sitting at the window mooning over as yet unexplored emotions. The rains meant writing poems of longing and love.
Long walks in the rain under one umbrella a la Raj Kapoor and Nargis style were anticipated. The rains meant happiness and laughter, stolen kisses and playfulness.
Colds and coughs and missing school
By the time I was a mother, things had changed. It was not longer safe letting your kids splash about in the rain. If you did, then you had to be prepared for colds and coughs and viral fever. My memories of those times are trying to calm my twins down as they coughed and sneezed the night away while the storms raged outside the window, dismal and distressing. There was a chill in the house that was never there in our old houses or maybe it was just because there were not so many people in the family anymore. The joint family had given way to the nuclear family and the familiar warmth of knowing that you had people around to help was missing.
When the heavens cry
It was 2.40 am on 20th October, 2010. The doctor called me into the ICU to say that nothing more could be done and asked permission to take Jerry off life support. I looked at the clock and I looked at Jerry and as if on cue, it began to pour. I knew in my heart that that was the moment he had left us. I strangely found the rain comforting. Concentrating on the sound of the rain in the background helped me focus on what had to get done. It acted as a lullaby numbing my grief.
God takes back his promise
Today, nine years later, I dread the rains. I worry about my mom, who is irritatingly independent, going out to buy something and having a fall. I worry about roads being flooded and being stuck in the traffic for hours. I worry about family and friends being safe.
Just yesterday, my daughter and I were talking about the floods that have ravaged the country this year and she said, “It looks as if God decided to break his promise about not destroying the world with water again. We humans have forced him to do that because we are the ones who are actually destroying the earth.’’
What does the future hold?
Will we continue like this? Create situations where the rains are scary or can we take small steps to take care of our planet, like not allowing the government to destroy our forests, or even stop using plastic?
Can we take a few steps back so that once again the rains become something joyous instead of something to be dreaded?
I received this tag from Shilp Gupte at Fictionista It’s my pleasure to pass on this tag to Mahati Ramya at Fantastic Feathers. There are 42 of us on this Blog Hop and it will be spread over 3 days – 6, 7, 8 September 2019. Do follow the #WordsMatter Blog Hop and prepare to be surprised!
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Hi Sunita,
I loved how you took us through the evolution of what rain means to you. And yes, climate change is real, and we are going to pay a heavy price for our crimes, some day soon.
I love how you strung this together, Sunita! Your daughter is so wise to say what she did! The rains have almost become scary here too!
Thank you. And yes it does get scarier year by year
What a thoughtful piece, Sunita. The differences in how we saw rains has changed over time and continues to change. You shared some snippets that’s close to you and that made this post a heartfelt one. Thank you for joining, #WordsMatter.
I loved how you took us through each emotions that rain brings in us. The best was the youthful phase of mooning near the window. I hate what rains does to the cities now. And we are at fault for all the water blockage and traffic.
Reminded me of my school Days…Very nice
During my schooling…Cold, cough and missing school was a the most irritating thing I had to go through because of the Sinus problem I had (I still have though). I used to hate not being able to go to school as I loved my school.
Rains and how we react to them changes with age, when we were younger, rains meant that we could be home, play with rainwater, play hide and seek inside our home, later it became a hurdle to cross while going to office, so rt of an unwanted guest, now rains mean cooler earth, better envionment, ground water relenishment..oh life!
Rains can have a varying effect on our moods. Sometimes it soothes, sometimes aggravates. It is indeed worrying to have loved ones, young and old out there in the rains doing there thing, while you sit at home praying for their safe return. On the other hand, a hot cuppa with books and listening to the steady pitter patter sounds like heaven!
Such a thoughtful piece Sunita. When I was young rains were fun too. Even the mess was fun. Now as an adult I’m at a similar place like you – I also have an ‘irritatingly independent’ mom to worry about and with the constant coughs and colds sometimes it isn’t so good. However if there’s one thing I’ve realised it is that the rains simply reflect the way we are feeling. Somedays it brings back happy memories and makes me feel good.
I don’t think I’d thought so deeply about rain between Hurricane Harvey and this blog hop! So many ways to look at it, aren’t there? I like to think God’s not reneging on His promise so much as desperately trying to wash the planet clean of all our constant messes. I’ve seen some spectacular rainbows, lately. Always a reminder.
I love the images your words conjour up. Yes, the rains bring bittersweet memories for me too particularly the month of August where many dear ones passed away in this month ( over the years of course)
So very well put, Sunita. Rains should be a source of joy, not anxiety, like in earlier times.
You are right, Sunita. We humans are to be blamed for the plight that we’re in now. Water is such a precious resource and yet we are doing nothing to conserve water or to save Earth. Banning plastics, for instance was started with so much gusto in Bangalore but now seems to have fizzled out in many areas. Your daughter’s words ring true, and much to our horror, we shall be mute spectators of where His Wrath will take us eventually!
Reading your post was like revisiting an old family house which held all these lovely memories. Its true that earlier we used to be allowed to splash as much as we wanted in the rains. In fact it was recommended by the elders to let the children be exposed to the rains.
But now its another story altogether. I agree with your daughter’s viewpoint. God is going to break earth with all this water. All thanks to the stupid human greed which has made this planet a painful place to live on for all living creatures.
I guess its upto us to protest and agitate when the Govt goes all out to destroy forests and nature to fulfill its greed. Whats happening in India and in the Amazons is terrible – green lungs being removed to fulfill human greed. Its a matter of time when we will be facing extinction soon
Well said, if we can do something to make rains enjoyable instead of us worrying about traveling in heavy traffic water clogged roads.
Rains bring forth such a range of emotions in all of us! I am at a loss for words after reading your post and just want to give you big hug. May the rains herald happy and joyous moments for you always! ♥
Happiness, sadness, nostalgia… rains can be a trigger for each of them, and I could understand that through your post. Related to the first three. The last three, I suppose, were more personal.
Rains in our younger days meant fun and playing around with no fear of falling sick. I still remember enacting to Babes in the Wood with friends on a suddenly declared school holiday. Don’t remember being reprimanded for informing Mom after going back home. Life was so much easier. And now heavy rains mean being caught unawares, flooding, difficulty going to work or returning home, falling sick and the numerous messages on social media about floods in various places. Scary!!! Well written Sunita! As always!
The rains are so capable of evoking a hundred emotions in us, isn’t it? It’s just water, after all, and yet, so powerful.
And, whatever we are suffering today, is all our fault. And, in spite of knowing this, every day brings with it a new piece of news that tells us about our sheer stupidity despite all that we are facing today! How much more do we need to undergo before we will awaken from our slumber and make changes in our lifestyle? I wonder.