Monsoons in Delhi

Bombay monsoon comes with a sense of foreboding. Anyone who has spent even a single monsoon in Bombay can identify with this uneasiness. The constant dampness, the non-stop rain, the discomfort and disease associated with wet feet. Rains are not romantic or fun. Monsoon in Bombay is just a series of depressing thoughts, feelings and days. 

When I moved to Delhi, I knew I will miss Bombay. But I was certain I will not miss the Bombay rains. Unsurprisingly, I felt only relief after experiencing the first monsoon in Delhi. The sky is mostly blue, and is only blue during this season. There are floating clouds all around which teach you how to let go of your intrusive thoughts. The rain-washed plants look like they are leading flourishing lives; they're that bright and shiny. And, the actual rain? It shows its face every once in a while, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, but never a constant drizzle. It does not rain for days here like it does in Bombay. And a word for the breeze: there is a balmy breeze that feels at once all too familiar, and so very foreign. Familiar, because it reminds you of the sea. Foreign, because it is scented by the desert and the hills surrounding the Delhi plains. It is a particularly unique breeze, with no salty tang, crisp in its tenderness and almost nostalgic even in its presence. 

I welcome this period of two months or so - it is mostly August and September - when Delhi feels deliciously liveable. The air is thick with possibility, and a daily routine suddenly seems well within reach. Want to go out every morning in clean air? Can! Want to cycle to work? Can! Want to go out for dinner every other day? Can, can! Want to spend the morning staring dreamily at the clouds drifting away happily in the sky? Yes, can! 

Here's to fully living up these two months with joy and gratitude.