MONSOON KERALA... the waters drowning me deep into a world of nostalgia

Rain.....it always brings to my mind some mixed emotions.....and the monsoon season in Kerala is a special time to relive some memorable moments in my life. Ever since my childhood, I had this enigmatic bond with the rains. My early childhood days were spent playing with my neighbour Brahmin friend, whom everyone used to call as Murugan. The house they lived in was one of those typical traditional Kerala homes with the 'naalukettu'.... a small courtyard inside the house with an open roof. At the time of monsoons, it was tranquillising to the soul to sit near the naalukettu and watch the heavy downpours. There was a mango orchard in front of their home and when the strong winds start blowing... it was an absolute fun to run out in the rain and collect those ripe mangoes strewn all around. With mom and my sisters, I used to collect the mushrooms that would have popped up as if by magic. I don't know from where they suddenly came into existence; mom always says that after a thunderstorm, mushrooms start appearing....the science behind...well.. I do not know! A few years later ... we moved to another house. Those wonderful times never came back....but still the monsoons never missed. It always came at the right time. Every year, on June 1st when the Government school reopens(mine always reopens early and I used to hate that!!), right on that day God reopens the monsoons in Kerala to drench the school children in the pouring waters. Me and my friends, Anju and Priya used to run down the road, holding the umbrellas, availing to no use, to catch the bus back home. Then after getting down the bus, me and Anju had to cycle uphill to reach home. I get a shiver even now when I think of that exhilarating feeling of cycling in the rain... Water dripping down my uniform, me drenched in the rain, mom and dad all set to scold me..aanh! If there is nobody at home(luckily)... I make my cup of tea....sipping it hot... sitting near the window... enjoying the beauty of the rain. Still,when I go back home at the time of monsoons, I love relaxing in my grandpa's armchair, sipping a cup of hot tea and watching the rain...the fresh smell of earth intoxicating me. This is a time for me to retreat and go back to the good old days of childhood, a time to review my life... the mistakes I made, the happiness I gave and received. I don't know what kind of mystical powers the monsoons have got!!! But, it always remains close to my heart, the waters drowning me deep into a world of nostalgia ... where I still wish to relive those moments of innocence.