My favourite weather.. Monsoons..Numerous episodes of bunkings in school and college years, followed by romantic excapades with fiancee, now husband, drenched to the core moonlit walks on worli seaface, braving the stormy, icy winds, hunt for a chai wallah at unearthly hours, or just simply sitting in the balcony, reading a book,as if enveloped in the embrace of overcast sky, music of rain drumming on the ledge… One can go on and on,savouring the lingering taste of memories where the rain as if an integral part of the screenplay, adding the dimension of an irreplacable character.
Its monsoon time again. While nothing can and does deter one from indulging in the above pleasures, yet a glaring change of scenario has, as if put a spanner in the delightful joys of rainy days, which dont cost the earth but feel like heaven.
Culprit.. BMC.. How utterly boring to even bring up the mention of it. The indescribable frustration of flooded streets, overflowing gutters, stranded life, and inability to even consider travel, by any mode, save a chopper, has taken the wind out of ones sails.
Incorrigible.. after the debacle of 26/7 one would have hoped,aspired, that if anything a re-play would never occur..The officials had received lavish flack on their non-performance last year form all quarters. But .. Incorrigible. The constant passing the buck from MMRDA to BMC is an old as the hills ploy, used effectively down the ages, as well as currently.
Ah! well.. some more sms’es, empty talk of Janmats springing up to make the powers who be ‘accountable’, an interview with the Municipal Commissioner eulogising the strides his department has made, a beaming Chief Minister, reassuring that all is well, with rail, road and air travel, close up shots of water pumps to clear logging( pumps submerged too in almost all low lying areas, is besides the point)helpline numbers( never available) being flashed continuously on t.v. channels..In other words a perfect damage control exercise of image resurrection is about the single area of endeavour, diligently worked on, the past year.
Any point cribbing..Naah
Net result.. Oh as usual.. Hubbys decided to cook one of his Shah Jehani recipes.. the one which was Mumtaz Mahals favourite, supposedly.. son’s joined in.. maid and me relegated to chopping, peeling, marinating, assistant like jobs( btw if that suggests that I dont know how to cook, its as fallacious as proclaiming BMC efficient..I am a superb cook who hates to cook..presently) and the fight is on for the choice of DVD..post lunch.
When you cant beat them join them..relax n chill!
Sachiniti 
slave driver;)
Comment by temporal — July 4, 2006 @ 9:35 pm |
T,
Kya keh rahein hain aap miya??(a la surma bhopali sholay style)
its just a simple case of ‘greasing the palm’.. hubbys gained mastery..bribery.. I tell you, its rampant everywhere……
ghar pe bhi..tsk tsk..kya karen..silently accept it.
Comment by Kaveetaa Kaul — July 4, 2006 @ 10:10 pm |
simply loved your description of rains and how I wait for them while in Delhi and dreaded them while in Mumbai…
my sister is in Mumbai, with no electricity, no phone, restricted mobility and seemingly endless downpour…I am in Delhi beating the scorching heat with power cuts for 5-6 hours a day.
Usually I would have cribbed n sulked n made a big deal about the power cuts but as I compare my situation with all of you in Mumbai I know I shouldn’t be complaining….
Cheers to all those who are braving the tough situation…looks so grim on T.V.
But the good part, as long as people don’t lose their lives and aren’t seriously hurt, is that you get to be at home…doing what you please and you won’t be blamed for bunking, whether at school, work or even at home…
I shudder to even imagine what it would be like to have your house sunk with knee deep water..while its a story of courage of people who are dealing with it positively, I do hope things change drastically. Many eminent people in position are right now busy being panelists on mumbai special on most channels…hope they get the time to wake up to their responsibilty and show some real action SOON…before its too late for too many…
Comment by Aparajita — July 4, 2006 @ 10:56 pm |
wow.. tatz a cozy situation.. a rainy day off from school n then even pulling in bac maa from her work n getting to do just sweet nothingz was ‘the’ childhood momentz… guess time doesnt flow back n lol! not big enuf to get in2 hubby-wifey mushingz!!
really sweet hubby 🙂
Comment by der Bergwind — July 5, 2006 @ 9:15 am |
Hi aparajita,
reading your comment instilled me with the idea of my next post..never imagined I’d share it.. but now feel its a tale that needs to be told..:)The spirit of Mumbai is something else.
der,
hmmmm…learn love..life is meant to be a learning experience whether vicariously or not ..is not really important. Its these mushy gushy moments of sweet nothings which finally determine whether or not it has been a life well lived.. I guess.Snaps, on film or a snapshot in ones memory is the enchantment of life and its blessings. Let us hold on to it and relish it above all else…I know you are young but am sure you are on to receiving lifes bounties.. amass with both hands wide open..:)
Comment by Kaveetaa Kaul — July 6, 2006 @ 12:47 pm |