Tale of `untimely` rain…

Life is not like Maths we learn in school. We may score 100 % in Maths , but life does always not go 2+2 = 4 way. It has its own Mathematics, different from what we learn in our school books. That is evident every now and then, in minor or major events and process of learning this Mathematics of life is unending…

It was very sunny morning when I set off from home to pursue itinerary for the day. All of a sudden, I was caught in the heavy rain, unguarded, which upset my whole itinerary , left me fuming for few moments.

There were no signs of the rain till I reached the ferry ramp. The moment I boarded the ferry to cross the river, it started raining. I did not mind it, as departure time was 15 minutes later. The ferry usually takes 10 minutes to cross the river. I had to face, these 25 minutes, idly. I was mentally prepared for that expecting the rain would stop by the time I reach the other bank of the river. These showers in Bhadrapada are usually not long lasting. But the rain this time failed me. It receded when ferry reached the other bank. I pushed through the thin showers only to face it going dense gradually. I was all wet and there was nothing around where I could take shelter. After driving for about 5 kilometers, I found a restaurant. I stopped. The moment I entered the restaurant, raining was also stopped. I ordered for a tea. There was no rain at all. Intimating my friend of my getting late to reach the destination and requesting him to adjust the schedule accordingly, I restarted my journey.

I would have covered hardly few yards from the cafeteria, the rain resumed. I stopped at a bus shelter, it also stopped. I took off and it started raining again. This time very heavily. It made me much difficult to drive the bike. I stopped at milk collection center, fuming over the untimely rain. I was about to curse and abuse the rain for spoiling my day`s programme. Suddenly, something from inside resisted the potential outburst….

This year, we, in Goa , are witnessing heavy showers continuously for last few days, including days of Ganesh Chaturthy, that dampened the enthusiasm for the festival. I have heard people blaming and abusing the rain for its`untimely` appearances. I remembered it. That made me mute. The next moment I was telling myself, for last five momsoons, I had not been using umbrella or raincoat. It was my conscious decision. I told my friends that I would rather get wet in the rain. I have been doing this for last five seasons. So, I have no right to blame the rain and I also do not wish to fall in line with others who blame the rain for its untimely appearances.

I remember, during my childhood days 30 years back and even until recently till 25-26 years back, raining during the Ganesh Chaturthy was not uncommon phenomenon. Certain festivals like Vasantotsav (sometime in May ) certain Jatras like one at Shirgao (of Lairai ) always marked by mild or heavy rains. In the event of non occurrence of the rain, it was felt we missed something. We received monsoon showers till the end of October and witnessed floods at least 6 to 7 times during the monsoons.The phenomenon has changed during last about 25 years. ` `Irregularity` of monsoon has become so regular that the people take it as `regularity` of the monsoon! Change in that is now not acceptable to them. Even monsoon is, if found reverting to its regular pattern or cycle, it will be tagged `corrupt`. We are now living in pattern of `irregularities`. So, originality has become `untimely`. What a phenomenon!

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