My Romance with the Rain

As I was about to leave from office today, it was raining heavily...I wanted to reach home quickly fearing getting stuck in a traffic jam. Evening showers and traffic jams are a regular in Bangalore, but when they come as a "package" either because of your bad timing or sheer ill luck it can be quite frustrating. My point is not to rant about traffic but about the rain. Coming back to the story, as it was raining heavily and sensing my urgency to reach my car one of the friendly co-workers who luckily had an umbrella with him offered me the shelter of his parasol till the parking lot.As I neared my car I had to part with the umbrella and the helpful employee. After thanking him profusely, I ran towards my good buddy "santro". However I couldnt avoid getting soaked by the rain. After a few rain drops trickled down my spectacles, there was a sudden rush of my childhood feelings of getting drenched in the rain while going back home from school. I loved this feeling so much that I had a sudden urge at that moment to stand still and feel the rain pouring down upon me...I had to stop an involuntary action of raising my arms out welcoming the rain and start off a male version of "ennalaku gurtochchavo vaana" song. Better sense prevailed over me at the thought of being looked at as a freak by my co-workers at the office...

But seriously speaking getting wet in the rain is a wonderful experience. I dont know how but i enjoyed the rain a lot. Several times while coming back from school i used to deliberately cycle my way back to my house as the rain pounded. The sensation of the rain drops falling on your head while it trickles down from your face is unmatched. It gives you a soothing feeling and on some occassions common cold(sometimes might lead to complications like pneumonia..So please dont get overenthusiastic). By the time I reached home I used to shiver with my lower movable jaw hittiing the upper jaw vigourously. After nodding to concerned chides from my mother for exposing myself to the rain and after drying up my hair I used to feel refreshed and recharged. Natural shower na...Great isnt it..

I figured out the spiritual aspect of the rain too...We are born out of the five elements and our scriptures teach us that ultimately we have to merge with the universe. Thus being united with rain is a soul-stirring experience. But why dont we feel the same with fire...Hmmmmm....A good counterpoint.

For all those grown ups who think they are missing their childhood dearly, here is a stupid recipe for an experiement, to enjoy the rain, which you can try out at your homes...Kids please ignore this experiment and save me from the curses of your parents..

Warning: People who catch cold easily because someone two lanes away has sneezed and people prone to any breathing related infections please avoid this...This is only for those crazy people who have enough number of White Blood Cells in their bodies to resist themselves against respiratory infections...Now pls dont go and confirm with your annual medical report, although it is advisable:)

Things you may need:
A perfect rainy day (check with your local weather report, if it says "cloudy skies and light to heavy showers expected" and if you are lucky it will be true. This is your ideal day!!!)...

Dark colored clothes...

Empty side of the terrace where no one can see you...

The driest turkey towel in your house...

A hair blower if you can afford it....

Dry ironed clothes..

Hot cup of tea once you complete the experiement..

A couple of anti cold pills and an Amrutanjan balm just in case...

Now you can estimate the craziness of this experiment!!!

Now time for the ludicrous experiment: (caution:make sure no one is around at your house).

1. Wear the dark coloured clothes on the rainy day...This is to save you from any blushes if somebody catches hold of you..

2. Go to your terrace and make sure no one is watching you so that you dont risk being laughed at later or end up in youtube with a video titled "my crazy neighborhood guy/gal" depending on the insaneness of the individual observing you...Or some maniac or lovelorn person might get more than amused by your feat that they will end up stalking you...Am I scaring you enough? So better be careful.

3. Wait for the rain to pick up and become steady..Don't venture out when the rain is coming hard at you..If you are unlucky and if it is a hailstorm you might end up at your nearest health care center and have to give lengthy explanations for your (mis)adventure.

4. Enter the rain zone.....Feel the rain on the face and your body till you can handle it..You will feel like melting into the eternal universe...thats what I call soul stirring experience. However, if it rains too heavily you will also experience your soul coming out of your body because of breathlessness.

5. Get soaked up for five to 10 mins and optionally shiver for a while...Enjoy the moment!!!

6. Come out of the rain...Do I have to tell you?

7. Wipe your head completely dry with the driest turkey towel and use the hair dryer if you have one...make sure your head is thoroughly dry...Change into dry ironed clothes...

8. If the tea is ready sip it slowly reminiscing about your stupid experiment, while watching the rain if it is still lingering around, ...or start watching the equally stupid programs on the television and think about the story you are going to cook up for your folks when they find out about your soggy clothes.

9. If you start sneezing by the night take the anti cold pills or alternatively apply amrutanjan till it burns your nose and tell yourself that you will never do this again. This experiment is not for you boss. May be you have grossly overestimated your WBC count...Hehe!!!