Monsoon always gives me a happy feeling, bringing back childhood memories & special moments that I will always cherish. Every year on the first day of school, the first drops of the monsoon arrive! When we were little our new school year shopping would include 'rain shoes', a waterproof school bag & a fancy umbrella!
I always thought it was a great way to start a school year with the sound of raindrops in the background during every new lesson learned. My sister & I always looked for an opportunity to jump in puddles & play in the rain, especially if we had grandparents around to plead our case to Amma! Having cousins around was a bonus for more time in the rain! They say, if the rains are very heavy, then there are lesser chances of falling sick! At least that was our favourite excuse!
By the time you are in high school you grow out of splashing water around & you enjoy the monsoon differently! My most fond memories were my basketball days in school. Our team used to boast saying that if it started raining, there is no team who can beat us in a basketball match! Honestly we were pretty good at winning a match in the rain :-)
I was away for college & in my hey days rains were all about sipping a cup of coffee & looking on. I had the greatest roommates in hostel & we never missed enjoying a single rain! A cup of coffee was almost a must have if two raindrops were falling from the sky!
I love the rain anywhere & everywhere but in Kerala, it is something else! I think it is the way the whole place looks after the onset of the monsoon. One monsoon we went to this lovely little coffee shop in Fort Kochin to have their home-made chocolate cake & ice-tea when it was pouring! Every mouthful of chocolate cake got better with the rain getting heavier! I will never forget the look on Amma's face that day, just feeling so cozy & content with her two little girls on either side!
My husband loves the rain more than I do!! It rains in Qatar for 2-3 days in a year & in this rare downpour if you see two very excited people with two very excited kids driving in the rain, then there is a very high chance that it might be us! We call ourselves 'rain people' who get most excited at the sight of a single raindrop! Whether back home or anywhere else in the world we have travelled to, the rains have been very special to us! A hot cup of coffee, some butter-cookies & people you love is the combination to enjoying every rain!
