I woke up with a start from the cozy coocoon of my bed, on a jarring clap of thunder... I looked towards the balcony... It was dark outside... confused I looked at the wall clock it was 7:30am...
WOW!!! Its gonna rain...!!! I smirked and flopped back on my bed... anyway I was not going to office... It was 5th June 08,the ruling party called a 'Bandh'...due to the price hike of petrol & diesel.My parents would hit the roof if I even tried to tell them that I would be going to office...!!!( not because they were supporting the bandh, but because it might not be very safe for me to venture out...)
The rain started... I could hear the pitter-patter of the rain drops as they struck against the window panes... "Shonda Matir Ghondho" the heady fragrance of moist earth, that comes with the first touch of the cool raindrops on the surface of the heated earth... the strong gusts of wind that blew swaying & lashing the branches of the trees surrounding our house... the forks of lightening, momentarity illuminating the darkened sky... followed by the loud peels of thunder... all added to the rainy charm...
It had stared raining really hard... My loveable labrador on noticing that I was awake... immediately sprung on me... licking my face... as if to say...' wake up lazy bones....' I hugged him & pushed him off me... I sat up and he gave me a wide mouthed grin... lolling out his pink tougue... his peace was shaken by a loud bang... he started... The Thunder played a spoilt-sport...I laughed... poor thing... he is generally not scared of loud noises, it had just caught him unawares (no, no... i am not being baised.. promise!!!)
I jumped out of bed... opened my windows... cold splashes of water hit my warm face... the cool rainy breeze... giving me goose-bumps... it was beautiful outside... the green leaves of the tree ouside my window seemed to to prancing in glee... their water drenched beauty captivated me... I rushed to get my little faithful 'soap-box'(i.e. my camera)
A moment frozen in time... I took this photo just as the drop of water at the tip of the leaf was about to fall...and now it never will...
Nowadays,we dont have a concept of having bird baths in the gardens... simply because land is do costly that people dont have space to create gardens... leave alone birdbaths!!!So when it rains birds try to make the most of it ...these pigeons, as I stood watching them slowly shifted their bodies, this way & that to get wet... then they lifted thir wings one by one trying to get the down feathers wet...(looked to me almost as if they were washing their arm pits!!! bahhhhhhhhhhh)
My brother & I decided to go out for a walk in the afternoon... sheer curiocity made us venture out... I wanted to see how the Bandh & the rain had effected the residents of the City of Joy.... (hey... everyone loves a holiday... but I am kind of against the forced leaves that we have to take because of these, 'oh so prevailent BANDHS'!! It never has & never will solve any issue... its a complete wastage of a working day...surmounting to a huge loss of revenue for all businesses... I wonder why these polititians can't just put their heads together and come up with a solution to the challenge instead of these stupid activities... which leads to harrasment of the common man...and also gives a very negetive image to the people wanting to invest in this state....!!!)
No Rain or Bandh can stop women from gossipping....these two women armed with umbrellas, brave the rain to exchange a few words in the middle of the street...

The Bandh effects the local market traders... another day wasted... lost revenue...who will compensate for this one wonder!!!
'Bhaari' - A person who delivers water to various houses in the locality... goes about quitely doing his work.... come rain or bandh... water supply falls under necessity ...
The deserted crossroads..
Gariahat Market, wears a deserted look....riskshaw pullers, sit chatting...& sleeping.. a day off for them...
Boys playing 'Gully Cricket'...a very common sight of the 'bandh-struck' city...
The barren stretch of road Golpark to Gariahat, which is generally bursting at seams with traffic & pedestrians...
My brother & I walked back home... for my Mom's Rainy day special, delicious Lunch of 'Khichuri' & 'Ilish Maach bhaja'!!! Food was yummmmmmmmmmm......
It was a restful day at home... but not something I look forward to... taking a leave is different from being forced to take a leave....!!!!
2 comments:
Oh..
Nice account of rainy day in a city which is "extremely sensitive" even to a little downpour, just as its denizens are. May be our albhabet should have ended with a "p" rather than with "chandobindu" as everything comes down to "p"olitics now.
Nicely captured moments..
and again very nostalgic.....
Hey liked the picture essay very much, although several lives was thrown out of gear on that particular day, I personally know three people who suffered due to it, glad that you are not one of them! We had the same rainy day experience in Delhi on last Sunday, the singing and dancing in the rain to having coffee at Barista and some serious auto - pushing thrown in :)
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