MONSOON

After three months of searing heat, it has finally arrived. The most awaited guest on all of the South India, the Monsoon. The word Monsoon is derived from the Arabic word Mausam through the Portuguese word monção. The three months of summer is very harsh on the Indian subcontinent, and the current trend in climate change is doing nothing to alleviate this situation, rather than to make it much worse.

Monsoon is a time for joy and of escape from the harsh rise in the mercury. It is with great anticipation that the people in South India – especially Kerala- look forward to it. Monsoon in Kerala is the period of heavy rain, of cool winds and strengthening of the greenery. The heavy rains bring life back to the earth, the rivers and the streams get healthier and stronger and the dense foliage becomes ever more robust.

My idea perfect monsoon is lounging on an easy chair, on the verandah, with a cup of hot coffee and a Robert Ludlum Novel. Also it is the time to listen to the potpourri of the sounds made by crickets, and the amphibians. The sound of the heavy rain drops racing to kiss the earth, and hammering on the roof tops is a cacophony that all of us will cherish. This time I decided to walk out of the line, to change the rules, and decided to be the first one to welcome the monsoon. I decided to receive the rains head on at the scenic beach of Kovalam.

The beach which is a major tourist attraction is less crowded at the mornings and when ever there is a threat of an impending down pour. I chose a Sunday morning and caught an early bus to Kovalam. I had an umbrella with me, which I did not intend to use. As I was approaching the beach, I could see the dark clouds building up on the horizon, threatening to open up any time. I wasted no time in reaching the rock formation jutting out into the sea at an altitude of 5 – 15 meters. I climbed up on the highest rock keeping in mind the safety barriers. The view that I had was breathtaking – the angry sea – dark green and frothing all over and threatening to engulf anything in its way. The heavy, dark and intimidating clouds added spice to the scenery. The strong winds sprayed the salty and the cold sea water all over. And then it happened – the heavens opened up. The rain drops plummeted down the already angry sea, making the sea rough but enchanting. The fishing boats seemed to get tossed around, at the mercy of the nature, but some how riding up one crest and then disappearing into the next trough, again to rise up the next.  It was one of the most enchanting scenery that I had ever witnessed. I received the rain drops square on my face, tasting them and savouring each of the drops. I never wanted the rain to stop; I wanted the clouds to burst out and hoped that the scenery will get wilder and wilder. I wanted the waves to rise up, froth over, smash into the beach, and to get through the million pores of my skin. I wanted to be a part of the mighty waves smashing on to the rocks, to be the gusty winds carrying the spray, to be one with nature, to be at peace.