Now something very unusual happened today. Something which I did not think could have happened. I actually got stranded in Varanasi rains for 40 whole minutes, when my home was hardly 15 minutes away, walking !
It rained cats and dogs today, agreed. But only for an hour! and the entire loveable city of mine has been transformed into one big whole swimming pool with water 3ft in depth. So now just imagine the plight of someone who is barely 5ft…phew!
As such I love rains, but I have just recovered from cough, cold and fever, so could not risk getting drenched and falling sick again. Thanks to my sibling, younger bro (who is a complete brat!) I did not have my humble scooty (though I would not have risked riding it in a pool).
The rickshaw guys..they are classic! I can very well imagine their plight when they have to pull someone of my stature, but they could have shown a little mercy, especially when I was ready to pay thrice the usual charge, but no! It was their day and me, helpless little poor girl was standing by the road and getting drenched in the rain!
One of the classic responses I got, “madam, baarish ho rahi hai”, as if I did not already know that! (but thank god he said “Baarish ho rahi hai”, there are some people who say “Baarish gir rahi hai”, a direct translation from “rain is falling” :P :P)
I stood at the Spencer’s departmental store when my dear brother messaged me saying that he is coming to pick me up and that I was to tell him my exact co-ordinates (imagine!). I obliged and then with the money I had to pay the rickshaw guy, bought myself two chocolates! (btw, I was on my way from gym :P )
I was never more pleased to see Ayush ever than I was today and what a ride it was! The roads had turned into a big pool with whirlpools. Those iconic ditches were overflowing, gurgling happily with water, ready to take anybody in their embrace that chanced to step on them. To add to the scenic beauty the electricity supply was terminated temporally and only light that could be seen was that from shops and automobiles. The perfect picture of a city that prides itself on its rich heritage, but I think we could have fared better with modern roads and a well developed drainage system. or for that matter, Mohenjo-Daro civilization had better drainage system!
An insider trivia: if it remains cloudy two days after the rainfall, without any sunshine, there will be no way the water on the roads would get drained. It is only through the process of vaporization that the city doesn’t come to a standstill after a spell of heavy showers..after all nature is bountiful, it will see us through‼
P.S. hiral shah, please forgive me,,,the next thing would be yours...pacca
