A nice cosy rainy day

 Over the last few days, so many thoughts have been bombarding my head. Since yesterday, I had been wondering what to write about — not quite sure of the topic. But the moment I picked up my pen, this was the first thing that came to mind, and why not?

It’s been raining cats and dogs. A red alert is issued, schools and colleges shut down, monorail services stall, tracks get submerged and trains halt. But there’s one thing that continues as usual — most private offices don’t declare a holiday. You may reach office as per your “shraddha” and “sadhan”, or else take a leave. A friend even showed me a message from her boss — he expressed concern about the rains and safety at 7 pm, urging everyone to leave early. Too little, too late :)

But on the other side, rains carry their own magic. Once you start looking at the heavy clouds, feeling the cool breeze, the chill in the air — it creates a cozy vibe that makes you want more of it. Pair it with a hot cuppa of chai, coffee, or hot chocolate — and bliss is guaranteed. And let’s be real, nothing matches chai with pakode (not fritters, pakode! :):)). A plate of steaming hot pakoras with tea, while watching the rain and enjoying the breeze from home — it’s heaven.

And after that chai session? Maybe snuggle back into bed, or curl up with a book, or catch up on your favorite OTT show. That’s just the bonus.

Let me add one more thing I did. On my way back from office, I cross a huge park. It has everything — football and cricket grounds, a jogging track, basketball court, swings for kids. Truly a place for people of all ages. Yesterday, as I walked past it, the drizzle had slowed, but the breeze had turned cooler and softer. Tiny droplets landed on my face.

It felt so, so good — I can’t really describe it. While I kept walking, with nobody too close to me for at least half a minute, I closed my eyes. I let the droplets touch my skin, took a deep breath, and felt the breeze more deeply this time. It was magical.

And as often happens, rains reminded me of a Bollywood song. Suddenly, the lines “Mera dil tarsa re, paani kyun barsa re…” from Lamhe started playing in my head. You might think of another favorite song, but for me, that was the perfect one in the moment.

These are the little joys. These are the feelings of contentment that life offers — and they’re free. You cannot recreate them even if you try.

Of course, there will always be enough to stress about — work, overthinking, emotions, or people who test your patience. But maybe what really matters is how often we release ourselves from all that, just enough to notice and enjoy these fleeting joys of life.

 So whats your favourite rainy-day joy?