View from the room

Well, not quite - but almost. The following pics were taken from the top of my house, the terrace. In the last few days, thanks to a depression in the Bay, we have finally had some rains - the great Indian Monsoon never ceases to amaze you. Or indeed, the weather in India itself. I have travelled a bit around the world, and I have never seen people wait so eagerly for the rains to arrive. Reminds me of these words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

In the country, on every side,
Where far and wide,
Like a leopard's tawny and spotted hide,
Stretches the plain,
To the dry grass and the drier grain
How welcome is the rain!

In the furrowed land
The toilsome and patient oxen stand;
Lifting the yoke encumbered head,
With their dilated nostrils spread,
They silently inhale
The clover-scented gale,
And the vapors that arise
From the well-watered and smoking soil.
For this rest in the furrow after toil
Their large and lustrous eyes
Seem to thank the Lord,
More than man's spoken word.

Rains are indeed symbolic of life in India. And every Indian is aware of this truth of life and living - which is probably why despite the various problems associated with rains in this country, we welcome them with open arms.

Rains have been late in coming to Hyderabad. So, when the skies opened up on Wednesday last and it rained cats and dogs, no one really complained - despite the water-logged streets, the traffic snarls on various roads or the chaos in general. Flashes of lightening, claps of thunder and incessant rain - all of this and more was welcome! Though it has stopped raining in the last 24 hours or so, where I stay the weather now is almost akin to a hill station climate - fresh lush green trees swaying to the gentle breeze wafting through, overcast skies and the sun playing hide and seek with the clouds. I was taking a walk on the terrace Monday morning when I was treated to this spectacle. I couldn't resist the temptation - I scrambled down, dug my camera out hoping that the battery was indeed charged, charged up the stairs again - and the result is as below:









Yes, we do live in concrete jungles; but there are moments such as these when, to me, the world is still a very beautiful place.