Loving Mumbai Rains

I have a love-hate relationship with the Mumbai rains. I love it for its intensity, its fierceness, the persistence with which it falls and falls and brings the much needed relief from the heat and sweat. But I do not love it as it brings out all the filth on the roads, it disrupts movement and makes venturing out an expedition in itself.

My relationship with the Mumbai rains began a decade ago, when we relocated from Jalgaon (town in north Maharashtra). Average annual rainfall in Jalgaon is 77 to 80 cm, so you see my exposure to rains was minimal. In Jalgaon it was considered down market to carry an umbrella, if it started to rain when you had to go out- you waited for 15/20 minutes and the rain would be gone, you could continue your work after that.

Rains in Mumbai were a cultural shock. The first rainy season was a learning experience. I learnt carrying a rain gear when you step out is a must. It might help most times but on some days the rains would have the upper hand and no matter how well equipped you were you would get drenched. I learnt to carry a water bottle, napkin and of course started using a water proof bag and foot wear. The most important learning was you don't wait for the rains to subside or stop. You have to get going no matter how heavily it was pouring. I used to drop and pick the kids from the various classes they attended. So we needed to go out every day in the evening. During the initial days we would wait for the rains to subside, (instead of subsiding it would rain more heavily) and end up reaching late at our destination. We learnt to leave from the house well ahead of time (a must in Mumbai all year around, but especially essential during rains) respecting the traffic.

Traveling by local has its own learnings. It's the best to stay away from the window seat during the rainy season. You either carry extra set of clothes and foot wear with you or keep them at your work place. You never know when you might end up at your work place completely soaked. At the station and on the roads your gaze should be down, you can't afford to look up while walking , you will end up with your foot in a puddle or something even more filthy.

Over the years I have learnt that Mumbai rain reads my mind. The moment I think of going out dark clouds begin to hover over the sky. If I don't respect and step out it starts to pour even when the weather app says sunny in your area. The standing joke in the house is, if any of us wants to go out and I am around when they think of going out it starts to rain.

I wait eagerly for the rains now.

The adrak chai and corn/kanda bhaji have a special relationship with the rains. Somehow they taste most scrumptious in the rains. The drive on a rainy day on the Sea Link and a stop over by Worli Sea face to gaze at the roaring waves is simply mesmerizing. I love to sit at the Worli Sea face promenade it feels so near the sea yet so far.  

I have over the years learnt to be friends with the Mumbai rains, I quite like to get drenched once in a while when running an errand, then come home to a hot cup of adrak chai. Sipping the chai sitting by the window while the rain continues it's dance for hours on is tranquilizing.

Rains in Mumbai are dear to me now they are a part of me. Like a true Mumbaikar, I wait eagerly for the monsoon to arrive for the roads to get waterlogged and for the garden in my society to form into a pond.