Pitter Patter... My Heartz a Flutter... :) ... :) ...

Okay.. its been a long sabbatical, and I'm back. :) As i have always maintained, i blog only when i feel the words flowing, when something that moves me deeply (in a good way or otherwise) happens. And this time it was nothing less than rains.... :) .. :) .. Rainssssssss... :) :) ...

Guess i will cut the chase and come to what i want to write... :) ..

Rains... aaahh.. we all have so so so many emotions attached with this lovely phenomenon of Mother Nature. I LOVE RAINS, and it would not be an overstatement if i said that i go mad when it rains. :P Rains hit that soft spot for me.. no matter how bad my mood is.. or how bad my day was, they never fail to cheer me up... :) ..

Last year, due to my office, i was not able to go out and have fun in the rains. But, this year i'm on study leave, and i was waiting for it to rain heavily since the past few days. I was determined to make up for the lost opportunities last year.. seeing that it was pouring from the office windows and then forcing myself back to work !! As i woke up today, Heavens greeted me with the lovely sight of a heavy downpour, and no sign of letting up. The whole sky was covered with gray rain filled clouds and the sun seemed to have taken a day off. I studied for a while sitting by the window, but after a while, i couldn't keep myself from going out in the rains any more. I changed into clothes more apt for the weather, literally jumping and running to do it quickly, and then rush out. :D .. :D.. But, then i thought of calling a few friends and to find if any one was willing to accompany me for a bike ride in the rains. I was greeted with no answers and lazy greetings of sleepy people. No one agreed. I even tried to go online and find a person who was willing. Still no one..!! Dude..a bike ride in the rains...!! Had someone offered me the same..i would have grabbed it with both hands..!!

So then, i set out on my own. I had decided to go all the way to Nariman Point from my home on my bike. Its around 25 kilometres one way. 25 kilometres of bliss in the rains. A friend asked me..what will you do alone ??!! And i said.. who is alone ?? Its going to be Me... and.. Rains..!! :D (I told you.. I go mad when it comes to rains... :P) I started at around 10.30 and it had been raining heavily since early morning. The thing that mumbai roads are prone to water logging was going through my mind. And at a low lying area called 'Hindmata Flyover'.. that gets flooded after heavy rains for as less as an hour, i was greeted with a long line of vehicles. JAM...!! 'There goes my fun filled day..", I thought. But then i decided to follow the cars, and since i was on a bike, chances of it getting stalled were much lesser. The water level kept rising and at an intersection, i saw certain cars take a 'U' turn and turn back. A completely water filled road awaited me. I almost turned back, but then i saw a car that had almost turned back just like me, decide to go for it. I followed suit. And, i was greeted with 3 feet of water, the water trying to kill my dear bike's engine..!! I trudged along, not knowing what would i do if it stalled. I had no experience in driving vehicles in such a situation, and hence just drove ahead resolutely. Cops were guiding vehicles away from the open manhole covers...making it even more creepy. Eventually, I managed to reach the end of the water filled stretch, feeling victorious, and also lucky after seeing the number of stalled bikes, buses and cars standing at the end of that treacherous stretch. I saw media vans and photographers trying to find food to satiate the voracious apetite of their 24*7 news channel bosses. More Happiness !! I stopped for a minute to marvel at the experience that felt like an experience, and then moved on.

The rest of the journey was uneventful and it was also stopping to rain. So, i was praying for a heavy downpour. And soon after i reached the picturesque marine drive, my prayers were answered. The skies opened and it started to pour !! I was ecstatic !! :) :) ... I walked till the end of the marine drive enjoying the angry sea waves trying to run over the rocks and reach the promenade filled with rain loving people like me and couples coochi-cooing under the umbrellas. :P. Inspired by a friend.. I call them 'Marine Drive ke chattri couples' :P :P .. I spent a lot of time there..walking back, sitting on the walkway, and walking again to the tip... getting soaked in the downpour all the while.. :D. I was blissfully away from everything else... no cell fone, no watch. Only me..the rains..and the sea!!

After around 2 hours, I grabbed a quick bite (i came to know what time it was after seeing a watch at the place I had my food), and decided to return home from some other route to avoid going by that road again, since i was sure it wouldn't be possible to get through this time, given that the rains hadn't stopped since i had passed there, and the water logging would have increased. The ride back home was even more fun as the rains were coming down even harder.. :D ...

I'm having difficulty in writing this, since the skin of my fingers is all pickled due to the hours & hours in rains. But, what the hell... I had a ball today.. :D :D. It was a wonderful day away from all gadgets and worries, with the rains washing away all my worries and doubts, and invigorating me for the struggle that lies ahead. :) And it still continues to pour....Looks like a sunday at home for mumbai tomorrow. Aaaahh.. I love rains... :) :) ... they make my heart flutter and dance and sing and what not..!! :) ...

Pickled Fingers - :P

(I didn't take my cell phone along.. so don't have any pics. I took this one after getting back home, as a memoir of the ecstatic day.. :D..)

PS - An Important Tip - If you decide to go for a ride on a 2-wheeler in the rains.. please make sure that you have protective eye gear. The rain drops can be quite painful for the eyes, even at 30 Km/Hr speeds.

PPS - I have drawn a lot of flak for not blogging frequently from my friends. I apologize for my long absences from writing posts, replying to comments and posting comments on your blogs. I would try to be more regular in future.

Cheers.. :) ...