Cyclone Amphan, wreaking havoc miles away, gifted us rain bringing the reign of summer to an effective end. In a few days, the south-west monsoon would take over. Summer stood no chance in the intervening days, to regain its lost glory. When Amphan was done, the sun eventually managed to come out to shine on a world that now looked squeaky clean and oh-so-green.

When the rains come, they paint our countryside green, an aching green that makes you want to cry with sheer joy. Everywhere you look, and by that I mean EVERYWHERE, there’s greenery sprouting. Even the electric poles and street lamps are festooned in green. Not to mention the moss on the walls and the stones on pathways.

Butterflies tried to make the most of the sunny morning. The lantana is a hot favorite and they flitted around it busily. I could see tailed jays, chocolate pansies, common jays and a lone common jezebel. Sunbirds, a whole family of them, were hopping around. But they flew away before I could capture them. A lone Common Tailorbird was calling at the top of its voice. To my delight, it came over to perch on my gate to say hello. Or may be it wanted to have its picture taken. Naturally, I grabbed at the opportunity. Only one picture, and it flew away.

The respite is brief because the rains have started again. One hears the reason is a double-depression in the Arabian sea which means more rain for us before the real thing – the southwest monsoon – starts, today. Regarding that, there is a difference of opinion between government and private agencies, the former holding that the d-day is today, and the latter claiming it was a couple of days earlier. But whatever… it is raining. Even as I write this, I can hear it falling, nay pouring in bucketfuls.

© Shail Mohan 2020