I woke up to a perfect day. It had rained for most part of the night. The sky looked beautiful in shades of grey, laden with more rain-filled clouds in store for the coming day. There was a cool breeze blowing too.

The Southwest monsoon has officially arrived—a little early this year— and begun its act.

The trees look happy, and green. The vegetation all around suddenly has a lush green look. Grass is sprouting everywhere, as if let free by an invisible hand to go forth and multiply. Multiply and grow they will in the coming days.

The rain has made puddles everywhere, some big others small. But unlike the times of my childhood where it was a common sight, I don’t find anyone trying to sail paper boats in them.

The plants in my balcony are happy. At least I think they are, happier than when I give them water. They look prettier against the raindrop splattered netting.

So what if I had to forgo my walk today? A small price one has to pay for the chance to revel in one’s favourite season.

There’s more to pay too in the price department that’s not small at all, I found out. When I tried booking an Uber to take me to a restaurant for a lunch with friends, I found the rates had gone through the roof, more than double the normal charge. What the heck!

The sun had come out briefly while we stepped out of the restaurant after lunch, enough for us to click some pictures outside. Perhaps it was the sun that did the trick, but the Uber rates had mysteriously come down to its original status.

Not that anything is going to make me blame rains though! Uber rates can go up or down, I want the rain to stay put and do its job. Forecasts say that this year we’ll be getting lesser rain than usual. That makes me sad. So I’ll take whatever little is being handed out, thank you 🙂

©️ Shail Mohan 2026