RAIN RAIN, GO AWAY…

Rain rain go away, come again another day, little Johny wants to play…I never thought a rhyme that I learnt in nursery would sadly prove to be so true twenty years down the line.

There was a time when the monsoon season was celebrated. It was a time to rejoice.

The ‘sorrow’ of reopening of schools in July would be pacified by the rains. Lovebirds would throng India gate to savour a softy. The elderly would form cliques in the neighbourhood park while discussing everything from politics to saas-bahu sagas.

It was a perfect time to go on long drives. An excuse to venture out and get away from the monotonous life or just sit in the balcony and relish the shimmering foliage while gorging on hot pakoras, jalebees and tea.

The numerous songs on rains and the heroines’ in bright coloured sarees immediately breaking into a jig, the moment drops of rain fell on her body, even our movies had a special place for the season.

In a country where the scorching sun dominates the year and temperatures reach 50 degree celsius, this favouritism is absolutely justified.

So, why are Delhiites getting panic attacks these days, the minute it starts to rain?

That is because this year monsoon has brought along waterlogging and long jams. The desperation for the rains has been followed by exasperation.

Thanks to the incessant digging across the city for the Commonwealth Games the rubble lying on the roadside gets washed away into the sewers resulting in the waterlogging and hence, jams.

There is no coordination between the government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Construction to improve the infrastructure for the games is justified and digging is a part of it, agreed. But it could have been more organized and systematic.

Both, the government and MCD are corrupt. Even the Anti-Corruption department shares the same view as far as latter is concerned.

If it rains heavily for a couple of hours the whole city comes to a halt. Last week it took me four hours to reach Gurgaon from Central Delhi.

That is the same time it takes to travel to Haridwar! Moreover, there is no point in enjoying the rain while you are stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and there is chaos everywhere.

The digging and waterlogging together are also wreaking havoc on those who travel by two-wheelers. Everytime it pours, the roads and streets get submerged making it impossible to watch out for any open manhole. Further, the dug up dirt when mixes with water becomes slippery, resulting in tragic accidents.

Last month a friend of mine met with an accident when he drove his bike over the slippery sand near a construction site in Laxmi Nagar. He broke his thigh bone and is bed ridden for the next 3 months.

So, after going through a harrowing experience due to the jams, when you finally reach home, there is neither any stamina nor any will to indulge in those pakoras and jalebees.

The couple who had started for India Gate ends up cuddling in an auto; without a softy. And the elderly have to wait at home as they have to look after the grandkids because their parents are stuck in a jam.

The authorities have definitely taken the fun out of monsoon.