PITTER PATTER

It has been pouring cats and dogs since last night but the New York rains seem so disparate and perfunctory. The natural setting was fairly identical to that in Pune yet completely diverse – crystal clear raindrops on lush green foliage and blossoming buds but no scent of the moist earth; mud and water puddles quietly flowing through the streets but kids with their cute little paper boats were missing! There was a rainbow stretched across the sky but it didn’t serve as a backdrop to the crows perched on the cables and wires; there weren’t any stray dogs shaking the water off their fur. Oh and there were no two-wheelers speeding on the streets and splashing water on the passers-by. Starbucks can no way replace the roadside chaiwallah and french fries cannot be a substitute for hot and crispy pakodas. And the most important part – the electricity never conked off...I felt out of place because Puneites always associate rains with kanda bhaji, chai and power cuts! I remember how I used to crib during the monsoons but at this juncture, intriguingly, the depressing and dreary rains in Pune seem so pleasant and enchanting to me. Jeez do I miss them or do I miss them….