Paus ( Mansoon) पाऊस

Paus ( Mansoon)  पाऊस…

It was raining continuously today since morning. I was standing near my favorite window and watching beautiful raindrops falling on my terrace. In no time, drizzles and droplets falling and creating nice forms and shapes mesmerized me. This magical and harmonious drizzles of water drops was going on and on for a while and I was observing nature's miracle. Unknowingly, my mind drifted in past and uncovered some memories of childhood. On such a rainy day, isn't it common for mind to be nostalgic and to rekindle some of the long forgotten memories?

I remember, like today, it rained a lot that day. It was Mansoon month - June and schools just opened up for us after summer vacation. We were in new classes with new books and uniforms. I being 9 years old big girl would take my 7 year old sister to school by bus. That day, after school, we were waiting for bus at its bus-stop, but it seemed to be late. It could be due to continuous rain may be. 

After showing patience for 15-20 mins, my younger sister  made friendship with surrounding and started playing in water puddles near bus-stop. "One, two, three", she counted and kept jumped in puddles. Her uniform was full of mud and dirt. I don't remember how long exactly we waited but surely, the time for the bus to arrive had passed.  Those days, it was quite common for buses schedule be cancelled during mansoon. Being a big sister, I took decision to walk back to home. Making my little her sister walk four kilometers was a daunting task. I diverted her in stories, puzzles to distract her from distance and walking. 

On the walk way to home, there was a low bridge over a big creek. The bridge had no saftey railing or walls. In mansoon, the excess water would flow over the bridge making it unsafe cross. I saw a group of 5-6 elderly women crossing the bridge through overflow water. Possibly they were retuning from work. "Did bus got cancel today?" enquired one on the woman. "I guess so Mavashi (Aunty). We waited a long time but it didn't come, so we are walking now," I replied. 

Surely due to my age, I underestimated the force of water over the bridge. Assuming it similar to puddle water, I held my sister's hand and decided to hop in over the bridge. "One, two, three", I said to motivate my sister and she followed. We started walking carefully holding each others hands. But just a little distance ahead, water force and speed increased. Flow started pushing us away from bridge.  Me and my sister couldn't hold on and were about to fall in creek. I was scared that we will be now be drawned. I held my sister's hand tightly and started calling out my mom for help. Almost losing hope with fear, I closed my eyes and started crying. But, just then with God's grace, someone caught us from slipping in water and crossed bridge picking us up. Due to fear and tears in eyes, I could see anything. But once back on feet, I wiped my eyes and saw a elderly woman who enquired about us some minutes ago.  She hugged us tight to her chest and said. "Don't be afraid, children, now that God has saved you!"  I still can't forget her hug and face. It was as if God had come running today in her avatar.

Later, she accompanied us  till home. "The kids are very scared," with this she told whole event to my mother. 

Who was this Mavashi? She was one of the street sweeper assigned to our area by city. In childhood, we had a special relationship with all such people working in our area - sweepers, cleaners, milkmen, vegetable vendors etc. These sweeper ladies would come every day to sweep the roads in front of our house. Due to respect for their physical work and efforts, my mom would offer them water, tea or coffee. My mom has built such a special bond with them, that they would also reach out to her in case of needs. My mom would say these ladies keep our premises clean, we must respect their work. Her special respect and affection for all the hard working people has got paid back by one such Mavashi by saving us today. Even today, I have not forgotten my mother's teachings about respecting hard work and for hardworking people. 

Symphony of rain drops and harmony of water circles on my terrace evoked this memory today. I remember and live those moments during every rainy season.

Anagha Mahajan - Stuttgart, Germany