Open Party!

Are you nine months pregnant? Are you one year old or younger? Are you a cynical I – Only – Drink – Mineral Water – foreigner? Do you have pneumonia? Are you hydrophobic?

If the answer to all the above questions is no, then you can celebrate. Because monsoon has graced Delhi and how! And no, celebrating does not only mean devouring hot pakoras (though it is a huge part), staring at the clouds and the tress from your window, updating your Facebook status to ‘’Yayiee, it’s raining”.

Let me elaborate.

Celebrating the rain means being IN the rain.

Feeling the cold water saturate your hair slowly; shivering slightly as the first few drops slither down your neck; watching your clothes go perceptibly darker with the water, tasting the slightly saline rain drops on your lips.

That’s not all.

Call up your friends, splash around in puddles, put on some music and perform your cobra and snake charmer dance out in the street!

Become a little crazy!

Shout when the thunder rolls, shriek when lightning flashes.

Or just close your eyes and face heavenwards and enjoy the pitter patter of rain as it wipes off all the exhaustion from your body.

Breathe in the smell of the wet earth.

And if you don’t have friends around you, then just walk in the rain. Watch the women rush home hitching up their saris and trying futilely to stop their umbrella from blowing away. See the little kids dancing in the rain as their parents keep a watch on them from the balconies. Maybe sing a little to yourself, think about the person you want to share the moment with. You won’t even realize when a smile will lighten up your face.

And when you walk back home, listen to the quiet dripping of water from your clothes leaving a trail behind you. Hear the persistent squeak of your rubber chappals. Feel the water from your hair slither down the back of your t – shirt. Wring the end of your shirt when you feel the uncomfortable weight of your wet clothes brushing against your semi – dry skin.

You know the best part? This party is open to everyone. Age, sex, race, religion, condition no bar. Even if you end up with a slight cold, you’ll know that you made someone smile; someone who was watching from the window soaking up the joy of rain just by watching you.