Mumbai Monsoon Reality Show

Since yesterday evening, it has been pouring like crazy everywhere in Mumbai city. This was after an almost month long dry spell. Monsoon this time was late. Everyone was tired of the exhausting heat and humidity. There was even acute water shortage everywhere. But twenty four hours and the city is already under water! 20 years ago, it took four whole days for Mumbai to drown. One would think that we escaped that past with the growth of technology and science. But instead, it has gotten worse. We now get submerged within a half day's rainfall.

My little one turned eight months old today. It is also her first monsoon. She was taken to a nearby park yesterday where she was amused at how water falls from the sky and bridges. So much for a little baby's brain to take in ! I was honestly excited for her to experience everything that's Mumbai monsoon. Well, not everything. Not yet. She's unaware of how a large tree fell on a vehicle and crushed several people's dreams. She's unaware of how little street animals and homeless people seek shelter from the pouring rain just to survive one more day. She's unaware of people WITH homes struggling to get the leakage fixed or the water drained from their houses. I thought out loud about all this and then wondered what would she say, a little child, when she sees this some day? When she sees the stark inequalities in the way she vs another child experiences this season.

I heard a few people (including me I'm not going to lie) chuckling about how relieved they were that it rained. Remember the movie Parasite? You'd know if you've watched it. I was instantly reminded of that scene. Two people, two completely different tales to tell! One word : Privilege

My fond memories of monsoons from when I was a child are school starting, the smell of fresh books, new raincoats, umbrellas and new rainy shoes. We used to yearn for the school to close when it rained. It did happen. Maybe just for a few days. But now, kids see frequent school closures. But unfortunately for them, pandemic and technology brought the concept of online classes into the picture. No respite for them or their teachers! Mumbai monsoons mean several things to several people. From chai and wadapav to chai and pakode, each person has a different story to tell you. In between the chaos of this city and the way it copes with the monsoon, let us each live our own versions of this beautiful season without forgetting the ones toiling in the ever pouring rains.