After the Rain in Mandi Road

The Rainy Day by Rabindranath Tagore
Sullen clouds are gathering fast over the black fringe of the
forest.
O child, do not go out!
The palm trees in a row by the lake are smiting their heads
against the dismal sky; the crows with their dragged wings are
silent on the tamarind branches, and the eastern bank of the river
is haunted by a deepening gloom.
Our cow is lowing loud, ties at the fence.
O child, wait here till I bring her into the stall.
Men have crowded into the flooded field to catch the fishes
as they escape from the overflowing ponds; the rain-water is
running in rills through the narrow lanes like a laughing boy who
has run away from his mother to tease her.
Listen, someone is shouting for the boatman at the ford.
O child, the daylight is dim, and the crossing at the ferry
is closed.
The sky seems to ride fast upon the madly rushing rain; the
water in the river is loud and impatient; women have hastened home
early from the Ganges with their filled pitchers.
The evening lamps must be made ready.
O child, do not go out!
The road to the market is desolate, the lane to the river is
slippery. The wind is roaring and struggling among the bamboo
branches like a wild beast tangled in a net.
 
The setting above is rural and representative of the greater picture of India by India's favourite writer. However wherever the rain may find you, and we have to think here about the floods in Pakistan and the mud slides in Leh, the effect is a mixture of a blessing and a curse.
Blessing in the form of a life line for the farmers, the reservoirs and the people. A curse for the those who have to deal with the after effects of the monsoon. Mandi road is a road which is frequented by expats, diplomats and Indians going to and from their work. Year in and year out the scene is little changed and this is what we negotiate on a rainy day. We do it in the comfort of our car, but what about all those merchants whose products are ruined, the little girl and her father contemplating how their ancient scooter will be fixed, the labourers trudging through the sludge and the sewage ?
 
 

Blessing - yes at times but oh that it were always that.