The Yellow Umbrella

My first umbrella- a promotion from the sticky, plastic smelly raincoat to the world of colorful umbrellas…..

I didn’t require the umpteen sessions of Marketing Management to appreciate the commanding influence of advertising then - The POPY ad Mazha Mazha kuda kuda…. just drove us sisters nuts to a point where we were not ready to hit school without one.

And one fine day, my parents come back after work, and on the holder of the ancient Rajdoot bike were 2 beautiful yellow colored umbrellas….and much to our delight- the brand POPY….

No words of joy would come, just some clicking noises from the semi toothless oral cavity of mine. I grabbed the umbrella to see the specs and features. It had the traditional U-shaped handle (in plastic yellow too), but had an automatic open system with a push button. The fabric had small flowers on them, and the steel was shiny…Brand new. Then came the routine ‘female’ check of whose is better. As usual, the green monster struck the right chord and I felt that my sisters umbrella, which was exactly the same shape and color, fabric and size, but for the print, looked better. But then the feeling passed. And we waited impatiently for the night to end in order to to inaugurate the beautiful thing the next day.

The first day was a dreamy affair of carrying this new and beautiful accessory with pride, and show it to the whole world. The second day passed with the same enthusiasm. And the third day. Alas!! No signs of clouds….While others around me were happy that the rains did not spoil the sheen of their brand new uniforms and shoes, mothers happy about a day or two of sunshine to dry clothes, and the roads to drain down the muddy water, the two of us waiting for a heavy downpour.

And on the fourth day, when we had given up all hopes of a drop of rain, as we were just getting off the school bus and walking the short distance home, the rain gods came down in all their fury, drenching anything and everything. Before we were allowed the glory of inaugurating our new push-open umbrella, we were drenched to the skin, not to mention our bag, books and lunch kit, with a puddle of water in our shoes….but who cared. We could only hear the music that fell above our head, and deliberately walked home slowly……………..

That’s the story of my Yellow umbrella!!

Another rainy day in Dubai

I got out of the metro that was packed like a group of hens taken for slaughter, all grumpy!. The womens compartment has always been like that- impenetrable. Had difficulty in takin out my tail (the duppatta) away from the mob. I was finally out, ready for my regular walk back home, the walk that makes me think!! silly things-…the trip home….family planning….the new recipes to be tried….my dream home…Issues in Egypt….rapes…shopping cravings…and pollution…

But this time the rain interrupted….People around me complained abt the ‘pour’, but little did they know that it was just a drizzle….I still could walk home in the rain, but didn’t wanna take a chance after my recent skin attack called pityriasis rosea…

I waited by the side of the huge Burjuman mall that was inviting me with its DSF offers… the usually clean roads and pavements were getting a little muddy after the recent sandstorm that spread sand everywhere including my nostrils and on my buttery balmed lips..chey!!

Nobody carried an umbrella, as rains are not something that you can cherish or look for in Dubai…nor do they have any season…they just come in miniscule portions, and go away by the time you blink twice….and then I saw the Yellow Umbrella!!

(to continue...)

Rain Showers

I had to fumble around for a fresh piece of paper to write this
To write about the first rain of the monsoon in Chennai











The ever parched earth which took the 43 degrees and beyond,
Devoured the sweet drops from heaven
The smell of the rain slicked mud was divine,
and the dry leaves shed from their abode
To leave behind the green shiny ones

The rumble of the thunder didn’t hurt my ears,
As it promised me more rain

I opened all my windows, which usually brought only pollution, screeching sounds and dirt,
I watched the little drops that stuck to the electric lines and the crows that got their first bath after days…
And also the the happiness of little kids when they splashed their legs in the slushy water
Much to the disapproval of their mothers

The trees waved happily, so did my unkempt hair
The light breeze tickled my body, and I felt refreshed…

My solitary happiness knew no bounds
The few drops of rain washed away some unwanted memories ‘n’thoughts
I sat by the window, watching the gift from heavens
The rain that the city and I wanted badly…