Its raining cats and dogs in here and many in Kolkata must be cursing the rain-Gods for this relentless downpour. With all these constructions going in and around the city, the chance of a prolonged water-logging is high and the situation is of utmost inconvenience, especially for daily-wagers. But being locked inside, going through a post-surgery resting phase, I am actually enjoying the rain.
A lot of people enjoy the rain. I think 'Pluviophile' is the word for us. People relate certain memories with rain. I knew a girl who would smile at rain-drops dripping from the leaves of a tree. She said that they help her remember the day she went out with her father on a solo ride in the woods. That was the most prominent happy memory she has of him. The next day he died in an accident.
It is not unnatural that I would have a memory too. In fact I have many and as soon as it starts to rains, all of them come crowding to my head. I just want to share one of such memory. 2 years back I was doing my Masters under a professor who had a very sadistic and whimsical nature. I do not hold any personal grudge against him because eventually all ended well for me, but somehow a few memories of that time still haunts me. I remember one late evening in mid-July and it was just a few days before my thesis submission. It was raining just like today. I was working late that day(as usual) and was on my way to his house for a final review. On my way I skidded my bicycle 2 times and was completely drenched. When I finally reached his door, he seemed to be very unhappy with me ( I did not understand why). When I handed him my thesis copy he was furious as he founded a huge number of faults with my work (I did not ask him why he was finding them now, on the final hour, and let them pass by earlier when I have shared the thesis). After much pursing he finally agreed on me doing the corrections that night only and produce an entire fresh copy for the next day submission. I kept my chin strong that night but inside I was broken. I paddled 15 mins in the rain to reach the lab and stayed up all night to get it done. I did it but it was never for a cheaper price. Well! That was it.
No matter where I am and what I do, I always take a pause to reflect on this incident when ever it rains like that night of July, 2013.
