Eternal hope of a holiday during work days!

It has been raining incessantly for the past 48 hours and there is an alert for the coming few days; the schools have a holiday declared by the Government unlike colleges. I hope that a public holiday is declared for the state of Goa - this thought brings me to the topic of holidays which is savoured by almost many individuals that I know! Unexpected holidays on a working day have a special flavour to them. The thought of remaining home on an otherwise working day with classes, students and following time is definitely a welcome break, even so better if it is the middle of a week. Forget middle of the week, any day of the week except the mandatory Sunday offers an unexplainable glee to individuals of diverse age groups. My students are happy, my colleagues are happy and my dog is happy to have me home.

Why do we crave for these sudden unexpected break days from work, I have often pondered. Is it the relief from the clock, or the relief from the humdrum of everyday shenanigans, or the sheer joy of an unexpected burst of time at home to indulge in some extra minutes of breakfast, hot lunch and any time siesta!

My partner likes it when I'm home and vice-versa. Our breakfast conversations are longer, making us linger for tea in the dining table and staying long after the tea is drained; We stand for minutes together admiring the garden - the flowers, fruits and birds while exchanging notes on how the ash-gourd looks healthier than the last one we harvested; our Feni (our non-human companion) is happy to walk around with us matching our step and basking in the warmth of our leisurely strokes and lazy hugs.

All in all, an unexpected holiday is stretching the usual idleness while savouring it!

So, do you enjoy these welcome breaks in the course of your week?

Summer days and pepsicolas

Summer is like the post-coital feeling - not everyone takes to it after the lovely splash of spring and the bygone chilly days. Though the post-coital session evokes warmth and a sense of fulfilment, it cannot compare to coitus itself. Period. The sweat and the addendum to it makes it a tad difficult for me but then there are some bright spots (literally and metaphorically) to summer. The appearance of water/musk melons, pepsi-colas and other summery delights alleviate the problem of post-spring/winter melancholia partially. Summer also signals the end of the semester and examination blues. I thought after becoming a teacher, I would be free from the end-of-term low tide but looks like the end always comes with a sting of boredom, a sense of forlornness and loneliness of having to bid adieu to a set of students with whom the year was spend in wanton abandon, endless gossip, conniving moments and of course some lessons. I will miss them and that feeling makes me a bit morose.

The beach which beckons during warm summer evenings is a welcome relief

The weather is synonymous with my mood and talk. It reflects on my actions and words. Though I try to avoid wearing the weather on me, I seldom succeed. All and sundry realise or eventually come to know of my disdain for summer which is quite conspicuous through my behaviour. I yearn for the sunniness to pass - give way to cool monsoons and sweat-free bodies. And yes, the summer also brings the smell - full throttle! Sweat from the body sans any deo which is feral and raw and often overpowering. I am someone who has heightened olfactory system which oft works against me, conspiring to outdo the summer's already raw nerve.


But summers also bring along the promise of a monsoon which is just two months away and without a summer, there is no relief of the rain. So, I rest my case and await the monsoon eventhough I know that it will be a long wait. Waiting is a way of life in India, you see. I am not complaining.

Image courtesy: Blogger's own picture

The magic of monsoon

Waiting for the rain to come and being delighted seeing it pour is almost akin to waiting for the beloved to arrive and awake one's senses. Rain is magic to the senses. I like the rain when I am indoors but in Goa being outdoors during the rain is hassle-free and pleasant. Just the thought of hearing the pitter-patter of the rain droplets and falling asleep is heavenly and the feeling continues when one wakes up to the gentle hum of the rain outside. I never complain when my newsfeed bursts with pictures, songs and posts of rain. After all in a place like India, the respite from the heat and sweat is always welcome.

Rain has the ability to bring a smile on the face and a spring to the step. My domestic beams when I open the door. She tells me how cozy and cool the weather is and she finds it difficult to get out of bed. I smile and tell her that when it rains, I tend to get up quite earlier than the summer days. She smiles. Rain gives a light feeling to our senses and every task becomes a pleasant one. Well, sometimes the rain does add to the gloom of the inner mind but that's an occurrence that limits itself to maybe twice or thrice during the complete monsoon season. I guess a lot depends on the place that one lives as well. Rain in Chennai also makes me jubilant but Goa takes the huge chunk of joy quotient. Another happy effect of the monsoon is the appearance of many birds in our yard. I spotted many small birds chirruping and making merry in the rain. After a long time, I put my binoculars to good use by trying to spot birds sitting afar.

Rain is romance and romance is breath of life - Raising a toast to the magic of rain in Goa!