COME, LET'S SLIP INTO A MAGICAL MONSOON REVERIE

From squelchy shoes to thunderstorms: a nostalgic journey through the rainy season

- BY SHYAM A. KRISHNA | Acting Editor

Love rains? You probably do if you live in the UAE — where they’re a rare treat due to the arid climate. Ask anyone from India, and the answer won't be different — even though the country gets plenty of rain every year.

Rains are integral to life in India, and I absolutely loved every time it rained in Kerala. Growing up in the southern state, fierce monsoon showers would welcome me as I trudged to school after the summer holidays. A new academic year in June meant new books and fresh uniforms. But the rain didn’t care — it just poured, incessantly.

I remember reaching home in squelchy shoes, dripping clothes, and damp books. The books and shoes would be dried atop brick ovens, ready for another wet walk to school the next day. The routine continued throughout the season.