Do I see The Rain Gods Smiling?

Yesterday while taking a walk in the college campus grounds next door, we noticed a pair of lapwings closely guarding their eggs. Lapwings are called Titeri in India or Titodi in Gujarati. We tried to go closer and have a look. They responded with their shrill cries, guarding the eggs more than ever. The eggs are barely noticeable and laid directly on the earth, not in a nest like other birds. Their colour seemed almost camoflagued against the earthy backdrop. It is believed in Gujarat that when a female lapwing lays eggs it is a sure sign of the coming showers of rain; almost like an invitation to the rainclouds inviting their benevolence!Looks like the rain gods have finally relented! It is nice to see them smile this year particularly after the sultriness of the past six weeks. There was a good down pour last night at about 1.00 PM,with the place cooling down considerably. Things look greener and more cheerful. Am keeping my fingers crossed that the spell of showers continues and the monsoon even if late repairs the damage of the overly extended summer.The positive energy of hope comes alive once again! Yesterday while taking a walk in the college campus grounds next door, we noticed a pair of lapwings closely guarding their eggs. Lapwings are called Titeri in India or Titodi in Gujarati. We tried to go closer and have a look. They responded with their shrill cries, guarding the eggs more than ever. The eggs are barely noticeable and laid directly on the earth, not in a nest like other birds. Their colour seemed almost camoflagued against the earthy backdrop. It is believed in Gujarat that when a female lapwing lays eggs it is a sure sign of the coming showers of rain; almost like an invitation to the rainclouds inviting their benevolence!Looks like the rain gods have finally relented! It is nice to see them smile this year particularly after the sultriness of the past six weeks. There was a good down pour last night at about 1.00 PM,with the place cooling down considerably. Things look greener and more cheerful. Am keeping my fingers crossed that the spell of showers continues and the monsoon even if late repairs the damage of the overly extended summer.The positive energy of hope comes alive once again!

Was It A Pre-Monsoon Shower Last Night?

Last night brought on a shower of rain, good enough to give some relief, but not enough to feel the impact of the monsoon. Was more like a pre-monsoon shower. Flashes of lightning lit up the skies at about 1.00 AM but without the crackle of accompanying thunder. This morning the trees and leaves look a bit green with the dust just washed away. The koels (cuckoos) and peacocks have expressed their joy with louder, somewhat more energetic calls! It's humid once again and looks like there will be good spells of rain today. The skies are overcast though not quite as dark as one would want them to be. Hoping the evening will bring relief and bring down the mercury cooling down the place for some pleasant weather that is the need of the moment!

Where Have All The Rain Clouds Gone?

Wonder where the rain clouds have disappeared. No rains this side of the country. Farmers are waiting with baited breath in the hope that the rains will breathe life to a failing crop in an already bleak scenario. The weatherman blames it all on El Nino. Rains are the lifeblood of our Indian farmers and hope for housewives that vegetable prices will come down. But with the monsoon playing truant all this seems a remote possiblity.

The days are more sultry than ever and the much wanted respite from the heat seems reduced to just wishful thinking! The singing koel (cuckoos) and dancing peacocks have suddenly made themselves scarce or are they hiding far from sight to beat the heat of a prolonged summer?

The two of us generally take a nice long walk with the first shower of rain and love to drench ourselves down to the bone, if you will! It's good fun to do so and forget your age for a change this one day of the year as we enjoy the first showers of monsoon like kids and then come home to enjoy a good cup of hot coffee or mug full of hot soup.

But this year its a different story. It's already the 8th of July and no rain so to speak. The cuckoo's cry has a distant quality, or do I hear a cuckoo call its mate while still urging the rains to come on with a parched throat?

I'd rather be positive and not give up hope that the much awaited rain showers will soon make their appearance and cool down the place. We still have three weeks of July and the whole of August to hang on to hope like never before and look forward to the thrill of getting wet like children once again!