The monsoon’s retreat – like an Indian wedding

One of the grandest sights in Mumbai is the southwest monsoon making its retreat around mid-October. The process is imposing. It lasts for days. As if the monsoon won’t go without a fight. With thunder and lightning every night. And heavy rain. Like an Indian wedding being celebrated in a rich man’s house noisily and joyously with a Mehendi ceremony, sangeet, and reception. The festivities continuing for night after night.

I am familiar with this. Yet last night I woke up with a start. Loud claps of thunder, like rolling drums of war, and crackling, jagged bolts of lightning accompanied by torrential rain, had set up a magnificent son-et-Lumiere show over the city. I stood by the window and admired it. Fascinated by how Mumbai lit up every time a giant spark of electricity tore out from between the clouds. Illuminating rooftops like a photographer’s flashgun. The thunder rattled the windows and crockery at home.

The rain came across the sea, galloping over the waves, riding a howling wind down the coast that bobbed the fishermen’s boats anchored at shore, whispering in the trees, drumming on the roof, the air feeling cool and moist against the skin. Like a splash of Old Spice. Soaking a city that was already wet from the night before’s showers. Sending the Garba and dandiya revelers of an extended Navratri hurrying indoors to continue their feverish dancing.

This morning I read that the weatherman had predicted the monsoon’s retreat would last for five days. There would be heavy rainfall and a drop in maximum temperatures. And gusty winds, lightning, and thunder. The monsoon’s parting kick. The weatherman sounded apologetic as he issued a yellow alert for today. I don’t know what’s there to be sorry about. The wedding is over. The bridal couple has to be sent on its honeymoon with pomp and ceremony.

About Mark Manuel

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.

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