A monsoon evening...

Yeh sama , sama hai yeh pyaar ka,
Kisike intezaar ka;
Dil na chura le kahi mera, mausam bahar ka……
The song is playing on the radio, its 10pm and a typical work night at home. My parents are watching the days news and my sister busy with her homework. The weather outside is brilliant, there’s a light shower and cool breeze blows the hair off your face if u step outside or into the balcony or just stand by the window.

Rim jhim gire saawan, sulag sulag jaaye mann…..
Next song on the radio, and I am already impatient. How can I possibly sit in my room when there’s such an awesome weather outside!!!!! I go and stand in the balcony, I can feel a few raindrops on my face, the wind blows in my hair and I close my eyes to enjoy the sensation of pure uninterrupted bliss. And then suddenly as if by a time machine, I am transported into a different world altogether. This world has a different set of people and a different surroundings and an altogether different way to enjoy the rains…
In this world, such a weather is synonymous with empty hostel rooms and an overcrowded library lawns, filled with people playing Frisbee or footsal. I can see groups of people sitting and chatting outside the library or just watching those playing on the lawns. The more enthusiastic ones can be seen having chai and pakoras at the jhopdi, the little ‘lazy’ ones –maggi and cappuccino at Nescafe…..
I remember the long walks on the campus with my friends just to feel the wind in my hair, the periods of intense discussions or meaningless blabber or just a serene calm which actually culminated into a feeling of the most meaningful conversation. I remember the over extended breaks in between the long study sessions in the library just the day before the exam when the weather suddenly turns great and the sunset more beautiful than on any other days and the evenings more pleasing and enjoyable somehow.

Yeh shaam mastani, madhosh kiye jaaye;
Mujhe door koi kheeche, teri aur liye jaaye……..
The shower is still on and somewhere in my minds eye, I can catch a glimpse of the magnificent and austere B-Dome standing proudly like a commander overlooking the working of his subordinates. I can see the zuari river flowing behind the campus and the lighthouse flashing its light to guide the ships. I remember the lyrics of “ab ke saawan” floating in from a hostel and setting the mood for a perfect monsoon evening.

The song changes-

yeh raatein, yeh mausam, nadi ka kinara, yeh chanchal hawa……
it reminds me of some very special evenings. Remember the long talks outside the hostel at night, right till curfew time, or sitting on the benches watching the highway when the conversation is carried mostly whispering in each others ears or walking around the campus hand in hand trying to avoid anyone else or the stolen moments on intimacy on the darker lanes in the late hours………….
Its amazing how one monsoon evening can spark a chain of thoughts that transports me into another world altogether. A world I lived in the four best years of my life, made the best of friends and have the most beautiful memories of. When it was time to leave I was reluctant, I thought I would miss this world, I would miss the people and I would miss all the great time I spent here. But now I realize, I wont miss it really, coz to miss something is to acknowledge its absence in your life. And I cant say that to something that has now essentially become a part of my existence…….