Rising Mercury

Though a century by our Indian cricket team is more a dream than reality, but this is not the case for the mercury. She stretches and rises like ballet dancer in the tiny glass tube touching 100 without much sweat and swivel. Beads of sweat adorning the forehead, blotch of sweat marks circling the armpits and chest, chugging down bottles of water to keep the flesh and bones hydrated, the summer is back. Traffic back-ups during the toasty days rape our patience and steal our energy.

Curd rice and cut mango pickle becoming the staple lunch for Chennaites. Children licking the dripping Popsicle sticks, men on the sidewalk biting into the juicy, fleshy, luscious deep red Melons, while women sucking water from those tender coconuts through the 9 inch stick , people have learnt the keep cool mantra. Panting dogs drinking water from the stagnant pit and homeless older folks with parched skin resting under mammoth trees to escape the swooning heat, women walking on the soggy asphalt hiding under the umbrellas and keeping their eyes covered under the UV sun glasses, the postman on a cycle relentlessly pedaling through the streets, girls adorned in cool blues and lush green swaying in the concrete jungle that radiates lot of heat. Helmets and duppattas act as veil to escape the summers of Khandahar.

The exam season makes sleepless night of mothers and kids even longer. Turning to God for support and assistance, there stands a queue to hand down the question to be in their exam papers. Newspapers already have ads to lure over ambitious parents for the summer courses both professional and vocational to keep their kids busy. Kids are ready to take their bats and balls and party all day long in the hot sun. Grandfathers and fathers lined up at the railway booking counters to send their kids and wife for a vacation, a big sigh on their face. Thanks to the monsoon, no more water lorries chasing scenes and buckets and pots lining the streets.

Sweltering heat grips the city and dog days are back. The tangy mango season is not far away the heat is here to stay for a while. Beaches, swimming pools, cinema theatres, malls, and theme parks are yet to be raided. The city is ready for the dog days, come on let us enjoy .