Dear Readers,

Every year, Mother Nature showers us with unmistakeable reminders when we get a bit wound up about the smaller things of life – like ourselves. As the IMD starts issuing its rainbow alerts, the monsoon season flexes its muscles and washes away any false sense of self-aggrandisement that we may have unwittingly or wittingly nurtured – quite literally, a ‘rain check’!

We are reminded that no matter how rich, strong or powerful one is, we are rendered quite helpless confronted with what nature would consider an exaggerated trickle. We come face to face with two unnerving realities – the fragility of our delusional egos, and the perishability of our defenceless existence. Maybe the rains help keep in check our true sense of self, while balancing out our humility and restoring our sense of gratitude.

As always, no sooner than the rains set in, Mumbai, quite literally takes a nosedive and gets submerged. And life in Mumbai, imitating Mumbai’s lifeline – our trains, slows down or comes to a grinding halt. But we stop complaining about the trains and the traffic, because Mumbai’s crumbling infrastructure grabs our attention, with collapsing bridges and buildings, uncovered pot-holes and cave-ins and loss of lives.

We should be enraged, but we are too indifferent and too habituated, conveniently hiding behind that lovely phrase: ‘the spirit of Mumbai’, which helps us stay oblivious to any guilt. But, there’s only so much you can redeem, chugging down those large Parsi pegs of this so-called ‘spirit’ of Mumbai, and only for so long.

There is much thinking and much more action warranted from us. It is said, on a sunny day, you can improve your body, on a rainy day, you can improve your mind – and the Rain Gods have given us enough checks with much to think about, for ourselves, for our fellow beings and for our environment. Think about it, and then act on it.

Have a safe weekend!

– Anahita