Aahaa Chennai

A sudden stillness in the air, signals the beginning. Darkness tiptoes in, through the windows, swallowing large patches of light. Thunder rumbles a rackety tune in the distance, with the fidgety crows, trying their best to match it. A cool breeze sprays its unbottled samples of freshness on soft cheeks, now and then. Dark clouds create patterns across the sky, with the sun desperately trying to find a spot. High above, the raindrops wait, biding their time. Dusk enters, bringing  with it, the elegant dragonflies, practising their choreographed moves, at a height. A group of 'we-arrive-before-the-rain' insects, flutter restlessly around a glowing light bulb. The television screen, comes up with crazily changing flashes of light, its mood mimicking those glowing streaks, lighting up a menacing sky. Spells of lighting, now and  then, dazzle the shadows on the sand. The coconut fronds seem busy fighting a tempestuous

Strike a pose. International Yoga Day-June 21. Imbibing the fitness mantra. Getting stronger. Mind and body at peace.

An unusual evening... At the clinic, the waiting time was around thirty minutes. At the bus stop, the waiting took fifteen minutes. At the billing counter, waiting in the queue lasted ten minutes. At the ice cream shop, the waiting was over in five minutes. Then came a very special moment, which was unveiled early in the evening, the waiting period, for which, has been dragging on and on, for seven long months. (seeming like seven years!) Finally, someone has torn a big hole in the grey clouds, stretching above, for miles, sending down... those 'hard to find' raindrops. I can spot plenty of wet heads and waving hands, coupled with contagious smiles and undiluted laughter. I even see some curious eyes, turned upwards, wondering... 'Rain' shares its bounty in my part of the city.

The noise disturbs the silence of the afternoon. Could it be... something outside or is it my imagination working overtime? That noise again... this time it's closer... the culprit leaps out, bushy tail and all, a busybody, returning several times, with bits and pieces for designing a layered bed. The tale continues... a cosy window nook and a nest tucked away inside, awaiting the endless squeaks of hungry baby squirrels.

Tale of a potent gadget... Its daily output keeps rising plus its enormous capacity fells many. The final products vary... Toasted flowers, browned leaves scorched fruits, scarred trees, sizzling sand, wrung out minds. Its functioning continues, uninterrupted. Some clues ... A gigantic oven. The Sun's Magnum Opus. A heat wave.