As I gazed towards the sky, witnessing thick dark clouds gathering close, shunning the bright sun out & lapsing the city into near darkness. The sounds of rumbling clouds rang in my ears as I rushed out in time to gather the laundry hanging outside, saving them from getting wet in the drizzle. As the first drop of rain fell, children of all sizes & ages running out of their houses to play in the rain. I stood & watched their happy faces, the expression of sheer excitement evident in their eyes. The older kids opted to play foot ball at one side, while the little ones remained content with their tag games, running here & there getting thoroughly soaked & relishing every moment of the rare extravaganza.

Rain in Pakistan especially in Karachi is an atypical affair, which is enjoyed by the elite & cursed by the destitutes. Almost the entire country is dominated by the Asiatic monsoon or so reffered to as the great seasonal wind reversal. Starting from the late June reaching towards the end of October the monsoon season takes the country by storm..quite literally. Karachi being situated on the coast of the Arabian sea displays extreme humidity & hot weather in the day time, that gets comparitvely cooler at night.

The monsoon brings with it a number of good things as well as some ominous ones. Nuisances like traffic jams,blocked drains on roads are among many. But one can not ignore the positive points. The lush greenery that surfaces after a good shower, the clean roads, the happiness of witnessing the beauty of nature & not to forget the mouth watering treats to indulge in. The delicious aromaz of spicy pakoras, samosaz with chatni or ketchup reach every nook & crany as soon as the first drop of rain meets the ground.Such delicacies are specifically affiliated with the rain in any season whether summer or winter.The Steady drizzle is best enjoyed at the beach, where the whole scenery is truly captivating.

As we sit in our spacious terraces or balconies, enjoying the splatter of rain on our skin, smelling the heavenly scent of the wet ground, it truly brings back the joys of childhood. The wonderful times when we too were among the little ones splashing in the rain water, playing silly games & rolling around the mud. Making one realize that childhood memories are always cherished in life.