The short spell of shower that came down greeting Chennai was more than a welcome guest and, it required no generosity on part of Chennaiets who accepted it with upturned heads and deep cut smiles. While children spending their summer vacation received it with open palms, parents followed them with cane. The outdoor activities did not cease to exist, but went on, to a fair extent, under umbrellas and other protective clothing. And for a moment it seemed as if people had forgotten their complaints against power cut that existed for most part of the day.
But there were a few inhabitants who did not seem as happy as they might have actually felt. The crows sat idle on branches and antennas for long hours even after dawn; their wet plumage adding more to their fearsome contrast. The sparrows were a different story as they took delight in puddles of water that the city roads effortlessly admitted. And the canines always knew complaining does little help and so took up to the modest shelters that could be found. The hydrophobic cats, however, couldn’t be found anywhere out, thanks to their small size and supple body; they were in their havens.
It was not just about the gentle drops and chillness in the air. The sight of the green becoming lush, and the smell of the topsoil gave Chennai the much resorted break from the terrible heat of summer.