Adventures of Raghu - Monsoon "wild"life!

Meera sat on the verandah of Raghu’s ground floor inspecting the garden in front. There was a light drizzle that she was enjoying as she watched a few earthworms curling around in the garden soil. They were little creepy crawly things and Meera picked up a small stick lying on the ground to gently lift one of them up. “Hey mister earthworm, enjoying the rains are we?” spoke Meera playfully to the earthworm. Raghu’s mother was working in the kitchen, watching the whole scene with some amusement. As she heard Meera speak she said, “Yes Meera they are enjoying the rains, but they are also a huge help to us in the garden here.

Earthworms are a sign of healthy soil and they help increase the nutritive value of the soil. So earthworms are some of our favourite rainy season guests in the garden!”

“Wow aunti, I didn’t know that” said Meera, as she put the earthworm back down and her eyes moved to a leaf on which a caterpillar was lazing around. “Aunti look a caterpillar on that leaf!” shouted Meera. Raghu’s mother and Meera tip toed to the leaf to look at the spectacular caterpillar that had come out on this beautiful rainy day.

As Meera ran back to the verandah, Raghu’s mother shouted – “Watch your step Meera! There is a small snail right next to the verandah stairs!” Meera looked to find a snail trudging its way around the staircase. “It’s back almost looks like a sea shell!” laughed Meera.

Busy in their excursions, Raghu’s mother and Meera didn’t notice as Raghu had walked into the garden to join them. “Come here you two, look at these tiny little things here that sort of look like caterpillars.” Meera and Raghu’s mother came over to see little pretty worm shaped creatures with many many legs. “These are millipedes Raghu!” said his mother.

As they were busy in their findings the rain grew stronger and all three ran back towards the verandah to get cover. They sat for some time watching the rain silently as Raghu’s mother went to the kitchen to do some work. Some time later she returned with hot pakoras and tea!

“Wow aunti! You’re the best!” shouted Meera happily. “Yes mother! What could be better than hot chai and pakoras on a rainy afternoon!” said Raghu. They laughed and talked until the rains stopped and the sky began to clear.

Evening had set in and sun had come up for a last glimpse before setting. “Mother can we go out and play for sometime?” said Raghu. “Sure, be home before its dark though” said Raghu's mother. As Raghu and Meera went outside towards the park, Meera looked up and shrieked. “Raghu look up!!! It’s a rainbow!” Raghu looked up and both of them gazed at the newly formed rainbow with awe. They then proceeded to the park merrily singing and jumping over puddles.

The rainy season had a charm of its own. Everything seemed brighter, people seemed friendlier, the weather happier and life more beautiful. There was so much to enjoy and love about the rains!

Adventures of Raghu - the gift of water!

“Mother!!!” shouted Raghu from the bathroom in the midst of his morning bath. “Yes dear! What is it?” replied his mother from downstairs. “The water in the tap has stopped and I’m in the middle of my bath mother! Can you please get me a spare bucket of water?” His mother frowned – “This water shortage is giving us such a hard time. It’s the peak of summer and there isn’t even enough water to take a bath in” said Raghu’s mother to herself as she gave Raghu a bucket of water that she had filled and kept the previous day.

“Here you go. Use it preciously Raghu, we’ve run out of water.”

The sun was scorching outside, summer was on it’s way out but the rains that everyone was eagerly looking forward to had just not arrived yet. Water scarcity had taken over the town and everyone was using each drop of water rather conservatively.

It was a Sunday and after spending the morning playing his favorite computer games, Raghu was sitting to study in his room after lunch. All of a sudden his eyes moved towards his window as he saw darkness setting in. He went near his window to see grey clouds covering the sky. “Oh my god!!” cried out Raghu happily, “I think it’s finally going to rain!!!!”

As Raghu opened his window and took his hand out to feel whether the drizzle had started, the first drop of rain hit Raghu’s rain parched skin.

Raghu smiled, it was here, the long awaited drought was finally over!!! Raghu quickly phoned Meera – “Meera come over, its going to rain real hard, let’s play outside on my terrace!!!”

A few drops slowly took on momentum, as within a few minutes it was heavily pouring. Initially the coolness of the rain could not be felt as each object emitted the fire it carried from the past summer. Slowly it however cooled down and everywhere one looked you could see kids, adults, animals enjoying the long- awaited monsoon showers. Even the plants and trees seemed to be laughing as the rain washed off their dusty, tired leaves. As Meera came over, she and Raghu went onto the terrace to dance in the rain and splash water in the puddles.

“Just put your head up and feel the droplets on your face Meera, it’s so much fun” shouted Raghu. It was a big celebration.

Just as they were playing, Raghu and Meera noticed Raghu’s mother had brought out a few big buckets and put them out on the terrace to fill with water. “This will serve us for at least two days. We can use it for bathing, washing and toiletries” said Raghu's mother. “Mother that’s a great idea!!!” shouted Raghu.

“Hey Raghu, let’s find out how to get a big water tanker to put outside your house to collect the water that leaks out of the drainage.

 We can collect and store the rain water there and you can use it for so many different purposes around the house. I’ve read it’s called rain water harvesting.” Raghu laughed. “Meera, you can find something interesting to make out of everything! I think it’s a great idea though!”Both the kids decided they would work on this project once the rain stopped so that they could store rain water to use for day to day activities for the rest of the rainy season.

For now they were however just enjoying the smell of wet earth, the rain falling on their bodies and the beginning of the beautiful, thunderous monsoon season!