Monsoon Nostalgia: 5 Things from Childhood We Miss During the Rains as Grown Ups

Rare are those who would say they don't like the earthy smell of the first rains. The raindrops barely seep into the ground but the petrichor brings a good vibe with it. The monsoon season has arrived and parts of India are already experiencing havoc. From enjoying the rains to staying locked up inside the house as an area gets waterlogged, people’s outlook towards the rain gods has seen a definite change over time. But as a working professional, it is difficult to enjoy the rains as we used to in our childhood. What’s disappointing is that the kids nowadays are being kept away from the joys of enjoying the heavy downpour. As monsoon begins, we look back at the nostalgia that evokes as we stare at the rains lashing the windowpanes of our office.

Paper boat races

The first thing we learnt as kids was to make paper boats and compete with friends in a race in puddles. The sheer joy of winning that race is unexplainable. Do we remember how to make paper boats today? Why aren’t the kids in the neighbourhood making paper boats but glued to racing games on the phone?

Umbrella tents

Today as people promote more monsoon camping and treks, our first memories of tents were joining the umbrellas together and sitting inside with cushions. With a canopy of a bedsheet over it, a tent within the house felt like a luxury even without a view. Wonder, how many kids do that today?

School Holidays

The best part of childhood monsoon memories are the holidays declared after a heavy downpour. The feeling of “It should rain so much that everything should be closed,” remains constant even today. But the real joy was in going to school only to find that the classes were cancelled, and then, wading back home. There was no worry of studies being missed. Mom and dad also stayed home and it felt like home!

The Joy of Bhuttas

The arrival of monsoon also meant the Bhuttawala uncle will be coming! The corn bits getting stuck in teeth was hardly a concern. So getting wet in the rains and eating a bhutta has its own joy.

Jumping in the Puddles

Playing or jumping in the puddles was a ritual during monsoons that we as kids followed even if our parents shouted at us. Getting our clothes dirty or coming home with feet covered in mud wasn’t seen with disgust. But today we barely see the kids coming out to play. Yes, there are chances of diseases or infections but where is an attempt to let the kids go out and play?

Over the years, as we became trapped in our professional lives with a job to worry about, we too hope for rainfall with our convenience in mind. We are too caught up in the rat race to even think of a paper boat race. We are too concerned about a sick leave than leaving the umbrella behind at home for a day to just drenching in the rain. Clearly, as the rainwater streams and flows around, it’s the nostalgia of the monsoons we can't go back to, which disappoints us. And the earthy smell is the only essence that takes us back in time.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2019 07:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).