Just another rainy day

The alarm woke me up early morn so I could start my day by hitting the swimming pool. Even as I started to get up, one glance at the condensed window pane told me that it was pouring mighty hard outside and I rolled back in the same momentum hitting the bed with a plop. I woke up again later only to see that it was still raining and by the time I was ready to leave for work I was contemplating whether to take the bike to work or hail an auto. Usually I am glad at the prospect of riding in the rain, but I prefer to invoke that adventurous side on a holiday so that I can come back and get out of the wet clothes when I am home. The idea of wet clothes and shoes/socks at work is not appealing. Experience told me that it was futile to even think about looking out for an auto and it was best that I take my bike. So I pulled out of my building compound and I was pleasantly surprised to see four autos lined up outside the gate. I did the second u-turn of the day and parked my bike. And with a smile I headed to the nearest auto. “Amboli” I told him as I leaned to get inside. The Ass stops me as I try to wriggle in and informs me that his engine refuses to start. I walk to the other auto and before the first syllable “Amb” has left me, “No sir” he says. “Sir, my left fuckin foot, you bastard” I yell at him. I turn away to the other autos, and they are both engaged by other passengers now and as they move out, I did my third u-turn of the day. Terrific morning. I kick-start my bike and head to work. As I near Andheri station, my sight is more obscured by people than the rainwater hitting my face. People here. People there. People everywhere. If there is a thin line that distinguishes a pedestrian from a jaywalker, it was washed away by the rains today. Much as I wanted to do the fourth u-turn and head back home, I maneuver my way through the maze of people and finally reach office. At my workstation as I get my laptop out, Arun appears instantly with a steaming hot cup of ‘chai’. “Cheers” I say as I visualize ‘Rum’ in a glass and begin a wonderful day.