When it rains, or it doesn't

During monsoons in Mumbai, all you have to do for a conversation to take off is begin with, "When it rains...," and you'll be bombarded with stereotype responses like,"it pours," or "it's time for chai pakodas," or "you won't believe the water-logging at Hindmata" or "the dams still haven't reached the overflow mark" and a somewhat wistful,"its's time for a non-rainy holiday!"

There is a subtle and ongoing joke, maybe even a trend that happens at least once during the temperamental Mumbai monsoons. It is like this: Every once in a while when the Weather Bureau predicts a terrible downpour and declares a public holiday for safety reasons, we invariably have sunny blue skies and made to order fluffy white clouds on that day!

While school-going kids are thrilled with the prospect of a rain-free holiday, office-goers (of offices that have decided to stay open despite the warnings), mope all day long at work, lamenting the injustice and blaming adulthood that has deprived them of these childish pleasures.

I always wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the Weather Bureau on such occasions. How can their prediction be so off the chart? I wonder in particular about the guy who actually issues the damning statement that is bound to land him in a seriously embarrassing situation!

Maybe this happens...

Dr. WB is at work poring over several maps and printouts on his work-table, comparing various satellite images and reports on his computer screen. 

Hmm, the cloud formation definitely seems threatening. But the wind movements are equally strong, they could buffet the clouds in another direction. After one more intense scrutiny of the entire scene in front of him, Dr. WB is reasonably sure he needn't hit the panic button just yet.

His mobile rings shrilly, the caller tune, a catchy item number song set by his son. He pounces on it to silence the offending sound. 

"Hello, papa? Have you finished the science project I gave you last week? I have to submit it tomorrow you know?"

"Err, what was it about?" mumbles Dr. WB, desperately trying to recollect.

"We had to make an eco-friendly energy model...you haven't done it, have you," accuses the young tyrant and goes on a wail,"Mummmmyyy...."

Enter mummy,"What kind of a scientist are you? You can't even do a 7th standard science project?"

"Papa, you promised you'll do it! Now it will be all your fault if I get a zero tomorrow....mummyyyyy..."

"You better come home with the project or else God save you from me!", is mummy's ultimatum as the phone is slammed down.

Dr. WB stares wanly at the phone and then at all the charts and screens around him.

Yes, the weather Gods would have to save him from the imminent wrath awaiting him at home. Time to hit the panic button.

An official press release and intimation to civic bodies about a serious cyclone warning with heavy rains within the next 24 hours from the Weather Bureau ensues.

The Civic chief's office in turn welcomes the news with silent cheers!
They declare : All schools, educational institutes and offices to remain closed tomorrow due to cyclone warning.
In any case, they've been too harassed with relentless complaints of pot-holed roads and water-logged areas. 

Ek barishonwala break toh banta he!

I am participating in the #WordsMatter Bloghop. The prompt this time was "When it rains..."
I received this tag from Roshan at Godyears. It’s my pleasure to pass on this tag to Zainab at Slim Expectations. There are 42 of us on this Blog Hop and it will be spread over 3 days – 6, 7, 8 September 2019. Do follow the #WordsMatter Blog Hop and prepare to be surprised!

I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter's #MyFriendAlexa

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