The sweaters and shawls are receiving their annual airing…Only this time, it’s not just for a couple of days in the whole year. In fact, the blankets have been in use, for almost a month now; and there’s still no indication of when they can be folded and put away until next year.
A good thing actually, because for us in Mumbai, the cold season is as fleeting as the rainbow in the sky, that is just momentarily visible. One minute it’s here, and then it’s gone…This year however, winter seems to be here to stay for a while.☃️
Cozying up under those blankets every morning, switching off the alarm and going back to sleep because it’s just too cold to get out of bed, standing in front of the wash-basin and waiting to put one’s finger under the water to test how bearable the freezing water really is…these are all things that we Mumbaikars seldom find an opportunity to do.
Cozying up under those blankets every morning, switching off the alarm and going back to sleep because it’s just too cold to get out of bed, standing in front of the wash-basin and waiting to put one’s finger under the water to test how bearable the freezing water really is…these are all things that we Mumbaikars seldom find an opportunity to do.
So, while many of us are feeling a little under the weather due to the extreme cold, which has taken it’s toll on the health of a lot of people and brought with it colds, coughs and fevers galore; it sure is a good time to be in the city. Hot coffee and a steaming bowl of soup…seems like heaven at such times, doesn’t it? ☕️🍜
Lonavla and Khandala must have definitely felt a dip in the influx of tourists, over the past couple of weekends, especially those driving down from Mumbai; because considering how cold it has been here, not many may have ventured, to head off in the direction of a hill-station. When you can experience the same thing right here in one’s backyard, people wouldn’t really have felt the need to go elsewhere.
Lonavla and Khandala must have definitely felt a dip in the influx of tourists, over the past couple of weekends, especially those driving down from Mumbai; because considering how cold it has been here, not many may have ventured, to head off in the direction of a hill-station. When you can experience the same thing right here in one’s backyard, people wouldn’t really have felt the need to go elsewhere.
At the back of our minds, we know that it’s not going to last very long but I guess just like ice-cream, we’re going to enjoy it while it lasts.🍦
A thought just crossed my mind though. I was just wondering whether we should really be happy, at the fact that we’re shivering right through the day, in a place like Mumbai. Is this an ominous sign of things to come? Are all those predictions about drastic climatic changes, made by those that are concerned about the environment, coming true in our city as well? Is the fact that we’re actually experiencing a ‘proper winter’ for once in our city, something to be happy about; or is this a warning sign to us, that we need to stand up and take note of the rapidly changing environmental situation?…I think the answer to these questions would be a very strong and emphatic, YES.
YES, we can be happy and enjoy the cool weather that is such a rarity in our city...
A thought just crossed my mind though. I was just wondering whether we should really be happy, at the fact that we’re shivering right through the day, in a place like Mumbai. Is this an ominous sign of things to come? Are all those predictions about drastic climatic changes, made by those that are concerned about the environment, coming true in our city as well? Is the fact that we’re actually experiencing a ‘proper winter’ for once in our city, something to be happy about; or is this a warning sign to us, that we need to stand up and take note of the rapidly changing environmental situation?…I think the answer to these questions would be a very strong and emphatic, YES.
YES, we can be happy and enjoy the cool weather that is such a rarity in our city...
YES, it feels good to snuggle and curl up under those, oh-so-warm blankets...
But at the same time, we also need to say YES, this is nature’s way of telling us to wake up and pay attention.
This is her way of sending a 'chill down our spine', to make us realize that we need to become more cautious, of the way in which we deal with the earth.
This is her way of trying to make us aware that things could get worse, if we human beings don’t start doing something about it...
Let’s just start listening, to what she’s trying to tell us; and do something about it as well, in whatever ways we can. ✍️
