clouds in the sky

it is only when i went down south of spain during easter that i realised what was it about the sky that i had been missing.. it was clouds. not the rain clouds, but the fluffy sparse ones that stretch across the sky giving it a mild blue colour. the ones which draw your attention to them, particularly on a road trip. when you start playing games of which cloud looks like which thing and then mom scolds you, "stop it, you are distracting the driver".

and then in a broader sense, clouds are elementary to indian life. the summer is so harsh, the first sight of change in the clouds' colours can send waves of celebrations.. how gray colour can be a symbol of joy. you try and estimate, are these clouds gonna stay or are they just a fleeting shade and will get blown away by the next gust of the cruel hot wind. but as the clouds get denser and the wind becomes a cool breeze, the sun becomes a mere shadow of itself, you see the sky turn a shade of gray and then come the rains followed by the festivities.. oh i miss monsoons.. right from sustaining 60% of the farming population, to festivals, to goodies, to clothes, to traffic jams, to movies and romance, monsoon defines the moods of indian people.. even as i write, scenes of drenching rain are whizzing past me...

clouds for me are a sign of rejuvenation, of happiness, of lightheartedness, of simple plain white joy. and since here its all about a clear blue sky, i miss clouds. because its cold, rain is a sign of displeasure and further cold. unlike back home, i cannot dare to think of getting drenched in the rain and then go home and enjoy garam chai with pyaaz ke pakode.

when i go back home, i will look forward to my cloud. lighthearted, innocent, fleeting across the landscape with no worries to bother about.. thats your beauty, your gift to be preserved. and when you feel burdened and gray, its time shed some moisture and rise up again.. light and white..