Everyday Moments – (#SOL-2021)

7-07-2021

Our monsoon season started in the first week June and we had heavy rains for almost two weeks. Now we are having sunny days with occasional rains. This happens every year and every year we are anxious about it. During this season it is reassuring to hear the sound of rain outside, either drizzling or pouring 😊. I love to watch both.

Today was my mother-in-law’s death anniversary. She passed away in 1980 when she was only 47. She had serious health problems. I have not met her. We offered prayers to God and followed certain rites and rituals. Usually, close relatives are invited but everything has changed now. My brother-in-law came from the village. My mother is with us since April.

Last week we were shocked to hear that her younger brother tested positive for cancer. It is multiple myeloma. He had been suffering from pain in his back for many months. He and his family live in the village. Maybe the fear of Covid made him put off going for a check up. Fortunately, it is in the very early stages. We all talked to him and his wife too.  My mother has recovered from cancer so he was feeling a little more confident after talking to her. The very word cancer evokes fear. He said we have to face what comes our way.

Our grandson’s summer vacations start end of this month. If everything had been fine they would have come to India. Advaith has six weeks and Kavya three weeks. She is in kindergarten. One day we were talking and she came rushing in telling her mother Poncho ‘ajja ajji’ gave her two chocolates. Ajja is grandfather and ajji grandmother in Kannada. Their neighbour has a dog called Poncho. Kavya loves to play with him and the neighbours are Poncho grandparents 😊.

Number of Covid cases are coming down, there are no restrictions now but people wear masks while going out. It is scary to read about a third wave coming soon. We will have to live with it.

Outside our window

The sound of rain

Raindrops on the leaves

Beautiful green leaves.

The sound of rain

Is reassuring

Beautiful green leaves

With raindrops sliding down.

Bright yellow and green leaves

Covered by dust

Raindrops washing them clean

Laughing after the rains.

Covered by dust

Gasping for breath

Laughing after the rains

Outside our window.

The pantoum is a poem of any length, composed of four-line stanzas in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza serve as the first and third lines of the next stanza. The last line of a pantoum is often the same as the first.