The yearlong pandemic has made most of us ponder and look inwards for answers to the "questions life has posed us". Summer is my favorite time to be indoors almost all day and stroll in the evenings during the sunset around twilight.
Every year I eagerly look forward to June, my favorite month, for the cool breeze and showers it brings after a hot summer day. I am missing most of my summer pleasures during this pandemic and lockdown. In spite of being indoors all day, the sights, sounds and feel of Summer evenings are missing from life for two consecutive years! Being nostalgic of those treasured memories and delights of Summer twilights and eagerly looking forward to those "normal times" returning soon !
Sights and Sounds of Summer evenings !
Hot summers bring in a wave of heat that transposes life in a way that works of the day begins early and tends to close by noon. The mandatory afternoon nap slides in due to intense heat and cool smoothening summer lunch. With the rising sun, even children tend to slow down their pace of life and settle in indoors for all kind of summer indoor games ! Pets , especially the cat, with her roaming tendency and liking for hot stuff, is seen indoors trying to enjoy the coolness, though maintaining her privacy from intruding children army.
For most, Summer is a time to slow down , look around , be indoors and ponder. May be enjoy the recorded music , Sarangs - Multaanis-Bhimpalasis and Madhuvantis in a shade.
I am an ardent connoisseur of such a milieu .. the treats of summer in form of fruits like Mangoes , berries , Jack fruit give an added solace to the mind and soul. The ice-creams , the mocktails and occasional cocktails give a true summer punch.
For me , the summer twilights bring in some unique sights , sounds and delights; as the Sun turns west towards the horizon , the oblique rays and orange tinge enlightens new spirit. It breaks that pin-drop silence to herald new happenings and new experiences. The longing for evenings with Puriya Dhanaashree also brings a certain joy that marks the end of hot afternoon concluding the wait for the much awaited evening breeze.
People stroll out with their kids and grandkids , with pets along they march to the open spaces - playgrounds and gardens, greeting their neighbors and enjoying company of everyone around on streets ! To me this is one of the most delightful sights of summer evenings .. the snacks of evening invariably include "Bhel" , "Paani-Puri" , Chats followed by soft drinks and ice-creams !
We may hate summer all day long ( even inside an air-conditioned indoor) but the twilight and evenings do make up for the hardships !