By Aakanksha Gupta
This year, the monsoon arrived earlier than expected, cutting short the summer season. The heat barely lingered for a month, surprising many with its early exit. While mangoes are still sweet and juicy, questions arise how did they ripen so well without the full blaze of summer? The answer, perhaps, lies in the fertilizers and artificial coloring now used in cultivation. Watermelons, however, left the markets far too early.
The rains initially brought joy to farmers, promising a healthy crop yield. But soon, the blessing turned burdensome. Heavy rainfall led to soil erosion and widespread pollution due to the wash-off of fertilizers. Flooded streets and overflowing drains became common scenes. Many students and office-goers braved the rains, soaked to the skin, returning to homes draped in drying clothes and filled with the smell of dampness. Shoes and socks, soaked in muddy puddles, became a daily annoyance.
For some, the rain brought a refreshing touch, a soothing balm; for others, it brought irritation and discomfort. Thunder and lightning made mothers anxious, rushing to turn off all electrical appliances. At night, the cool monsoon breeze had many pulling up quilts, resembling winter’s chill.
The season affected academic life too. Examinations became a frustrating ordeal with wet books, smudged ink, and drenched school bags. Each raindrop told a different story of joy for some and of inconvenience for others. But one shared experience tied it all together — the cold, sleepy mornings where waking up felt like winter, and the mind raced to find excuses to skip the day’s duties.
Geographically, last year’s winter was influenced by the La Niña phenomenon, causing a shift in the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This year, a neutral phase between El Niño and La Niña, reduced the Himalayan snow cover, and active Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) patterns contributed to the early monsoon. Low pressure over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal attracted moisture-laden winds, accelerating the monsoon’s onset and intensity.
This unusual weather pattern echoes the story “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury, where the protagonist, Margot, waits endlessly to witness the sun on a rain-soaked Venus. While we may not live on Venus, this year’s relentless rain made it feel as if we too inhabited a planet where sunshine is a rare guest.
The monsoon, with its charm and chaos, leaves us wondering — is it truly a blessing, or sometimes, a beautifully disguised curse?
