his week, the city seems to have shifted a few degrees northwards, thanks to the monsoon winds. Dark clouds managed to keep the sun at bay for most of the daylight hours. Even when it was not raining, the respite was enough to allow people to go out without the fear of the summer sun and the proverbial humidity; a lethal combination that had forced most of the population to remain indoors and rely on air-conditioning for the past few months.

So, it was refreshing to see rows and columns of clouds making their way towards us from across the border. The rain fell in torrents without any warning, catching commuters right in the middle of trying to go to office or ferrying kids to and from schools. The lucky lot who found themselves at home during such a spell made the most of this seasonal treat. After all it had been hard living and travelling under the scorching sun ever since the start of the hot season.

The monsoon also divided the city into zones of its own: people coming from different corners of the city reporting dry and wet spells occurring in the same city at the same time.

Another after-effect of cleansing showers is crystal-clear skies. So, whenever the sun reappears, its piercing rays ensure that the humidity once again becomes unbearable, leaving us wishing the monsoon does not leave us and stays for a little longer.

Well, with such a huge amount of rain come many nuisances as well. The foremost being flooded streets and roads. Though the sanitary staff made a great show of force as they stood along major roads in their yellow vests, the rain was just too much for most of the city’s outdated drains. Resultantly, low-lying and congested areas remained submerged for hours and were later remained full of black mud and silt. It stuck to people’s feet and tyres and came right inside your living quarters.

Usually, so much stagnant water is a prelude to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue fever. However, the swarms have not appeared so far this season or it is perhaps too early to celebrate.

Another after-effect of cleansing showers is crystal-clear skies. So, whenever the sun reappears, its piercing rays ensure that the humidity once again becomes unbearable, leaving us wishing the monsoon does not leave us and stays for a little longer.

But let’s leave these complaints aside for a while to appreciate the city’s weather for once. As the morning and evening air starts to feel a bit wintry, the drained and exhausted bodies are once again ready to feel more adventurous. Perhaps, it’s time to take those morning walks, tennis lessons and badminton bouts in the open again.

Asim Riaz is a staff member