Mumbai Rains

I witness
My first Mumbai monsoon:
And I remember
Words of Anita Desai;
My first memory
Of anything
Related to Mumbai rains.


During the rains:
Hari’s stint in Mumbai,
The apathy of being drenched
Again and again; 
And remain indoor
Inhaling soot
Within Sri Krishna Bhojnalaya.


During the rains:
Mr. Panwallah, the watchmaker
Who suffered bronchitis,
But never complained.


During the rains
Jagu, whose family lived in slums,
And water clogged their huts
But still empathized with his employee.


True Mumbai snob,
And true Mumbai spirit.
I reflect upon myself
To see 

My greedy, dissatisfied self -
One who runs and runs;
Has everything
He craved for
But still craves for more.

                           June 2016