Summer Bummer

It’s nearing the end of June, and here in New York, it still doesn’t feel like its summer. Its been raining incessantly ever since the weather changed to non-winter-jacket-wearing levels. It’s bad enough that we had a rather prolonged winter this year, but this is ridiculous. I wonder what needs to be done to appease the summer Gods to show us some mercy.

On the other hand, the present weather conditions take me back to the time I used to live with my parents, back in Mumbai, India. Unlike here in the US, where it can potentially rain anytime of the year, India has three whole months dedicated to the monsoon. Four years ago, on the 26th of July, the coastal city of Mumbai was brought to its knees in a powerful deluge that swept through the city. Back then, I was was in my senior year, studying in suburban college. Although my parents lived a short 10 minute ride from my college, nevertheless it took me 2 hours to wade home in waist high water. And this year, the geniuses at the weather bureau, finally got their act together and issued a weather alert. So much so, that Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt decided to cancel his 50th birthday party! Well, at least something seems to be working in the city’s favor. After last year’s horrific attacks, the people of Mumbai could use a break.

Having said that, I should add that June 21st, 1:45 am EST is considered to be the official start of the summer in the northern hemisphere. So here’s hoping that the onset of the summer solstice brings us New Yorkers some good luck and warm weather. There’s tons of things to look forward to this summer. Among them, we have the new Transformers movie, the GI Joe movie, Saif-Deepika’s new movie Love Aaj Kal, Shahid’s new movie Kaminay and Dan Brown’s new novel The Lost Symbol. Oh and yes, my move into my very own bachelor pad, my own studio! Rented, of course, but mine nonetheless.