The Summer Solstice: June's Subdued Fires and Nature's Mixed Bag of Pleasures and Pains

 **21 June 2003**

The sun today shone at the northernmost latitude, but contrary to all the baking expectations, it was a tolerably cool day—in the shade, of course—with profusely swaying gusts of easterly winds blowing over like a giant cooler working for the poorer humanity which is not covered by air conditioners and coolants born of electricity available in their houses.

In fact, it has been like this from the tenth of this month. Unexpectedly heavy spells of pre-monsoon showers have brilliantly subdued the fire in June's earth.

And from all indications, the fair maiden seems well on date from the first week of July, while for the fulfilment of all hopes, let us contribute our little hope that the showering lady keeps up her promise to quench the thirst of hot, sandy, pining, suffering earth.

Boughs and branches of neem trees are ornamented with lush green, sharp fruits which drizzle in the windy squalls.

Gulmohar has its summer charm of flaming orange and red cups swaying to the easterly winds.

Peacocks, perhaps the last of their generation now, give their calls from the acacia foliage right in the village or on the fringes around.

The tattered and diminished fabric of bird life gets an upbeat note in the happy cooing of a koel.

Moon, a couple of days after its majestic conjunction with bright Venus in the eastern sky, hangs limpidly over the pre-twilight panorama, with its a-bit-less-than-half crescent, a bit to the west of the zenith.

Thanks to the rains, there is a bit of humidity.

Mosquitoes have made a comeback suddenly after their rout by the *loo* a fortnight ago.

But then such is the game of nature: one pleasure is at the cost of a countervailing displeasure.

Perhaps hot, perspiring, sleepless, mosquito-less nights are a bit better than nights having their share of humid easterlies with the winged tiny nuisance in their wake.

Earlier it was the sunstroke; now it will be malaria.

There is a share of all woes or all happiness.

So, with its mixed bag of pleasures and pains, the day nosedives below the horizon.