Karthik took a sip of the bitter, spicy brew. He looked out the window at the darkness. The water in the fields was settling, reflecting the faint light from the house. The paddy would drink deep tonight. In two months, provided the gods and the weather remained kind, the field would turn gold.
Unlike most of India, which receives the majority of its annual rainfall from the Southwest Monsoon (June–September), Tamil Nadu is unique in that it receives nearly half of its rainfall from the Northeast Monsoon (October–December). This distinct pattern is due to the state’s geographical position on the southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula. monsoon season in tamil nadu
He reached the blockage. The branches were heavy, waterlogged. He pulled, his muscles screaming, rain stinging his eyes. The water rose higher, now at his waist. Karthik took a sip of the bitter, spicy brew
He didn't think. He dropped his phone on a high rock and waded into the channel. The water was shockingly cold, rushing with a force that threatened to knock his legs out from under him. The current pulled at him, a living thing trying to drag him down. The paddy would drink deep tonight
“The pump house near the temple is flooded,” Karthik gasped, sitting up. “I saw the water level near the transformer on the way here.”
“The rain on the roof. When it stops, we worry about drought. When it falls, we worry about floods. But right now, while it falls... there is nothing to do but drink the coffee and listen.”
As the monsoon season reached its peak, Ramesh's family prepared for the traditional festivals that marked the occasion. They made kolams, intricate designs made from rice flour, on the floor of their home, and lit lamps to ward off the darkness. They cooked traditional dishes, like vada and sambar, and distributed them to their neighbors, sharing in the joy and abundance of the season.