Being a Mumbaikar for last 11 years, I have seens many faces of the Mumbai Rains. Sometimes fascination, sometimes romantic, sometimes angry and some time disastorous. I have two or three very emotional memories of the mumbai rains.

I came here on 13th Aug 1997 for my higher studies. With great difficulty, panic and tensions I was able to complete my admissions in the college by 16th Aug. The college was to start on 25th Aug and I had a whole week. My father had left for the native place on 16th evening itself. I was staying at my Buwa's house. My cousin sister was bed ridden as she had polio and was operated six months ago. Actually she was the one who had strongly stood behind me that I should come to Mumbai for my higher studies.

She was not keeping well from a week or so and could not sleep the whole night. After check up from a specialist doctor we decided to admit her to the KEM on 21st Aug. In the afternoon we reached the hospital. Me, my uncle and cousin brother stayed there till the evening and then we left for our home. We were very tired and went to sleep immediately after a light dinner. Suddenly at around 2.30 in the morning I heard the door bell rining continuously. I was bit scared. My brother was still asleep. I opened the door and found the neighbour standing their. He was saying something but I was still not fully consious. I only understood that there was a phone call from hospital. By the time I reached there I had recalled everything was praying that everything is Ok. But I was wrong. My sister was no more and we had to rush to the hospital immediately. I ran towards home and told my brother about the call. We got ready and as soon as got down, we realized the trains won't be running at this time and the rains had started pouring in. Water was already logged at the New Era Square near malad station. I was praying that there are no more water blockades and we reach there in time. We took a taxi and started our journey. Luckily the roads were clear in we reached there in half an hour.

By morning we had informed everybody of the death and were waiting for the society people to come to the hospital. The rains which started somewhere in the night were pouring in like anything and disrupted the train service. The society people had started at around 4.30 in the morning but hadn't reached till 7.00. By this time me and my brother completed the hospital formalities and took the dead body in our custody. My buwa was unconsolable and was continuously crying. She was accusing the Doctors of not taking enough care of her child. Everything was totally new for me. The city, the rains, the hospital atmosphere. I was scared to hell.

After that the rains casued the problem for us at every step and we could finish all the rituals by late afternoon. That was my first encounter with the Mumbai Rain.