I had opened the garage door and was immediately greeted by brisk rains falling outside. My first reaction was that of an adult: “Messy weather”, I muttered to myself. The immediate next one was that of a child: “Rains!”, I cried out in joy.

During our childhood days, rains were something we would look forward to. Of course, it was not cold like this in India. So, playing soccer in the rains, making paper boats and letting them float down in small rivulets post rainfall and then of course getting berated by parents for staying out in the rain “Thanda legey jaabey” – were all integral part of growing up.

Today, I took a few minutes to stand inside the garage and take in the rains. In those mindful moments, something interesting outside my neighbor’s house caught my attention. It has been there all these years. I just did not have the eyes to see it. Heida, our neighbor, is a world traveller and collects all sorts of stuff from all over the world – especially Asia.

I bet she got this from Asia somewhere too. Note how beautifully the rain water from the roof is jumping from one bowl to the next almost making it look like a long cascade!

Small moments of beauty… only if I cried to stop and open my eyes.