Carefree splashes, careworn fears – The Hindu

Most of us have a favourite season — summer with its holidays or winter with its cosy charm. But the rainy season rarely tops anyone’s list. It’s often overlooked, seen more as a disruption than a delight. Yet, for many, it holds some of the most vivid memories of childhood such as jumping in puddles, getting soaked on purpose, and laughing without a care in the world.

Today, people often dislike the monsoon, because of its inconvenience. Wet clothes, muddy shoes, traffic snarls, and the constant fear of catching a cold make many hide under umbrellas and shut windows tightly. But weren’t these the very rains we once longed to play in?

In those younger days, puddles were more than just water on the road — they were playgrounds. Getting drenched was never an accident, it was the plan. We would sneak outside during a downpour, ignoring our parents’ warnings, just to feel the cool raindrops hit our faces. We would run and jump until our school uniforms turned brown with mud, our laughter echoing in the wind.

Who can forget those school afternoons when the sky darkened during the last period and thunder rolled across the heavens? We would beg our teachers to turn off the lights and narrate ghost stories while the sound of rain drummed on the windows. As soon as the bell rang, we would race out into the rain, some of us deliberately leaving umbrellas behind so we had a reason to get wet. We knew we would face scoldings at home, but even that seemed like a small price for all that joy.

Now, though no one stops us, we choose to avoid the rain. We watch it fall from the safety of glass windows in our homes or offices, sipping coffee and worrying about wet clothes or messy hair. We check our phones and fix our umbrellas, all the while ignoring the simple beauty unfolding just outside. “What will people think if they see me standing in the rain,” we ask ourselves. And that one question is enough to bury the carefree child inside us. And then there is the excuse: “You’ll catch a cold.” Getting wet in the rain doesn’t causes cold. Cold is caused by viruses, not water. In fact, some health experts say a bit of exposure to rain might even strengthen our immune system. Still, it’s not science that holds us back, it’s our own hesitation. Somewhere along the way, society trained us to be polished, composed, and always in control.

Rain is messy. It drips, it splashes, it surprises. But that’s what makes it so human, so real. It invites us to pause, to feel, and to be present — things that have become rare in our fast-paced lives.

It’s a strange kind of irony. As children, we were restricted from going out in the rain, and we wanted nothing more than to get wet. As adults, we’re free to do whatever we want, yet we stay indoors. Growing up was supposed to bring us freedom, but somewhere along the path, we built invisible walls. Now, not even the rain can get through.

So, the next time the sky turns grey and the drops begin to fall, take a moment. Step outside. Let your feet find a puddle, and let your inner child smile again. Forget the umbrella, forget the stares, and forget the schedule. Let the rain remind you of who you were — and who you still are, beneath all the layers of adulthood.

Because the rain hasn’t changed. We did.\

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