City in the rain

Clouds descended upon the city today. As the slumbering population woke up, ready for work, the sky brightened, foreboding. If the people had been less informed, we would have thought that this situation was an omen for rain. It would not rain - not today, not this month, not this year. Stuck in the worst drought in the region of a century, if news reports are to be believed, this city would not be spared. Not now.

A teasing shower around two in the afternoon provided a cruel tantalising hope of change. Could the weatherman be wrong? After all, he always is, right?

The feeling of being in a car, warm and tranquil, while outside it is dark and wet. That is an experience that today I found was surprisingly comforting. Yes - there I was, stuck in a traffic jam which stretched all the way into the darkening city, with one unexpected difference between this day and the everyday journey. Rain.

Rain, falling thick and plentifully from the sky, as the light of the sun's rays becamse diffused in the city's smog, gradually darkening the landscape. Rain, pouring hard and fast, onto the windscreen of the car, as the wipers moved frantically to clear this freak meteorological event's contents. Rain, flowing in small streams along the side of the wet road home.

Inside the car, I contemplated this wonder. The traffic blending out into the chaos of the world outside. Inside, warmth, calm and smugness.