(English Translation at the end)

प्रतिदिनलेखनसूचनमद्यत्वे न चित्ताकर्षि। अतः मद्भारतप्रयाणविषये लिखेयमिति निर्णयः। भारते साम्प्रतं निदाघकालः। भारतनिदाघो विश्रुतः परमननुभवेन तस्य प्रभावो न ज्ञायते। भारते मम निदाघकालवासो दशभ्यो वर्षेभ्यः पूर्वमासीदतो मम नवानुभवो नासीत् तापस्य। स्थानीयानामपि दुस्सहः तापोयं नाहं स्थानीया’धुना तर्हि कथं भवेन्मम तापधारणशक्तिरिति चिन्तोत्पन्ना। कथञ्चिद् धैर्यमवाप्य विमानचीटिका भारतगमनाय क्रीता यदनन्तरं पुनः चिन्ताबाधिताभूवम्। प्रतिदिनमुष्णपरिमाणं किमिति जालपुटे वीक्ष्य आत्मानं सान्त्वयामि। उत्तरभारतप्रयाणमासीदित्यितोपि मे भीः यतोहि उत्तरभारतं दक्षिणाद् घर्मतरम्। मया तु घर्मनिवारकशिरस्त्रं, लघुवहनीयव्यजनं, आर्द्रमार्जनवस्त्रं च क्रीतं तापत्राणार्थम्।

इतोपि नूतनसमस्या काचिदुत्पन्ना। दुबई-नगरे अतिवृष्टिकारणाद् विमानप्रयाणविलम्ब इति वार्तागता। दिनद्वयमेवासीन्मम प्रयाणस्य। अनेके पथिकाः तत्र अन्यगतिकाः इति ज्ञातम्। सर्वे दुबई किमप्यकरोदतो न कार्या चिन्तेत्यवदन्। प्रतिदिनं तस्मिन् विषये किं प्राचलदिति पठित्वा’न्ततः नूतनविमानचीटिका क्रीत्वा भारतमागमम्। मया त्वुचितमेव कृतमित्यनन्तरं ज्ञातं यतोहि विमानानां विलम्बः, जनानां सम्मर्दः विमानस्थाने, विभ्रमः पेटिकाविषय इत्यनेके प्रत्यूहा अविद्यन्त। मम तु चेन्नईनगरागमनस्याग्रिमदिन एव उत्तरभारतयात्रा’सीदतः क्षणविलम्बमपि नोत्सहे।

चेन्नईपुरीं यदागमं यदा उष्णवायुं श्वसितं तदैव स्वाभाविकमन्वभवम्। तावान् तापः नासीत्। उत्तरभारतमप्यगमम्। तत्रापि नातितापः। भगवदनुग्रह एवेति निर्णीय सन्तोषेण चेन्नईपुरीं पुनरागता। तस्माद्दिनात् तापः ऊर्ध्वं गतः। अहं तु बेङगलरूनगरं गता, तत्र गृहेषु शीतपेटिकापि नास्ति। कथं जनानां वासोस्मिन् ताप इति विस्मयोनुभूतः। जनाः शीतपेटकां क्रतुं नेच्छन्ति यतोहि किमर्थमेकमासार्थं क्रेयमिति चिन्तनम्। दैववशात् तत्र केवलं दिनद्वयमेवावसम्। पुनः चेन्नई-गृहमागत्य १२-४पर्यन्तं यावच्छक्यं गृह एवासम्।

मयापि कथञ्चिदतितापः सोढः। मयीतोपि भारतीयत्वं वर्तत इति महान्तं सन्तोषमनुभवामि। प्रतिप्रयाणविषये लेखः लिख्यते’त्र। अधुना मम विरामस्य सप्ताह एवावशिष्ट‌ो’तः मनः शोकपूरितः। मातापितृभ्यां सह सदा वासः कार्यः। कियद् दुर्भाग्यं यद् कुत्रचित् दूरे मयोष्यते इति खेदः जायते। एतदपि भगवत्सङ्कल्पः एव। शीघ्रमेवात्रैवागम्यमित्याचार्यं भगवन्तं च प्रार्थ्य समाप्यते। शुभं भूयात्।

Given that today’s daily prompt didn’t quite capture my interest, I decided to pivot and share about my recent expedition to Chennai during the fierce Indian summer. The term “Indian Summer” isn’t thrown around lightly—it truly epitomizes the intense heat that blankets the country during this season. It’s been over a decade since I last braved an Indian summer, and even for locals, the heat can be formidable. Imagine my trepidation as someone returning after years abroad!

With a blend of boldness and a dash of anxiety about enduring the searing temperatures, I went ahead and booked my tickets. As my trip approached, I began to question my own resolve. Not only had I planned a visit to North India—which experiences even more brutal heat than the South—but I also armed myself with portable fans, hats, and damp cloths in a bid to stave off the sweltering conditions.

My daily weather checks did little to ease my apprehension. To add to my concerns, Dubai was experiencing unprecedented flooding, causing extensive delays and cancellations at the airport. This was completely unexpected, and despite reassurances that normalcy would be restored, I was skeptical, judging by the on-the-ground reports. In a last-minute decision, I switched flights and arrived in Chennai a day earlier than planned—a decision that proved to be serendipitous, given my tight schedule to travel north the following day.

Stepping off the plane in Chennai, the hot air felt surprisingly welcoming, almost like a warm embrace from an old friend. My travels to the north were equally manageable, temperature-wise. However, upon my return to Chennai, the real essence of an Indian summer unveiled itself. The humidity skyrocketed and temperatures soared—I found myself grappling with the intensity of the heat, sweating more than I ever had before. Nonetheless, the experience was incredibly rewarding. I strategically stayed indoors with air conditioning during the peak heat hours of 12 PM to 4 PM.

An unexpected twist came when I had to travel to Bangalore, where, surprisingly, many homes still lack air conditioning. My brief two-day stay there was challenging, and I left suggesting that the locals consider installing AC—a notion they were still pondering.

In retrospect, returning home to face the fiery embrace of an Indian summer was a profound experience. I plan to detail each leg of my journey in upcoming articles, sharing more about the incredible places and vibrant cultures I encountered. Happy Reading!