Summer in Hyderabad

Summer in Hyderabad is HOT. Try imagining a desert with its dry sands spread as far as your eyes can see and without a trace of life or water anywhere. Try imagining the scorching sun above your head frying you with its unbearable heat. Do you feel the heat striking like a hammer on your head? Do you feel the heat pricking your skin and scalp? Do you feel the sweat running down your neck and forehead? Do you feel like being cooked in an oven? Do you feel helpless, tired, exhausted, sticky, dirty, thirsty and craving for redemption?

Well, what you feel is just a millionth of the agony we face here at Hyderabad.

The temperature is now playing in the early forties. The summer is in good form and barring exceptions is expected to go on and make a half century (temperature wise). Imagine its 4.45 pm now and the temperature is a mild 38 degrees!

We (Vignesh, Sreejith and I) got lucky this year as we are on the third floor of a 3 storied apartment. Hence the terrace gladly transfers all its heat into our bedrooms making our nights thoroughly enjoyable and memorable. Yesterday night was so enjoyable that I had the privilege of hearing and swearing abuses from 3 am till 5 am in the morning. Oh and did I tell you? We have power cuts every day for 25 hours... oh! It must be 24 as there are only 24 hours in a day.

I mean... how stupid can the electricity board get? In December, when it's cold we have difficulty sleeping without the fan. And yet the electricity board is magnanimous enough to bless us with full voltage electricity right throughout the night so that even a dysfunctional man who sweats in December will have the luxury of switching on his fan and sleeping comfortably. But now when the sun is in its prime and when nights are barely tolerable even with the fan on, the electricity board decides that "enough is enough... people are spending way too much electricity... so let's start saving some when people are sleeping after a hectic days work!!"

How brilliant.

The electricity board in Hyderabad is very understanding of its people's needs. On Saturday the power went off at 10 AM. It returned at 3.30 PM just when the match was above to start. See what they achieved there? People who wanted to see the IPL could not complain now and they had their five and half hours of power cut. Wow John wow!!!

On Sunday they were more understanding. The power cut started only at 1.30 PM but it stayed till 4.30 PM. Why? The match was delayed in South Africa due to rain... The power returned just as the first ball was being bowled. The power went off again during the strategic time out and returned when the play resumed. Thereafter it kept going off and coming back after every over. This is not a joke. It really happened. Amazing right??

On Saturday afternoon, we really lost it. I was depressed, angry, tired, exhausted, thirsty, sticky and every other negative emotion that you can think of. I tried to sleep on my bed. But my bed was 41 degrees hot and I realized that five minutes on it would peel off my outer skin. I tried sleeping on the floor but the marble floor was hot enough to make a bull’s eye in case an egg fell on it and broke. But ultimately I chose the marble pan to the bed skin peeler. I opened the living room door and lay on the ground subjecting myself to be seen by 1) people who passed through the common corridor 2) people from other apartments 3) people looking from far away apartments through binoculars. I didn't care though.

Soon clothes started coming off one by one and just when it was about to turn into vulgar exhibitionism, I stopped.

But there was no redemption.

And when the power came back, finally, I said a silent prayer for my ancestors. Man... Were they resilient?

So overall, we are now enjoying the great Indian summer in all its glory. The summer is expected to continue till mid June. So if any of you folks feel like repenting for your sins, do come down to Hyderabad. Penance is waiting.