a benevolent sky br a silken road br uplifting green on either side br the blue-grey hills move farther away br as i move closer to them br br always standing on a hill br the other hill looked more welcoming br never there a high point br nor a lower point! br br hills to the right br hills to the left br hills in front br hills behind br br down in the valleys br green stretches of paddy br dotted by men, women br from the virgin ghats br br a soothing breeze br blowing across the hills br covers them in a huge grey cloud br carefully led here from elsewhere br the hills appear hazy br the trees dance to a merry tune br br all connive to release br a comforting shower br tip tap goes the music br lo, here’s the shower br and a little distance away br no rain, the rain at its br game of hide and seek! br br rain and breeze blown through br the thick foliage of br coffee and creepers of pepper br winding the sky-kissing silver oaks br the smell of rain br the aroma of air-ripples br touch my cheek br br i step on to the road br to be one with the unique br blend of all the earthy perfumes br br hordes of unruly cattle and goats br having had their fill br trail back homeward br their keeper struggling br to discipline them br br men under large palm-leaf-umbrellas br women giggling with the showers br clouds enveloping us br clouds chasing us br i slowly but reluctantly descend br still smelling of the blended scents br still smelling of raindrops… br br 21jul2010 br 13.