Chutti Wali Baarish: That rainy day when school was cancelled – pure joy!
There’s something unique about the smell of wet mud, the sound of rainfall on a tin roof, and the sheer joy of hearing the words: "School is cancelled today!" For many of us growing up in India, the monsoon season didn’t just bring rain—it brought instant magic, muddy shoes, dripping schoolbags, and on the rarest of occasions, an unexpected holiday that felt better than long summer vacation itself.
When the first thunderclap echoed through the morning sky and dark clouds hung low, there was a sliver of hope in every student’s heart. Would today be that day? The one when the school sends a last-minute announcement—or doesn't send a bus at all?
That anticipation was a thrill on its own, isn't it?
The day would usually begin with chaos—mothers running around to pack tiffins and iron uniforms, while the radio or landline phone buzzed with heavy rainfall warnings. Sometimes, a neighbour would shout from the balcony, "Aaj school bandh hai!" And just like that, a cheer would erupt through the home. Pajamas stayed on, uniforms went back in the closet, and the rest of the day transformed into an impromptu celebration in house.
Do you also belong to that pre-digital era? Then, you might have experienced a rainy day off meant an entire world of analog fun:
Paper boat races in the drain water
Climbing terraces or playing cricket/football in the drizzle
Sprawling on the sofa watching Doordarshan or Cartoon Network reruns
Siblings turning into co-chefs for Maggi noodles or pakoras
Board games that went on for hours until the lights flickered
With no Zoom classes, no WhatsApp groups for assignments, and absolutely no guilt, the holiday used to feel surreal. The rain set the mood, and we soaked in every bit of it—sometimes literally!
Why does a cancelled school day during rains still warm our hearts even as adults? Maybe it's because it represents one of the few times we were given permission to take a break. No exams, no homework, just the monsoon whispering, “Let’s pause for a while.”
These rainy day holidays carved little moments of bonding too—parents letting you sleep longer, sharing old monsoon memories, or teaching you card games like Rummy or Bluff. It wasn't about the rain; it was about what came with it—carefree laughter, shared snacks, and cozy time under a flickering tube light.
Today, when we sit in offices or juggle between meetings while thunder rumbles outside, we can’t help but smile at those childhood days. We might reach for a cup of chai, glance at our soaked balcony, and wonder: “What if the office declared a rain holiday now?”
The idea might seem laughable in the hustle of adulthood, but it’s also a reminder—joy shouldn't always need planning. Sometimes, it comes unannounced, just like those holidays amidst heavy rainfall.
As adults, we never get any school (office) cancellations, but we do get choices. The next time it pours outside and your task gets rescheduled—embrace the unexpected breather. Make masala chai. Call your childhood friend. Revisit those paper boat days.
Because rain still whispers the same thing it did back then: slow down, play a little.
Beyond a weather, the monsoon in India is an emotion. And nestled within its grey skies and thundering clouds are gleaming memories of cancelled classes and carefree days!
