A nice climate can be rejuvenating….

I have stayed in quite a few cities in India, starting from coastal Mumbai, plains of Delhi, gangetic Kolkata (my hometown) and now of course in Bangalore, which is more of a plateau. The one thing which I have always opined about is that the climatic conditions in all these cities have affected my moods.

I hate saying this, but the bitter truth is that I have experienced the worst climate in Kolkata. Barring December-January when the winter bites heavily, the humidity here always touches an average of 85-90% which is energy-sapping. Add to that the scorching summer temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius from March to May, and the sultry climate from June-October with occasional showers during the monsoons. The worst part is that even after a spell of rain, the coolness in the air is not guaranteed. On the contrary, the sweating increases sometimes. With its weather, Kolkata can really bog you down in terms of efficiency and speed of work. You do not feel like going to a local shop to buy some groceries, or to recharge your SIM from a shop next door, because you know that by the time you come back after 15 minutes, you would be drenched in sweat. In Kolkata, I have also seen my mother taking an eternity to cook two dishes for lunch, which I take about 45 minutes here in Bangalore. Tiredness becomes an obvious concomitant to the mundane lifestyle in the “City of Joy.”

Bangalore, in this aspect is a huge relief. The maximum temperature that is reached throughout the year is 35 degrees Celsius, but the most comforting thing is that the humidity never crosses 50%. Once you get past May, even the temperatures hobble around the 28 degree mark, with a minimum of 19-20 degrees. It is really cool, literally. When mom comes here, I see a total contrast in her movements. From lethargy, she segues beautifully to promptness and even indulges in evening strolls sharp at 4 pm everyday, which she could never have contemplated in Kolkata. She admits it herself that the climate renews the rejuvenation in her.

These days, I observe the same weariness and fatigue in Kuhu’s voice. Staying here in the coolness of Bangalore I fail to interpret the torment she goes through in that humid, sweaty climate in Kolkata. Sometimes, I foolishly think that she is always carping unnecessarily and I even rebuke her. However the fact is that in that climate, it is very difficult to keep one’s mood in proper shape. I have my empathy for all of the millions staying there, including my loved ones. I wish I had a big enough apartment in Bangalore so that I could have brought everyone here and provided them some relief.