The other morning was quiet and although humid, it was not very hot.
According to the local weather forecast, a 40 percent chance of rain was predicted toward noon so I assumed I could walk to my early morning appointment.
Almost halfway to my appointment the clouds darkened, thunder rumbled in the distance and heavy rains suddenly started to pour down.
Within minutes I was soaked to the bone and dripping so much I could not even manage to get my phone to cancel the meeting.
Standing under a tree gave no relief whatsoever and I decided to turn around and get back home.
Unfazed by the storm the driver calmly navigated around and through the puddles and streams.
Easier said than done because the partial dirt roads I had crossed only 15 minutes ago had already flooded in many places.
My route had filled up with streams of dirty water and deep puddles — hardly passable for a pedestrian.
The cooking ladies I had passed earlier had shifted slightly further under their corrugated iron cover and continued business undeterred.
They laughed at me, as I was obviously looking as a drowned cat.
Of course they expressed their ‘pole‘ for my bad luck and suggested I better not work today but go home and rest.
Standing under a shelter outside a small shop I managed to text my apologies and then wondered what to do.
Getting home on foot had become almost impossible unless I waded through unknown gullies full of stones, slippy mud and dirty water.
Then out of nowhere this bajaj — unfazed by the storm — appeared and asked me the usual, ‘bajaj madam?’
I could not have been more grateful and I happily climbed in and headed home, safe and soaked.
