Thunder and rain

It rained a lot on Thursday night. In a city, which does not get much rainfall and is not used to wild cyclone attacks (Alhamdollilllah!) this was a big thing. The meteorological department had forecasted rain for two days but not one had expected it to rain so much. On Thursday, it rained so much that all previous rain records were broken. I am quoting the local news channels when I say that…even though they always come up with such exaggerated statements! Every year we hear such out-of-the-world statements. Sometimes a 39-year record has been broken here or there, or some 40-year-old record has been replaced by another record. You can expect our news agencies to spice things up!

Anyhow… it just did not rain on Thursday night! There was a lot of lightening activity too. There were huge rumbles and grumbles. The sky was being lit up with blinding purplish light almost every thirty seconds. This may be normal for many people around the world but us for Karachites it is like watching Martians land next door with their flashy, disc-shaped flying saucers parked in the neighbor’s garden. So… it is a must to glue yourself to the window and search for jagged lightening bolts.

But, since I was too lazy to get up and do that I just keep glancing towards my sister who was sleeping right under the window. Her face would light up with purple light every time there was rumble outside. Surprisingly, however, she slept through all of it and did not stir even once.

But, even in the excitement surrounding the lightening activity it was scary to hear the rumble and grumble. It reminded me of this ayaat/verse of the Holy Quran…

“And Ar- Ra’d (thunder) glorifies and praises Him, and so do the angels because of his Awe, He sends the Thunderbolts, and therewith He strikes whom He wills, yet they (disbelievers) dispute about Allah. And He is Mighty in strength ands severe in punishment.” (Chapter thirteen, verse 13)