L'eau

If rain on dry earth doth be the rave fave smell of any Madrasi (or I should really say Chennaiwasi), I am a typical one then.

A Chennaite will surely know the value of water, its true worth.

And this from a dyed-in-the-wool Chennaite. Another to add to the list. For all such like me, the fave sound in the whole wide world will be the sound of running water. Have you ever closed your eyes and lain down on a green river bank. Have you ever listened to the water gurgling and the bird chirping quiets in the tall swaying branches of trees nearby.

And of course, to spoil that beautiful picture, have you ever gotten up double-quick when you hear a dog in the distance, because you don't want it walking (or doing anything else, for that matter) all over you.

I have!

But even today, I do not leave the tap running, feel guilty if I throw out any water and water my plants quite sparingly. And many other things, besides. Old habits dies hard. Besides, I quite can't forget how bad any sort of wastage is _ my granmother and mother have drilled that into my head quite firmly.

And this makes so much sense to me now in a universal perspective. Misuse of resources. Poverty in a world of plenty. When people are dying due to lack of food and water, who am I to waste either of them?