A Short Monsoon Diary

Chapter Summary

The story “A Short Monsoon Diary” is an extracted version from the dairy of Ruskin Bond. This chapter elaborates on how the author experiences his monsoon days in Mussoorie. The rainy days on the hills make the author more amazed. The character Bijju is expressing the monsoon experience and one can see birds, leopards, and leeches in Mussoorie. The dairy of Ruskin Bond shares day-wise experience and the flora and fauna during the monsoon in Mussoorie. The storyline also shares the experience of witnessing different animals and birds. It also adds how the mist changes the experience of living in the mountains. Available seasonal flowers, sunshine on the hills, and different animals, and birds make the author describes Mussoorie as a Paradise.

Author Ruskin Bond in Mussoorie

Why is the author not able to see Bijju?

Due to the mist that covered the hills, the author could not see Bijju in the hills. Although, it made him hear Bijju’s voice to hear while running; however, he was not able to see Bijju.

Two ways in which the hills appear

The moment when the mist came, it covers the entire hills of Mussoorie. The covered hills changed the visibility and the ability to hear sounds. The appearance of mist changed the visibility and the sounds of birds chirping.

According to the dairy of Ruskin Bond, June 24 is the first day of monsoon appearance in Mussoorie. It made the forest feel deathly and silent the bird’s sound. The monsoon rain started on June 25. It continued until the last day of August.

Mussoorie Rains

In Mussoorie, the rain continued for eight or nine days during the rainy season with a permanent mist in the weather. During this time, one could not see the Sun and everything is soggy and dumped. The author described this period as endless rain. Additionally, the author mentioned that during rainy days, he preferred to stay in his room and look outside through the window at the bobbing umbrellas.

The monsoon ends on March 23, and Mussoorie became like lush green at this time. The flowers in the late monsoon flower started to appear. The change in the colour of cobra lily into the red signifies that the rains would end soon. It's possible to witness the ground orchids, wild balsam, and others at the end of the monsoon.

Snakes and rodents during the rain

Snakes and rodents came out of their holes as flooded. They want to avoid getting wet and took shelter in the roofs, attics, etc. It was an amusement situation for children in the house during the monsoon.

Look carefully at the diary entries for June 24-25, August 2 and March 23. Write down the changes that happen as the rains progress from June to March

According to the entries found on the Ruskin Bond’s dairy, June 24 was described as the first monsoon day in Mussoorie. From this day, the hill went covered by the mist and everything became invisible. The mist also blocked the sounds coming from the trees and the birds. It felt like silence in the hills. Hence, the real monsoon started on June 25 with rain . For the author, it felt like the birds, animals, humans, and trees welcome the monsoon in Mussoorie.

By August 2, people got used to the monsoon rain. There were no thunder and storm during the rain. The rainfall made the noise while falling on the roof; it became a tropical downpour. Due to the rain, snakes and rodents came out of their holes as flooded. The author felt being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain. Rain helped in lie awake all day.

March 23 is explained as the end of the winter, the black clouds occupied slowly moved with the hailstorm. The formation of the rainbow made its appearance in the clear sky.

What did the author receive in the mail?

It was the author’s grandmother who believed that the Chuchundars are lucky and they bring money. Coincidentally, the author received a cheque in the mail.

Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of being untouched by and yet in touch with, the rain.

Why has the writer used the word, springing?

The phrase springing referred to moving suddenly at once. Additionally, the author used springing to demonstrate how the tin roofs are prone to the development of sudden spontaneous leaking of rainwater.

How is the writer untouched by the rain?

The author felt peace staying in the room and he felt safe remaining in the room and looking outside by the window. Due to this reason, the rain remained untouched by him in Mussoorie.

How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?

The author touched the rain at the same time, as the rainfall came to his room from the tin roof. Moreover, he felt that the rain had been drumming on the tin roof of his house.

Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together.

When it rains constantly for days concurrently in Mussoorie, everything near became damp and soggy due to the available mist in the monsoon in the hills. It became hard for anyone to go outside and enjoy nature in the rain. Additionally, due to the available mist that covered the hills of Mussoorie, everything become hard to see and the forest became silent. The sounds of birds were not hearable . The monsoon started to appear on June 24 and the rain started to make fall on June 25.

The hills of Mussoorie became lush green as late-monsoon flowers begin to appear one can also witness the wild balsam, dahlias, begonias, and ground orchids. Snakes and rodents flooded outside from their living holes and they took shelter in roofs, attics, etc.

What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?

When the monsoon started in Mussoorie, the first cobra lily appeared from the ferns. However, at the end of the monsoon, the seeds of the cobra lily slowly start turning red, which signified the monsoon is coming to an end.

FAQs

Q1. Based on which story A Short Monsoon Diary was created?

Ans. Based on Ruskin Bond’s diary about his spending days in the Mussoorie, the storyline A Short Monsoon Diary was created.

Q2. What was the significance of the Ruskin Bond’s dairy?

Ans. The Ruskin Bond’s dairy is a mesmerising and beautiful description of the days he spent in the Mussoorie. The spent time was foremost in the monsoon season. He kept the storyline in the daily-wise format in his diary.

Q3. How did the author describe the hill areas during the monsoon?

Ans. The author described the hill areas in the Mussoorie during the monsoon as covered with mist. Due to the covered hills, it became hard to see and hear the hills of Mussoorie.