Rain is not just a weather phenomenon in Karachi. It's a cause of much rejoicing for some (I am reminded of the famous last words of one very stupid frequenter of the DC++ channel "I would rather have rain than electricity!", followed by a 36 hour blackout almost citywide due to the rain) and a cause of ire for others. In Karachi, it is the former for a large number of people who enjoy taking their shirts of and dancing in the flowing heavens. The rest of us sit at home and rant about the lack of a proper drainage system and how long it'll take for the electricity to go this time. I am of the former group.

The last time it rained, the newly constructed underpass was almost completely inundated and thanks to KESC's constant power failures, my hard drive zonked out, taking all my music and photos to digital heaven. God knows what the rain will bring about this time, but I'm prepared. I have a UPS handy and several books to read lined up, as well as a good store of goodies to eat of the two minute cooking variety.

When rain happens to decide to flow down on a normal day, it's bad enough, but add the fact that it's the 13th of august and the loudly maniacal celebrations for the nation's independence day are almost underway. It takes one of more patience than I to wander out this night, so I think I'll just stay in and let our poor, recreation starved yet amazingly reckless awaam have their fun.

Happy independence day, my soaked fellow Pakistanis!