Monsoon season begins on a Thursday evening as we gather on the rooftop after work. The storm appears as a grey wall east of our building,  but within 15 minutes the clouds have stretched out and over us, a low covering reaching the sun that sets in the west. 

Massive gusts of wind sweep through, kicking up the dust of India and buildings on the skyline, once visible in detail, are now nothing more than blurry silhouettes. Socks and shirts fly off the clothes line and fall slowly into neighboring lot. Black clouds soar overhead like invading zeppelins.

The air around us changes and then it begins to rain. A trickle and first but within two minutes the sky is furiously pouring itself out onto the earth. A wall of water surrounds us. I've never seen anything like this before.

The sun takes cover in a different hemisphere but the rain continues falling with persistent intensity.

Lightning begins flashing every five seconds, illuminating the wall of clouds. When a big bolt hits it refracts throughout the entire cloud cover, lighting the night sky up so brightly it stings your eyes.

By the time this night's storm is over 50 trees will have been uprooted throughout Bangalore.

I wonder how this city has any trees left.