The Moonlit Summer Nights

The sight of the beautiful, radiant moon in a clear night sky had a mesmerizing hold. It also evoked memories of a distant past—a past filled with joyful memories…memories that sometimes need a sensory impulse—sight, sound, smell…a key to unlock them….

Many such warm summer nights in my childhood were filled with similar views of the magnificent night sky, most of them from the terrace…

The rising mercury coincided with the end of the school year, and the beginning of the summer holidays. For me, it meant the release of a pressure cooker valve! The “never could come soon enough ”summer break!

Most independent homes had space to use, on all or some portion of the roof. We had the entire area above the main portion of the house available.

The designated sleeping area was just beyond the top of the stairs, and close to the doorway leading to the terrace. 

After the customary sweeping and  spraying of water to get rid of the dust accumulated over the seasons, it was time to set up the mattresses that were light enough to carry easily.

They would be set up in a row, with light colored or white sheets, blankets and pillows. The list of items needed for a successful summertime sleepover on the terrace was almost always the same, every year. A table fan for the at times stifling heat, odomos( mosquito cream!), a circular incense whose smoke repelled  mosquitoes when lit, water, table lamp and magazines( mostly for my dad). 

Most homes did not have air conditioning and relied on fans and air coolers. So it seemed more appropriate to use nature’s cooling mechanism in the open! But sleeping in the open also meant exposure to mosquitoes! The barrier offered by the mosquito repellent cream(odomos) and the smoke from the coiled incense, provided protections. 

The battles between the gaps left in the odomos barrier on the skin, and the at times relentless mosquitoes, made the difference between a good night’s sleep or a slapping/scratching/tossing ritual! 

Some nights,the air would be very still, as the almost motionless leaves would indicate. The hold of the heat would occasionally give way to some gentle wind gusts, breaking  the stalemate!

There was some idle time in the early part of the night, filled with light hearted banter.  We would sometimes race and jump into the mattresses, the sheets now much cooler to the touch. My father’s mattress was always closest to the wall switch with the table lamp and the portable fan plugged into the outlet. The rest of us took up spaces on the rest of the mattresses. My father always had a good natured interest in all things associated with sleeping on the roof, ensuring all the “essentials” were always brought up to the terrace.

Morning brought the bright, already blazing summer sun, and a changed environment with its own sights and sounds. The crumpled sheets, remains of the circular ash from the mosquito coil, chirping birds. The usual hustle and bustle of the light road traffic(in those days!) and people going about their usual morning activities, added the rest. While the luckier ones like me, rolled about on the mattress, until the bright sun or my mom( not necessarily in that order) interrupted the extended siesta!

The moon was always different, its shape and glow varying, based on the lunar phase, and a clear vs cloudy night sky. 

It seemed like the moon had its own night time ritual, drawing the clouds over itself like a blanket. Almost disappearing under the dark cover of clouds, light fading out, before a sudden opening in the clouds allowed the bright light to pierce through it.

The clear night sky, especially on moonless nights revealed the blinking distant stars spread across the limitless expanse. My mind, like the clouds,would wander and I would imagine a boy on a distant planet, on his terrace, looking up at his night sky. Wondering what he thought of the starry night sky and moon or moons in his world?

The lack of tall buildings and cover from the surrounding mango and coconut trees provided  optimal privacy. 

Beyond the trees, and the backyard, the dome shaped rooftop of my grandmother’s house, rose up in the sky. Silhouetting against the moonlight gave it an ethereal effect. 

There were occasions, when these dreamy nights would be suddenly interrupted!

A drop of water on the exposed forehead, would  initially just tickle the senses and pulling the blanket to cover the area seemed to work…for a moment! After that a steady barrage of drops would rudely shatter the belief that it was just a dream! A flurry of activity would then follow-piling the mattresses, sheets, pillows and blankets into uneven bundles, and pushing them down the safety of the dry stairwell. Collecting the rest of the items fans etc we would rush into the safety of our house.

As I returned to the bedroom to finish the rest of the sleep cycle, it seemed like the moon and I both were forced to make a change in plans!

But the next evening, once again the set up of mattresses, sheets, pillows, fan, table lamp and mosquito repellents would be back.

As time passed, whether it was the construction of large overlooking apartment buildings around the house, absence of long summer  breaks, common use of air conditioning, sleeping on the terrace became a thing of the past……

I rued the “loss” for sometime. An important summertime routine seemed to have just ceased to exist.

As I now pondered over the significance of these memories, I wondered if this was more than just a relaxing, summertime routine….

The moon isn’t always full and shining in all its glory, even if thats what gets it the most attention from us,earth dwellers. As it follows its celestial path, it also has to battle  many obstacles. Despite the power of its light, it often seems powerless against the clouds, that “allow” its light through, based on their density. The brightness of the sun blocks it out completely, as it waits patiently for sunlight to wane, for it time. Its shape too is at the mercy of the sun and the earth’s rotation, even on a clear night sky. But, its indomitable spirit perseveres …. to achieve that full radiance, even if it lasts for a brief moment of time in the night sky. 

Life is filled with many challenges….rapid changes around us, many beyond our control, sometimes manifesting as insurmountable barriers in our path. Challenges in relationships, and work place or career problems, loss of loved ones……and many others…

But the light we can provide to others, as we face our own challenges, even for a brief moment, is like that light from the moon, fighting through its myriad obstacles.

So on this night, the sight of the beautiful moon shouldn’t be about just bringing back old dear memories. It should also be about taking those experiences to find the light within, and reflect it on others!

My attempt to recreate a childhood memory using words and pictures may never equate the experience, but I hope you find it worthwhile….