By: Someone Who Got Soaked

I don’t know about you, but yesterday’s rain really hit us like a surprise slap from nature. It started slow — those few drops where you think, “Bas halki si baarish hai, chali jayegi.” But no, bhai. Within an hour, it was like someone upstairs opened all the taps at once.

I live in Rawalpindi, and by 3pm, the street outside my house wasn’t a street anymore. It was a full-on river. My neighbour’s bike was literally floating sideways. I had to fold my shalwar and tip-toe my way to the store like I’m in some desi survival game.

Karachi? Same Story. Maybe Worse.

Karachi walay toh shayad ab used to ho gaye hain, but it still sucks every time. Videos were all over social media — cars stuck, roads blocked, people pushing rickshaws in knee-deep water. One guy even made a paper boat and sent it down the drain with a caption: “Pani ka tohfa from K-Electric.” Karachi humor never disappoints.

And of course, power breakdowns came free with the rain. No light for 6 hours in many areas. UPSs died, and mobile signals went on mini-vacations.

Schools, Offices, and Cancellations

Many schools in Lahore and Islamabad gave sudden rain holidays today. Some people were happy (especially the kids), but parents were just confused. "Yeh bhi koi tareeqa hai bataanay ka?" one mom shouted on a local Facebook group.

Offices? Well, those who work from home got lucky. The rest were stuck in traffic or came back home looking like they swam to work.

Why Does This Keep Happening?

Look, I’m no weather expert. But honestly, how many years do we have to live through the same flood scenes before we figure this drainage issue out?

Every year we act surprised, every year we post pictures, and every year we forget till next monsoon. Local authorities throw some statements like “unexpected rainfall” or “emergency measures taken.” But on ground? We’re still the ones pushing bikes and praying our basements don’t fill up.

Final Thoughts — Rain Can Be Beautiful, But…

Let’s be real: rain can be beautiful. That chai-pakora vibe, the smell of wet mitti, and the way trees finally look clean — all that is real. But only when the system works.

Otherwise, it's just chaos wearing a romantic mask.

For now, let’s stay safe, help each other out where we can, and maybe — just maybe — push for better planning next year. Because we’re tired, soaked, and honestly, we deserve better than this.