As time moves towards dusk these days , the sky looks benevolent and forgiving , almost melancholic. the fury of an abusive summer ha subsided and all things around, things alive and inanimate,are in ectasy. The trees don't rustle with unease anymore and the earth, forever heaving under the weightr of its destiny,only lets out a gentle sigh- if not lighter,its burden is cooler.The air too, apologietic at its ownsingeling breath, touches those who thrive in it with abondon, as if to say,this also is me. Why even the two mangy stray dogs that used to take cover under my car whenever it remainded parked in my drive way have abondened their shelter and prance about with glee,forgetting the torture of months gone by- one of the first signs that summer is slowly retreating back into its cocoon from where it will invade with renewed energy next year: But till then the dogs will be happy, and so will the people who shoo them away irritably.In Inia, at least in large swathes of it, except perhaps Kashmir and the north-east, winter brings in cheer that all looks forward to and cherish. If you regularly take-or for that matter even once have taken-the virar-Churchgate fast in mumbai, the tram in Kolkata, the steaming autos in Chennai and the rough DTC bus in Delhi, you will know howmercifully the littlebit of weather respite is recevied by one and all.It doesnot diminish the throbbing crowds but it lessens their suffering. And that to multitudes of sun -persecuted Indians is the most that can be asked for: Winter also coincides with the festive season in India; so it's one long jpolly party full of good cheer and of course,Chandigarh, with the mercury dipping to 15 degrees celsius in the night quite often, and the people expectedly are excited Many have pulled out their caps and mufflers- not actually needed, but understsndable-and are already making bonefire plans.My father; like my neighbours five year old daughter; is happy too. While she's badgering her parents for leathr boots and jacket, it's enough for dad that winter reminds him of his house in the mountains of Kurseong.