Chapter 8 of the CBSE Class 8 English Textbook – Honeydew includes a prose titled “A Short Monsoon Diary.” In this chapter, he shares his experience in Mussoorie during the monsoon season, including few extracts from Ruskin Bond’s diary.
Here, we provide a brief summary of the prose- A Short Monsoon Diary.
CBSE Class 8 English A Short Monsoon Diary Summary
“A Short Monsoon Diary” is a collection of excerpts from Ruskin Bond’s diary, reflecting his deep love for nature. In this diary, Bond shares his experiences and observations of the natural surroundings during the monsoon season. He marvels at the beauty of nature and notes the changes that occur in the flora and fauna during this time. The chapter captures his daily experiences amidst the rainy season in Mussoorie, bringing to life the vibrant and dynamic environment of the monsoons.
On June 24th, the first monsoon mist enveloped the hill station. It spread over the hills like a white blanket, silencing the birds. Ruskin Bond sensed that Bijju was calling out to his sister and running around the hillside, but the thick mist obscured his view. The forest, shrouded in mist, felt silent and still, reminiscent of midnight.
On June 25th, genuine monsoon rain arrived, warm and humid yet more pleasant than the winter rain. Flowers bloomed everywhere, and the mist provided a sense of privacy to the residents. When a schoolboy asked Ruskin Bond to describe the hill station, he poetically called it “a paradise that might have been.”
On June 27th, the rain brought some seasonal visitors, including a leopard and thousands of leeches. The leopard was seen preying on various animals and even snatching dogs from the neighborhood. Ruskin Bond mentioned becoming accustomed to the daily presence of leeches, which sucked blood regularly. The area also welcomed new birds, such as the vibrantly colored scarlet minivets, which usually sit quietly among the leaves. Additionally, seasonal flowers began to bloom throughout the neighborhood. A tree creeper swiftly moved up the trunk of an oak tree, snapping up insects along the way.
On the night of August 2nd, heavy rain fell, and the rhythmic drumming on the tin roof delighted Ruskin Bond. Though he was sheltered inside his cottage, he felt deeply connected to the rain outside.
On August 3rd, the rain ceased, and sunlight began to peek over the hills. A woman chopped sticks nearby, accompanied by the tinkling sound of cowbells. Ruskin Bond observed animals and birds emerging to bask in the sunlight. He was pleasantly surprised to hear the song of a whistling thrush echoing from the depths of the valley.
On August 12th, the rain seemed endless, accompanied by a persistent white mist blanketing the valley. For days, there had been no sunshine, leaving everything damp and soggy. As the author gazed out the window, he noticed a few bobbing umbrellas. Despite the lack of cold, the rain had brought a vibrant and lush appearance to the late-monsoon flowers, such as wild balsam, begonias, dahlias, and ground orchids.
By August 31st, the lush monsoon growth had reached its peak, visible everywhere. The seeds of the cobra lily began to turn red, signaling the end of the rainy season. Snakes and rodents sought shelter in roofs, attics, and storerooms as their underground homes were flooded with rainwater. On that same day, the author received a small cheque in the mail.
On October 3rd, the monsoon departed, ushering in the winter rains. Snow blanketed the higher altitudes. Following an evening hailstorm, the sky was illuminated with a beautiful, bright golden light.
On January 26th, the author penned a few poignant lines about the winter rain. He noted that it evoked a sense of loneliness, compounded by the departure of a friend who had been staying with him. Sitting quietly amidst the rhythm of the rain, he observed the absence of flowers, unlike during the monsoon. The trees, no longer green, added to his feeling of solitude.
By March 23rd, winter had ended, and after a gloomy hailstorm, the author saw a rainbow forming in the clear sky.
