The sky grew overcast as it would in all cities and towns before it rains. A couple of people looked up nervously and hurried past. In Chennai, rains are not greeted with cheer. For a hot, dry and humid city, its inhabitants do not especially love cool or damp climates.
For a few seconds the sky seemed hesitant. It sprayed water in tiny droplets. Then it really poured. The long chain of vehicles all went off the road in a flash. People ran into nearby teashops, bus stops, anything to cover their heads.

Water fell on the roofs, collected there and then overflowed onto the road where it formed a puddle. Then one puddle overflowed into another. It fell on the buildings and on the black tar road. It formed sheets on which more water fell. It fell on the trees – the one or two that were still left standing. It fell off the leaves and joined the puddle below. Soon there was water everywhere.
The people who were still driving either looked worried with the water splashing on their faces. Or they chose to look brave, and with a faint smile of superiority looked down upon the waiting crowd. Then they too drove past in hurry, their bikes splashing and spraying water all across the road.
A slightly fat girl in a dark red and now wet chudithar stopped her scooter on the roadside and hurried into a bus stop. Another couple was standing there doing their best to protect their newborn. The wind blew from different sides and sprayed water into the shelter. The mom covered the baby with her pallu. Close to them, an employee was calling up his boss, a husband his wife.
A city had been caught unawares. Tomorrow it would be more careful. Some would pack their raincoats. Others would buy an umbrella.
The traffic had clogged up. Particularly over bridges, it had come close to a halt. Water was stagnating already on the roadsides. People began walking on the middle of the road without fear. They crossed the road without even looking up.
A man bit his lower lip and looked at the sky with worry. He made a sigh of impatience and looked at his watch twice in quick succession. Then he stepped out of the bus stop and tested the waters. He made a decision and then drove past. The crowd grew restless by the minute. And then the rain stopped. It had been an hour.

(I wrote this after getting wet in the rain yesterday while on my way to office. It rained from about 4.45 to 6pm, i think)