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Krishan Gopal Sharma 
In a world where every cloud has a silver lining — and a social media following — “Clouds with Attitude” is a satirical romp through the latest trend in atmospheric interpretation. From competitive cumulus-spotting to the rise of cloudfluencers, this piece forecasts a future where the sky isn’t the limit — it’s the content.
“Science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” — Isaac Asimov
“We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” — Alan Turing
The Sky Was Minding Its Business…
The clouds were having a peaceful day. Drifting over hills, trading vapour recipes, gossiping about monsoon mischief. Then came the humans. Again.
“Silver iodide?” one cloud scoffed. “That’s so 20th century.” “They’re trying to make us cry,” said another, puffing up dramatically. “They think we’re emotional vending machines,” muttered a third.
Aircraft buzzed in like interns at a poetry slam, scattering chemicals with the enthusiasm of someone who’s just discovered a spray bottle. Down below, officials beamed. “We’re inducing rain,” they declared. “Artificial, but effective.” The clouds rolled their metaphorical eyes. “Inducing? That’s what they call it now?”
Cloud Seeding: The One-Way Gamble
Cloud seeding is like tickling a tiger and expecting it to purr. You release the agents, cross your fingers, and pretend the outcome was intentional.
• The science? Real.
• The control? Not so much.
You can’t steer the rain. You can’t say, “Just a light drizzle over Sector 12, please.” Once the clouds decide to respond, they do so on their own terms—sprinkle, flood, or thunderous sarcasm.
Barfipur: A Case Study in Cloudy Judgment
In the fictional town of Barfipur, the local council approved cloud seeding to clean the air. Timing? Just days after the Southwest monsoon had battered nearby hills.
“Let’s summon the rain,” they said. “Let’s ignore the saturated soil, swollen rivers, and fragile slopes,” they didn’t say.
The clouds, still recovering from their monsoon marathon, were nudged with chemicals. They responded with a torrential downpour so dramatic it washed away three bridges, a cricket pitch, and the mayor’s optimism.
When asked about the outcome, the lead scientist shrugged:
“Well, technically, it rained.”
Operation: Atmospheric Sass
Back in the sky, the clouds held a summit.
• “We need boundaries,” said elder Nimbus.
• “They treat us like vending machines,” added Cumulus.
• “Next time they try this,” said Stratus, “I’m snowing in July.”
The clouds agreed: no more passive participation. They would rebel—not with violence, but with unpredictability.
• Rain on parades.
• Hover ominously and do nothing.
• Pour over the wrong city just to prove a point.
They called it Operation: Atmospheric Sass.
Tools Without Wisdom Are Just Fancy Hammers
Cloud seeding isn’t evil. It’s a tool. But tools need wisdom, restraint, and timing. Without those, they become weapons of unintended consequence.
Nature isn’t a lab rat. It’s a living system—with moods, memory, and mystery. The clouds aren’t against collaboration. They just want respect.
Cloud Seeding Gone Rogue: A Sci-Fi Storm Forecast
Imagine this: Scientists, drunk on ambition, inject the sky with silver iodide. They expect a drizzle. Instead, the heavens roar.
• Lightning bolts like angry punctuation marks.
• Thunder that sounds like the sky is laughing at us.
• GPS? Gone. Wi-Fi? A myth.
• Airplanes? Playing blindfolded tag with clouds.
The digital world collapses like a house of cards in a hurricane. Trains halt mid-track. Ships spin like confused ducks. Cars blink like toddlers in a blackout.
And somewhere, a lone researcher whispers,
“Oops.”
It’s the modern Prometheus tale—except instead of fire, we tried to summon rain and got a tantrum. Nature doesn’t do polite. It does poetry. And sometimes, it does satire.
Final Forecast: Unpredictable with a Chance of Humility
The skies remain watchful. The clouds drift, whisper, and wait. They are not ours to control. They are ours to understand.
Next time we fly up with silver iodide and ambition, let’s remember: The clouds may cry. They may laugh. Or they may simply float away, unimpressed.
(Disclaimer: This piece is a work of satire. Any resemblance to real people, professions, or weather apps is purely coincidental — or the result of staring at clouds too long. “Clouds with Attitude” is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be used to make life decisions, predict the weather, or determine your emotional destiny based on cirrus formations.)
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(K G sharma Freelance journalist Retired from Indian Information Services. Former senior editor with DD News, AIR News, and PIB. Consultant with UNICEF Nigeria. Contributor to national and international media.-View are personal.)
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