Waiting for the Rain
Waiting for the rain
I hope it rains at least today, velu thought, as he opened his eyes. Velu was a farmer.
The sun was beginning to rise , glowing crimson like fire .Velu looked at the sky. There was not a cloud.
It doesn't look like there is going to be rain, he muttered to himself and got up.
Rain or no rain, a farmer wakes up early. Velu worked hard on his piece of land. Season after season he cultivated it, harvesting jowar one season and dal the nest.
Throughout the year he worked, never thinking of rest or taking a holiday. It had been the same for six year ever since he had got his own piece of land.
But this year was different.
At the end of summer, the rains did not come.
Velu and his neighbors waited, but their waiting did not end. Days, weeks and months passed and, and still there was no rain. The fields were brown, the soil hatdeadned, crusted and cracked. Every day, the farmers hoped that the rains would come.
Someone said, We ought to sacrifice an animal. A goat. That will please the heaves and the heavens will send down rain.
He decided to go to the weather office in the city and talk to someone. But the people at the weather office could not really tell him when the rains would come. We are not sure ourselves!" they exclaimed. It's strange that the rain is still not here.
Velu walked back to the village, thirsty and unhappy. He decided to rest for a while.
He saw a large tree. It's shade was cool and inviting. As he sat down, he noticed that an old woman was also sitting there, sheltering from the sun. She was old, but her eyes were bright when she smiled. She looked at Velu and her smile grew wider.
What are you smiling at, Amma? Velu asked.
Without the rains, there's nothing to smile about. Yes, yes, you're right, the old woman said. She stopped smiling.
I wonder why this is happening, Velu began
I have worked hard and honestly. Yet I am being punished. Without the rains no crop grow. What will happen to me? How Shall I feed my family? he asked sadly. He was not speaking to anyone in particular,but the old woman thought that he was speaking to her.
Perhaps you have worked too hard, she said
What do you mean? I have only done what any
hard-drive working farmer would do. I shall work and never rest until I am too old. This is the first season in five, no, Six years that I have not sown, nor ploughed. Oh, it is hard not to be able to work...., said Velu a little angrily.
But my son, that is what I am talking about. You have strength now. You can work without a break. But have you thought about the land? The earth works, too,
when you plough, and show, and plant. The of years has worked for years, in fact, thousands of years. The soil, the land, the earth... shouldn't someone let the land rest a bit?'' the old woman said, softly smiling.
Rest let the land rest I don't understand, Velu looked at her, a little puzzled.
Yes my son, that is the problem. You don't realise that earth is old... But nature is a mother to all of us. To you and to me. And to the trees, the water and the soil.
She takes care to give her children the rest they need....," the old lady said. Velu began to understand.
When the rains don't come, you are unhappy. But that way the land is left alone. The land lies resting, staring at the sky...And when the rains come, it will be fresh and ready for your crop. Go home, my son, Nature knows a thing or two...go home, " she said, and up.
She walked away. After a while Velu, too, got up and walked home. He thought about the land,
his beloved piece of land. If the old woman was right, his land was perhaps resting peacefully, a break after years of cultivated
Perhaps she is right, " he thought, as. approached the village. It was already evening. The sun was low in the sky. And... What was that? Velu felt tiny drops on his shoulder. He looked up. Yes... the clouds were gathering in the distance. It was growing dark. Soon there would be lightning. And thunder. And sweet, fragrant rain.
Velu ran home, laughing and happy
I hope it rains at least today, velu thought, as he opened his eyes. Velu was a farmer.
The sun was beginning to rise , glowing crimson like fire .Velu looked at the sky. There was not a cloud.
It doesn't look like there is going to be rain, he muttered to himself and got up.
Rain or no rain, a farmer wakes up early. Velu worked hard on his piece of land. Season after season he cultivated it, harvesting jowar one season and dal the nest.
Throughout the year he worked, never thinking of rest or taking a holiday. It had been the same for six year ever since he had got his own piece of land.
But this year was different.
At the end of summer, the rains did not come.
Velu and his neighbors waited, but their waiting did not end. Days, weeks and months passed and, and still there was no rain. The fields were brown, the soil hatdeadned, crusted and cracked. Every day, the farmers hoped that the rains would come.
Someone said, We ought to sacrifice an animal. A goat. That will please the heaves and the heavens will send down rain.
He decided to go to the weather office in the city and talk to someone. But the people at the weather office could not really tell him when the rains would come. We are not sure ourselves!" they exclaimed. It's strange that the rain is still not here.
Velu walked back to the village, thirsty and unhappy. He decided to rest for a while.
He saw a large tree. It's shade was cool and inviting. As he sat down, he noticed that an old woman was also sitting there, sheltering from the sun. She was old, but her eyes were bright when she smiled. She looked at Velu and her smile grew wider.
What are you smiling at, Amma? Velu asked.
Without the rains, there's nothing to smile about. Yes, yes, you're right, the old woman said. She stopped smiling.
I wonder why this is happening, Velu began
I have worked hard and honestly. Yet I am being punished. Without the rains no crop grow. What will happen to me? How Shall I feed my family? he asked sadly. He was not speaking to anyone in particular,but the old woman thought that he was speaking to her.
Perhaps you have worked too hard, she said
hard-drive working farmer would do. I shall work and never rest until I am too old. This is the first season in five, no, Six years that I have not sown, nor ploughed. Oh, it is hard not to be able to work...., said Velu a little angrily.
But my son, that is what I am talking about. You have strength now. You can work without a break. But have you thought about the land? The earth works, too,
when you plough, and show, and plant. The of years has worked for years, in fact, thousands of years. The soil, the land, the earth... shouldn't someone let the land rest a bit?'' the old woman said, softly smiling.
Rest let the land rest I don't understand, Velu looked at her, a little puzzled.
Yes my son, that is the problem. You don't realise that earth is old... But nature is a mother to all of us. To you and to me. And to the trees, the water and the soil.
She takes care to give her children the rest they need....," the old lady said. Velu began to understand.
When the rains don't come, you are unhappy. But that way the land is left alone. The land lies resting, staring at the sky...And when the rains come, it will be fresh and ready for your crop. Go home, my son, Nature knows a thing or two...go home, " she said, and up.
She walked away. After a while Velu, too, got up and walked home. He thought about the land,
his beloved piece of land. If the old woman was right, his land was perhaps resting peacefully, a break after years of cultivated
Perhaps she is right, " he thought, as. approached the village. It was already evening. The sun was low in the sky. And... What was that? Velu felt tiny drops on his shoulder. He looked up. Yes... the clouds were gathering in the distance. It was growing dark. Soon there would be lightning. And thunder. And sweet, fragrant rain.
Velu ran home, laughing and happy
