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The water that was flowing on the floor was laughing at her for having completely failed in her mission.
Her husband Sivakkozhunthu was lying on the mud floor of their house, unmindful of the rain water flowing near him on the floor and was happily singing a tune.
"My dear! I have been struggling to stop the water dripping from the leaking roof from reaching the floor and you are lying flat on your back and singing with excitement!" said Parvathy, in an annoyed tone.
"Let the water flow! What can we do about it? After the rain stops, I will fix the tiles to prevent any leakage in future" said Sivakkozhunthu, without even moving a little.
"It has not rained for the past two years. You could have fixed the tiles at that time!"
"There were no rains. So, there were no leaks either! What was the purpose in fixing the tiles?"
Reconciled to the fact that she won't be able to prevent the dripping water from reaching the floor, Parvathy came and sat near Sivakkozhunthu. She then opened her cloth bag containing betel leaves and betel nuts.
Reconciled to the fact that she won't be able to prevent the dripping water from reaching the floor, Parvathy came and sat near Sivakkozhunthu. She then opened her cloth bag containing betel leaves and betel nuts.
"Don't chew betel nuts so often. It will make you anemic" chided Sivakkozhunthu, in a concerned tone.
"It is the other way about. Only those who are anemic are tempted to chew betel nuts!" said Parvathy.
"Who told you this?"
"It is the other way about. Only those who are anemic are tempted to chew betel nuts!" said Parvathy.
"Who told you this?"
"I heard it in the TV."
"You watch TV programs that give out unverified bits of information like these!"
"You watch TV programs that give out unverified bits of information like these!"
"What do you want me to watch? If you want, you can watch the program giving tips to farmers. I can watch only what interests me!"
"For the past two years, there have been no rains. The river has dried up. We don't have the means to sink a borewell and do cultivation using a pump to water the fields. What is the use of watching programs giving tips to farmers?"
"So, what will I do sitting at home? I watch programs on health to while away the time. And you find fault with me for watching such programs!" said Parvathy, in an accusing tone.
"So, what will I do sitting at home? I watch programs on health to while away the time. And you find fault with me for watching such programs!" said Parvathy, in an accusing tone.
"Okay, okay. Don't get annoyed. I just made a casual remark. I am very much excited that it is raining after such a long time. Don't worry about leaks in the roof. Once the rain stops, the leaks can be fixed. Just reflect on how much we suffered during the last two years due to the failure of the monsoon" said Sivakkozhunthu in an appeasing tone.
"Don't I know how much suffering we have undergone due to paucity of rains? We could not cultivate our lands. Only a few people in the village took up cultivation by digging borewells and installing pumps. With all the farmers unable to cultivate their own lands opting to work for wages, there was not enough work for all. We were able to get work only for a few days in a year. We faced an unprecedented problem of not having enough food for our family. To protect our children from starvation, we sent them to my parents' house in a far off village...It has been several months since we looked at the faces of our children. They have also been pining for a reunion with us!"
"Don't I know how much suffering we have undergone due to paucity of rains? We could not cultivate our lands. Only a few people in the village took up cultivation by digging borewells and installing pumps. With all the farmers unable to cultivate their own lands opting to work for wages, there was not enough work for all. We were able to get work only for a few days in a year. We faced an unprecedented problem of not having enough food for our family. To protect our children from starvation, we sent them to my parents' house in a far off village...It has been several months since we looked at the faces of our children. They have also been pining for a reunion with us!"
As Parvathy was narrating the harrowing experience they underwent, her eyes began to well up.
"Don't cry, Parvathy!" consoled Sivakkozhunthu. Our ordeal is about to come to an end. The weather forecast is that the rains will continue for two more days. Once the rains stop, big landlords will start cultivation in their lands. If we work for them for wages for about ten days, then using the money we earn, we will be able to start cultivation in our lands."
"That is fine. But, first go to my parents' place and bring back our children. If we start working, then we will have no time to go and bring the children" said Parvathy.
"Yes. I will go there tomorrow and bring them back."
"You want to start when it is still raining!"
"What if it is raining? The rain is bringing good things to us. Nothing will happen to me if I get drenched during my travel. By the time I start my return journey with our children, the rain will have stopped!"
"Oh, rain! For two years, you tormented us by not showing up. Now, you are blessing us by descending on the earth from the heaven with vigour!"
Parvathy folded her palms and worshipped the rain.
Thirukkural
Section 1: The Path of Virtue
Section 1: The Path of Virtue
Chapter 2
The Glory of Rain
The Glory of Rain
Verse 15 (in Tamil)
keduppathUm kettArkkuch chARvAy maRRAngE
eduppathUm ellAm mazhai
keduppathUm kettArkkuch chARvAy maRRAngE
eduppathUm ellAm mazhai
Meaning
Rain can ruin people's lives by not showing up; again it can give relief to the suffering people by showering water on the earth.
Rain can ruin people's lives by not showing up; again it can give relief to the suffering people by showering water on the earth.
(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'Avathum mazhaiyAlE' by the same author)
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