NCERT Textbook: Waiting for the Rain

 Page 1


Waiting for the Rain
Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Have you ever waited for the rains? Why?
 II How do you feel when it rains after a long time?
 III Why do you think the farmers wait for the rains?
 IV Discuss in groups what happens when you wait for something or someone 
for a long period of time. 
 1. How do you spend the waiting period?
 2. What do you think about? 
 3. How do you feel?
  Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Unit 4.indd   185 Unit 4.indd   185 13-05-2025   12:51:39 13-05-2025   12:51:39
Reprint 2026-27
Page 2


Waiting for the Rain
Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Have you ever waited for the rains? Why?
 II How do you feel when it rains after a long time?
 III Why do you think the farmers wait for the rains?
 IV Discuss in groups what happens when you wait for something or someone 
for a long period of time. 
 1. How do you spend the waiting period?
 2. What do you think about? 
 3. How do you feel?
  Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Unit 4.indd   185 Unit 4.indd   185 13-05-2025   12:51:39 13-05-2025   12:51:39
Reprint 2026-27
Poorvi
186
crimson: deep 
red colour
crusted: 
formed a hard 
outer layer
forlorn: sad 
and neglected
 Let us read
I
“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 ??re. Velu scanned the 
sky. There was not a cloud. 
“It doesn’t look encouraging,” he muttered to 
himself and got up.
Rain or no rain, a farmer wakes up early. Velu 
worked hard. His piece of land never failed 
him. Season after season he cultivated it, 
harvesting jowar one season and dhal the next. 
Throughout the year he worked, never thinking 
of rest or taking a holiday. For nearly six years 
it had been so, ever since he had got his own 
piece of land.
But this year turned out to be 
di??erent. At the end of summer, 
the rains didn’t come. Velu and 
his neighbours waited, but their 
waiting didn’t end. Days, weeks 
and months passed, and still 
there was no rain.
The ??elds lay untended, the 
earth hardened, crusted and 
cracked. The barren land looked 
forlorn and the farmers lived 
entirely on hope. Every day 
they hoped that the rains 
Unit 4.indd   186 Unit 4.indd   186 13-05-2025   12:51:41 13-05-2025   12:51:41
Reprint 2026-27
Page 3


Waiting for the Rain
Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Have you ever waited for the rains? Why?
 II How do you feel when it rains after a long time?
 III Why do you think the farmers wait for the rains?
 IV Discuss in groups what happens when you wait for something or someone 
for a long period of time. 
 1. How do you spend the waiting period?
 2. What do you think about? 
 3. How do you feel?
  Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Unit 4.indd   185 Unit 4.indd   185 13-05-2025   12:51:39 13-05-2025   12:51:39
Reprint 2026-27
Poorvi
186
crimson: deep 
red colour
crusted: 
formed a hard 
outer layer
forlorn: sad 
and neglected
 Let us read
I
“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 ??re. Velu scanned the 
sky. There was not a cloud. 
“It doesn’t look encouraging,” he muttered to 
himself and got up.
Rain or no rain, a farmer wakes up early. Velu 
worked hard. His piece of land never failed 
him. Season after season he cultivated it, 
harvesting jowar one season and dhal the next. 
Throughout the year he worked, never thinking 
of rest or taking a holiday. For nearly six years 
it had been so, ever since he had got his own 
piece of land.
But this year turned out to be 
di??erent. At the end of summer, 
the rains didn’t come. Velu and 
his neighbours waited, but their 
waiting didn’t end. Days, weeks 
and months passed, and still 
there was no rain.
The ??elds lay untended, the 
earth hardened, crusted and 
cracked. The barren land looked 
forlorn and the farmers lived 
entirely on hope. Every day 
they hoped that the rains 
Unit 4.indd   186 Unit 4.indd   186 13-05-2025   12:51:41 13-05-2025   12:51:41
Reprint 2026-27
187
consultations: 
discussions
dejected: 
sad and 
disappointed
       would come.
Someone said, “We ought to talk to 
some astrologers. They can tell us 
what will please the heavens and the 
heavens will send down rain.”
Velu didn’t agree. He said, “The rains 
came all these years without any such 
consultations; I can’t see how talking 
to astrologers will bring rain.”
He decided to go to the weather o??ce 
in the city and talk to someone. But 
the people at the weather o??ce said 
they couldn’t really tell him when the 
sky would gather clouds and bring 
rain. “We are at a loss ourselves!” 
they exclaimed. “So many favourable 
conditions but still no rain. Very odd!”
Velu, too, was at a loss. He walked 
back to the village, tired, and dejected. 
He was thirsty and the dust made 
him cough and sneeze. He decided to 
rest for a while.
He saw a large tree. Its shade was 
cool and inviting. As he sat down, he 
noticed that an old woman was also 
sitting there, sheltering from the sun.
Environment
Unit 4.indd   187 Unit 4.indd   187 13-05-2025   12:51:43 13-05-2025   12:51:43
Reprint 2026-27
Page 4


Waiting for the Rain
Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Have you ever waited for the rains? Why?
 II How do you feel when it rains after a long time?
 III Why do you think the farmers wait for the rains?
 IV Discuss in groups what happens when you wait for something or someone 
for a long period of time. 
 1. How do you spend the waiting period?
 2. What do you think about? 
 3. How do you feel?
  Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Unit 4.indd   185 Unit 4.indd   185 13-05-2025   12:51:39 13-05-2025   12:51:39
Reprint 2026-27
Poorvi
186
crimson: deep 
red colour
crusted: 
formed a hard 
outer layer
forlorn: sad 
and neglected
 Let us read
I
“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 ??re. Velu scanned the 
sky. There was not a cloud. 
“It doesn’t look encouraging,” he muttered to 
himself and got up.
Rain or no rain, a farmer wakes up early. Velu 
worked hard. His piece of land never failed 
him. Season after season he cultivated it, 
harvesting jowar one season and dhal the next. 
Throughout the year he worked, never thinking 
of rest or taking a holiday. For nearly six years 
it had been so, ever since he had got his own 
piece of land.
But this year turned out to be 
di??erent. At the end of summer, 
the rains didn’t come. Velu and 
his neighbours waited, but their 
waiting didn’t end. Days, weeks 
and months passed, and still 
there was no rain.
The ??elds lay untended, the 
earth hardened, crusted and 
cracked. The barren land looked 
forlorn and the farmers lived 
entirely on hope. Every day 
they hoped that the rains 
Unit 4.indd   186 Unit 4.indd   186 13-05-2025   12:51:41 13-05-2025   12:51:41
Reprint 2026-27
187
consultations: 
discussions
dejected: 
sad and 
disappointed
       would come.
Someone said, “We ought to talk to 
some astrologers. They can tell us 
what will please the heavens and the 
heavens will send down rain.”
Velu didn’t agree. He said, “The rains 
came all these years without any such 
consultations; I can’t see how talking 
to astrologers will bring rain.”
He decided to go to the weather o??ce 
in the city and talk to someone. But 
the people at the weather o??ce said 
they couldn’t really tell him when the 
sky would gather clouds and bring 
rain. “We are at a loss ourselves!” 
they exclaimed. “So many favourable 
conditions but still no rain. Very odd!”
Velu, too, was at a loss. He walked 
back to the village, tired, and dejected. 
He was thirsty and the dust made 
him cough and sneeze. He decided to 
rest for a while.
He saw a large tree. Its shade was 
cool and inviting. As he sat down, he 
noticed that an old woman was also 
sitting there, sheltering from the sun.
Environment
Unit 4.indd   187 Unit 4.indd   187 13-05-2025   12:51:43 13-05-2025   12:51:43
Reprint 2026-27
Poorvi
188
Let us discuss
 I Complete the table given below. One example has been done for you. 
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
What was 
Said
Who Said
What was Said
Who Said
 1. It doesn’t look 
encouraging.
Velu to himself He looked up 
at the sky.
 2. The rains 
came all these 
years without 
any such 
consultations…
Velu
 3. So many 
favourable 
conditions but 
still no rain.
 II Do you think the old woman would help Velu? If yes, why? If no, why not?
 III Will Velu’s wait continue or will it rain?
II
   Her skin was wrinkled, but her eyes sparkled  
   when she smiled. She looked at Velu and her  
   smile grew wider, her wrinkles deeper.
   “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,  
   the smile leaving her lips.
   “I wonder what I have done to deserve this,”  
   Velu began. “I have worked hard and honestly.  
   Yet I am being punished. Without the rains I  
     can’t till the land. If I don’t till the  
      land no crop will grow. 
Unit 4.indd   188 Unit 4.indd   188 13-05-2025   12:51:45 13-05-2025   12:51:45
Reprint 2026-27
Page 5


Waiting for the Rain
Let us do these activities before we read.
 I Have you ever waited for the rains? Why?
 II How do you feel when it rains after a long time?
 III Why do you think the farmers wait for the rains?
 IV Discuss in groups what happens when you wait for something or someone 
for a long period of time. 
 1. How do you spend the waiting period?
 2. What do you think about? 
 3. How do you feel?
  Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Unit 4.indd   185 Unit 4.indd   185 13-05-2025   12:51:39 13-05-2025   12:51:39
Reprint 2026-27
Poorvi
186
crimson: deep 
red colour
crusted: 
formed a hard 
outer layer
forlorn: sad 
and neglected
 Let us read
I
“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 ??re. Velu scanned the 
sky. There was not a cloud. 
“It doesn’t look encouraging,” he muttered to 
himself and got up.
Rain or no rain, a farmer wakes up early. Velu 
worked hard. His piece of land never failed 
him. Season after season he cultivated it, 
harvesting jowar one season and dhal the next. 
Throughout the year he worked, never thinking 
of rest or taking a holiday. For nearly six years 
it had been so, ever since he had got his own 
piece of land.
But this year turned out to be 
di??erent. At the end of summer, 
the rains didn’t come. Velu and 
his neighbours waited, but their 
waiting didn’t end. Days, weeks 
and months passed, and still 
there was no rain.
The ??elds lay untended, the 
earth hardened, crusted and 
cracked. The barren land looked 
forlorn and the farmers lived 
entirely on hope. Every day 
they hoped that the rains 
Unit 4.indd   186 Unit 4.indd   186 13-05-2025   12:51:41 13-05-2025   12:51:41
Reprint 2026-27
187
consultations: 
discussions
dejected: 
sad and 
disappointed
       would come.
Someone said, “We ought to talk to 
some astrologers. They can tell us 
what will please the heavens and the 
heavens will send down rain.”
Velu didn’t agree. He said, “The rains 
came all these years without any such 
consultations; I can’t see how talking 
to astrologers will bring rain.”
He decided to go to the weather o??ce 
in the city and talk to someone. But 
the people at the weather o??ce said 
they couldn’t really tell him when the 
sky would gather clouds and bring 
rain. “We are at a loss ourselves!” 
they exclaimed. “So many favourable 
conditions but still no rain. Very odd!”
Velu, too, was at a loss. He walked 
back to the village, tired, and dejected. 
He was thirsty and the dust made 
him cough and sneeze. He decided to 
rest for a while.
He saw a large tree. Its shade was 
cool and inviting. As he sat down, he 
noticed that an old woman was also 
sitting there, sheltering from the sun.
Environment
Unit 4.indd   187 Unit 4.indd   187 13-05-2025   12:51:43 13-05-2025   12:51:43
Reprint 2026-27
Poorvi
188
Let us discuss
 I Complete the table given below. One example has been done for you. 
Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
What was 
Said
Who Said
What was Said
Who Said
 1. It doesn’t look 
encouraging.
Velu to himself He looked up 
at the sky.
 2. The rains 
came all these 
years without 
any such 
consultations…
Velu
 3. So many 
favourable 
conditions but 
still no rain.
 II Do you think the old woman would help Velu? If yes, why? If no, why not?
 III Will Velu’s wait continue or will it rain?
II
   Her skin was wrinkled, but her eyes sparkled  
   when she smiled. She looked at Velu and her  
   smile grew wider, her wrinkles deeper.
   “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,  
   the smile leaving her lips.
   “I wonder what I have done to deserve this,”  
   Velu began. “I have worked hard and honestly.  
   Yet I am being punished. Without the rains I  
     can’t till the land. If I don’t till the  
      land no crop will grow. 
Unit 4.indd   188 Unit 4.indd   188 13-05-2025   12:51:45 13-05-2025   12:51:45
Reprint 2026-27
Environment
189
What will happen to me? How shall I 
feed my family?” he asked, somewhat 
bitterly. He wasn’t speaking to anyone 
in particular, but the old lady thought 
that he was opening his heart to her.
“Perhaps you have worked too hard,” 
she said.
“What do you mean? Can anyone 
work too hard? I have only done what 
any hard-working farmer would do. 
I shall work and never rest until I am 
too old. This is the ??rst season in ??ve, 
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.
bitterly: 
hurtfully
“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 sow, and 
plant. The earth has worked for years, centuries, 
    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.
Unit 4.indd   189 Unit 4.indd   189 13-05-2025   12:51:46 13-05-2025   12:51:46
Reprint 2026-27