August 31. “Button, remember the prayer you sent up to the rain gods asking for good rains this year?”

“I remember clearly.”

“They must have heard all our prayers because, the way it’s been pouring, it seems we will get our quota of rain many times over.”

“It’s been literally pouring.”

“The gods may be angry too!”

“Why angry?”

“Because, last year, when the country got scanty rainfall, people went out and did cloud-seeding to bring about rain!”

“That’s artificial rain, right?”

“The gods must have thought that since we were using artificial means to bring about rain and trying to play god, they’d teach us all a lesson.”

“You mean to say the gods are telling us to stop playing god and leave them to do their work?”

“Absolutely. It could be true if you believe in god.”

“Look at that drenched eagle sitting on that ledge. He must have come out looking for food for his family and himself. Is Fluffy okay?”

“Fluffy’s okay. He and Preity are clever in the sense that they store food for the rainy day.”