June 1. “Button, today is June 1 and there’s still no signs of rain!

The weather bureau had predicted the onset of this year’s monsoons by May end or early this month. May, as you also know, has come and gone but there’s been no rain. Everybody is tense.”

“I heard your elder daughter sending up a small prayer to the rain gods asking him to forgive all our sins and send rain.”

“Button, were you to send up a small prayer, what would you tell the gods?”

“I’d say what your daughter said and add a line or two more telling him that I’ll be a good boy and not waste food and that if he does not send us rain this year, all of us will perish. I’ll also tell him not to be so angry with us.”

“That’s sweet.”

“I remember that nursery rhyme we used to recite whenever it rained heavily which went—Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.”

“I remember that too. We’ll have to pen a rhyme that says just the opposite of the earlier one!”

“Try writing one.”

“It could go like this—Rain, rain come and stay. Go away another day.”

“Very nice. Did you just make that up?”

“Yes.”