‘Rain rain go away,
Little Johnny wants to play…’
Little Johnny was singing this rhyme, wishing the rains away.
‘It’s vacation time. Why does it have to rain now?’ he thought.
While little Lola reached her hand out of the window to catch the falling droplets of rain.
She was delighted to feel the heaven-sent shower on her palm.
‘Johnny, it is nice weather. Come let’s sit in the porch and listen to the rain,’ said little Lola.
‘I don’t want to listen to the rain. I wish there was a big Umbrella that could shield the playground from the raindrops,’ said a brooding Johnny seated on his black and white football.
‘But the rain is nice. The plants need it. Animals need it. We need water from the rain too.’
‘It can rain in the night when we are asleep. Why does it have to rain in the day?’
‘So that you can see it, silly! Don’t you like to play in the rain?’ asked Lola.
‘I am a big boy now. I am eight years old you know. I like sports. Not dancing in the rain!’
‘Too bad for you big boy. I am still a little girl. I love the rain.’
‘Then why do you raise an alarm when you see a millipede walk into the house at night after the rain?’
‘Did you see a millipede?’ asked a terrified Lola.
‘Ha ha ha, foolish girl. If I had one wish, I would pray for the rain to go away right now!’
‘No, Johnny! Let the rain go away slowly. I still want to dance in the drizzle.’
Johnny let out a big laugh.
‘Ha ha ha, I will use my secret powers, and pray for the rain to stop in 10 minutes!’
‘No, No, Johnny!’ Lola pleaded…
‘Oh almighty sun, let the clouds part…Let me see your shining face….’
Lola, in turn, prayed to the clouds,
‘Dear clouds, don’t go away too soon. Let there be a drizzle as you move to other places.’
The rain began to lessen in intensity. The earth was gravid with fresh water. The seeds in the earth awakened. Soon, a gentle glisten of sunbeam spread on the soft surface of the earth.
Lola jumped out in the puddle outside her house. Her brother Johnny, flung his football into the puddle. He jumped right in and the whole neighbourhood knew the kids were at play.
They walked to the little bridge near their house. The water in the canal was ripple dotted with the falling droplets. A lotus bloom moved languidly with the gentle flow.
‘You see the Sun is out. My wish has come true!’ said Johnny looking at the emergent sun.
There was no answer from Lola.
She was looking eastward, away from the setting sun. She was entranced.
‘Johnny…’ she tugged on his sleeve and pointed to the sky in the east.
Johnny turned around and looked at the sky.
A majestic arch of seven colours shone feebly on the blue sky. A faint assembly of colours sat on top on the arch, just in the reverse order of colours.
It reflected in the freshwater flowing in the canal.
‘What is this Johnny?’
‘Some magic. Did you pray for this Lola?’
‘No, I just asked for a little drizzle.’
‘And, I asked for a little sunshine.’
The brother and sister duo, watched the sky in awe, as the sun sunk in the western sky.
Millipedes dug their way out of the moist earth. Lola never noticed.
There wasn’t any fighting between the siblings anymore.
And both prayers were answered, in nature’s own sweet way.
