Q1. Who is the main character of the story?
Ans: Velu, a hardworking farmer.
Q2. What was Velu hoping for when the story begins?
Ans: That it would rain at least that day.
Q3. What crops did Velu usually grow on his land?
Ans: Jowar and dhal.
Q4. For how many years had Velu worked without rest?
Ans: Nearly six years.
Q5. What problem did Velu face this year?
Ans: The rains did not come.
Q6. How did the land look without rain?
Ans: Hardened, cracked, and barren.
Q7. What suggestion did some villagers make to bring rain?
Ans: To consult astrologers.
Q8. Why did Velu not agree with consulting astrologers?
Ans: Because rains had always come without such rituals before.
Q9. Where did Velu go for answers about the weather?
Ans: To the weather office in the city.
Q10. What did the weather office officials tell him?
Ans: They couldn’t predict the rains despite favourable conditions.
Q11. How did Velu feel when he returned from the city?
Ans: Tired and dejected.
Q12. Where did Velu rest on his way back?
Ans: Under the shade of a large tree.
Q13. Who did Velu meet under the tree?
Ans: An old woman with a wrinkled face but sparkling eyes.
A14. What did Velu complain about to the old woman?
Ans: That he worked hard but was punished with no rains.
Q15. What advice did the old woman give Velu?
Ans: To let the land rest, just as humans need rest.
Q16. What did the old woman compare nature to?
Ans: A mother who takes care of her children.
Q17. What did Velu begin to realize after talking to the old woman?
Ans: That the earth too needed a break from continuous cultivation.
Q18. What natural sign did Velu notice as he walked back home?
Ans: A cool breeze and dark clouds gathering.
Q19. What did Velu feel on his shoulder?
Ans: A tiny drop of rain.
Q20. How did the weather finally change?
Ans: The clouds burst with thunder, lightning, and rain.
Q21. How did Velu react to the first drops of rain?
Ans: He laughed and ran home happily.
Q22. What is the central message of the story?
Ans: Patience and trust in nature are essential; even the earth needs rest.