Sri Yukta(SY) is from the remote village of Sarvayapalli. One must walk two km to the nearest bus stand, Kondapur Village. Two buses run from the town to Kondapur in the morning and two in the evening.

SY's father is a prominent figure in the village and has contacts with political leaders. He is tall and hefty, with a thick black moustache twisted upwards at the ends. He carries a baton as a mark of his prestige. Villagers in and around Sarvayapalli seek his help in resolving their local and revenue-related issues. SY's mother is a pious woman who understands the necessities of her husband and daughter and caters to them. The workers cater to home cooking, maintenance, and field services, including cattle care.

SY is the only daughter and is twenty-two years old. She completed her UG in computer engineering in the city.

Kalyan Raju(KR) hails from Ranga Puram town. His father is a district-level government officer. His mother is a postgraduate, a devout lady who understands young-age behaviour and is a homemaker.

*

KR and SY were classmates from school to college.

They passed the state government's Group I exam, and were posted as officers in various cities. Their parents were happy.

KR and SY performed a skit in their second-year annual day function. Since then, they have become friends. Their friendship strengthened in their final year of study. They went to hotels and parks. They never crossed their limits nor neglected their studies.

KR and SY understood their love during their final year of college but did not share their feelings.

When they were selected for jobs and about to leave for their postings, KR told SY, "I want to marry you." She agreed and said, "The marriage had to be with her parents' permission." KR concurred with her opinion.

 They wanted to inform their parents and get married after a year of settling into their jobs.

*

One year had passed since they joined jobs. They exchanged messages and spoke with each other during this period but did not meet. They decided to inform their parents. KR said, "I will come and tell your parents about our love and request  their consent to marry you." SY agreed.

They had long weekend holidays starting on Friday and ending on Monday. SY came to the village to stay with her parents, and KR went to his town on Thursday evening to stay with his parents. KR contacted SY on WhatsApp and exchanged pleasantries. It was the month of July, which is also the rainy season in India. In July, the weather is characterised by heavy rainfall accompanied by hailstorms, thunderstorms, and lightning.

 He wanted to surprise SY and started for SY's village. He told his parents he would meet his friend in the neighbouring town and return the next day. There was bright sunlight at 10 am. He waited at the bus stand for about an hour and boarded the bus to Kondapur.  

*

There was a rush on the bus, as it was the last one in the morning, catering to people who came for purchases by the early morning 5:00 am night halt bus starting from Kondapur. After making their purchases, they return to the villages. If they missed this bus, they were to wait till evening. They carried vegetables, grocery bags, and other items. KR boarded the bus with difficulty, could not get a seat and had to stand. The bus stopped in every village, allowing passengers to disembark with their baggage. It took KR two hours to reach the village. The road was a metal road with many potholes. He struggled, standing with his right hand holding onto the passenger hanger. He was the lone passenger to get down at Kondapur.

When the bus was halfway, it started drizzling. By the time it reached Kondapur, the intensity of the rain had increased, accompanied by hailstorms, thunder, lightning, and heavy downpours.

*

 KR did not expect rain, so he did not have a raincoat or an umbrella to protect himself. The hailstorm was intense; neither a raincoat nor an umbrella would have been helpful, as strong, gusty winds accompanied the rain. He was drenched and dreaded the thunderstorms and lightning.   

He wanted to sit inside the bus. People waiting at the bus stand sat on the bus to go to the town. Imagining that the bus would get stranded in Kondapur due to the increasing hailstorms, the driver and the conductor were in a hurry to proceed to town and left Kondapur.  

*

KR was alone. Hailstones hit him, and he could not stand. The bus headlights helped him see earlier. Once the bus left, it was dark, and he could not find anything.

He heard the fluttering and rustling of leaves on the nearby tree branches. He cautiously moved toward the sound waves, seeking refuge under the tree from the hailstorm. It was a big banyan tree.

The hailstorm disrupted his plan to surprise SY in her house. There was no hope of the rain receding. He had no lunch, and it was nearing 2:00 pm. He checked his mobile in his pocket, and it was hit with hailstones, drenched, and not working. He was hungry, shivering, and worried about contacting SY; dejected, he lay under the banyan tree.

*

SY's father went to the fields after breakfast to oversee the paddy transplantation. During a hailstorm, he took shelter in a room in the field.

SY thought of taking lunch to her father in the fields by car.

She started the car, turned on all the headlights, and drove carefully along the country path. Bullock carts used the path, so it was full of bumps. The path had to traverse the banyan tree.

When the car approached the banyan tree, she noticed a person shivering on the ground under the tree. To her surprise, it was KR. She stepped out of the car and went to him. SY was afraid of not knowing what to do.   

*

She tried to put him in the car's back seat, but it was impossible. She then unbuttoned his drenched dress and banian. She wiped him off with the two turkey towels from her car seats. She put his head on her thigh and wiped his hair. Still, he was shivering. She hugged him in her anxiety to keep him warm, and it worked.

After a short while, he came to his senses. He found himself in SY's arms and was overwhelmed with joy. He then tightened his hug to have more warmth. She sensed and understood that it was not hers.

At this moment, he opened his eyes and kissed her. She was surprised and realised that he was awake. She felt shy and pushed him. He laughed at her and asked how the surprise was. She chided him for playing with her concern for him and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling her long-awaited contentment. By this time, the hailstorm had subsided, and it was drizzling. He lifted her into the drizzle and made happy rounds to the enjoyment of SY.

*

They squeezed the rainwater from their drenched clothes, put them on, and sat in the car.

She drove the car to her home and gave him her father's shirt and a dhoti. She also changed her dress. She gave him hot milk with Horlicks. SY's mother observed both silently and doubted their drenched dresses. She cooked and served them hot dishes.  

*

 By this time, the hailstorm had subsided, and her father had returned home. He was not in his usual mood. SY introduced KR as her classmate in inter and engineering. SY's father noticed KR's dress washed and hung to dry along with towels and that KR was wearing his shirt and dhoti. SY said that as KR was drenched and hit with hailstones, he fell unconscious under the banyan tree. She noticed him on her way with lunch for her father and brought him home. 

He also inquired why her saree and blouse were drenched.

 SY and KR were surprised at the question, looked into each other's eyes, felt shy, and did not answer. SY took KR into her room.

*

When they were enjoying the drizzle, a villager from Sarvayapalli saw them and informed SY's father that his daughter was enjoying with a young boy. SY's father thought that SY and KR had spoiled his image, which had been built up over several years.

He became angry. He shouted at SY angrily for permitting KR inside the house and asked her to send him out immediately. SY had never seen her father in such a state of anger.

 KR came forward and told SY's father, "We have been in love with each other for the last five years and want to marry with your permission." While coming, I did not inform SY. I wanted to surprise her. If I have done anything wrong, please forgive me. There is no mistake of SY."

SY's father listened silently.

SY said, "KR came here to tell you about our love and to request your consent for marriage, but the hailstorm disrupted his plan."

SY's father banged the wooden dining table with his baton in anger at SY's words and pointed it at KR and the exit door.

SY's mind went blank, and she began to weep.

Having understood SY's father's reaction, KR left that place.

*

After going home, KR phoned SY and said, "Don't worry about your father's behaviour. Within the age gap between our parents and ourselves, society has undergone changes that we are exposed to. They have limited exposure to the people of surrounding villages and agriculture. You and I are exposed to various people in schools and colleges and, through technology, to global affairs. So they behave differently from us. We must understand that difference." With time, he will understand our love and agree to our marriage. SY said we would wait and see.

*

 KR informed his mother of SY's father's reaction. She told him that she would take care of it. One day, she telephoned SY to find out her status. SY told her she was desperate to marry KR, but with her father's permission. She contacted SY's mother.

*

That night, SY's mother told her husband that we, the older generation, should understand our children's feelings. During the hailstorm, SY was surprised to meet KR, unconscious under the banyan tree. She cared for him, and they savored the fascinating, drizzling, mild breeze. They would be happy in the future if they were married.   With an egoistic mind, can you search for bridegrooms and request their parents? SY's selection is correct. Based on all considerations, you can't get a better match than KR.

She further added, "Imagine your behaviour before our marriage after engagement. You anxiously visited my parents' house without informing your parents and were eager to hug and/or kiss me. My parents provided privacy."

You had comfortably forgotten your youthful behaviour and were angry with KR. I leave it to you to think over. 

SY's father, twisting the ends of his moustache, said, 'Why do you remind me of my youthful behaviour?' I am a different person now, with respect in social circles.'  He was happy reminiscing about his youth.

His wife countered that the impure prestige alloyed with your mind and the resulting egotistical pride blinded your wisdom. This respect and prestige are temporary. As you age, the new generation takes over, and you will become outdated; as a result, no one will seek your help. I am not trying to frighten you but to present you with the reality of life.

If SY and KR were married, people would stop talking badly about them.   Think above the social barriers of respect, prestige, ego, and honour and decide.

In the middle of the night, he got out of bed and sat at the dining table, thinking about his wife's words. He slept at the dining table. His wife woke up at 4.00 am and made him sleep on the bed.

In the morning, his face was pale. Sitting at the dining table for tea, he said to his wife, 'Your words made me realise the realities of life. I never thought in that direction. My anger blinded me. We will settle our daughter's marriage to KR.'

*

KR's mother told her husband the details and said, "We need to visit SY's parents and convince them of KR's marriage to SY." They went by car on the weekend. KR's mother asked SY to be present.

They introduced themselves as KR's parents. SY's father was taken by surprise. It was the first time SY saw KR's parents. SY's father observed SY.

After exchanging pleasantries, KR's mother told SY's parents, "You know our son, KR. We would be delighted if your daughter, SY, were to become our daughter-in-law by marrying our son, KR.

SY's father expressed his happiness and looked at his wife. She nodded her head and agreed to the proposal. SY was surprised at her father's acceptance and looked at her mother.

SY's father did not want to miss the chance and called the pundit to set the dates for the engagement and marriage. The pundit prepared the marriage invitations for the bride and bridegroom's sides, which were exchanged between the parents on either side. KR's parents were happy and distributed the sweets they had brought.

SY's mother hugged KR's mother and thanked her for the initiative. SY took the blessings of her would-be mother-in-law for the initiative.

*

SY informed KR that his parents had come and fixed their marriage date. He thanked his mother for the initiative. She said, "Everything went on under your father's guidance."

SY thanked her mother for convincing her father. SY's parents celebrated the marriage lavishly.

KR got his transfer to SY's city. When the couple visited SY's home for three days, SY and KR sought her parents' blessings. SY's mother welcomed them with Harathi, and SY's father welcomed KR, hugging SY and KR.

KR and SY set up a family life in the city and lived happily. They thanked the hailstorm for helping to set the stage for their marriage.

******