Class 09 – Chapter 09 : Waiting for Rain

Let’s Rewind: Answers

How does the author describe the behaviour of the monsoon?
→ The monsoon is unpredictable and delayed. It teases people with grey skies and thunder but doesn’t arrive on time.
What did the villagers feel about the delayed monsoon?
→ They were worried and disappointed. They mentioned that wells and canals had dried up and water scarcity was severe.
What emotions and sensations did the author experience when the monsoon finally arrived?
→ She felt joy, relief, comfort, and peace. The rhythm of the rain filled her with a sense of well-being.
Discuss the author’s anticipation, reflections and experience of the monsoon and the sense of well-being it brings to her.
→ The author eagerly waits for the rain and reflects on how important it is to her life and memories. When it finally arrives, it feels like a celebration and brings her emotional satisfaction.
Describe this year’s monsoon in your words.
→ This year’s monsoon was delayed and confusing. It brought more clouds and thunder than actual rain and arrived unexpectedly in the middle of the night.

Let’s Recall and Recreate

Activity 1 – Reply to Your Friend from Australia

Subject: Experience the Magic of Monsoon in Kerala!

Dear [Friend’s Name],

I’m thrilled that you read Waiting for Rain by Anita Nair and want to visit Kerala during the monsoon. You’re going to love it! The rain in Kerala isn’t just water — it’s an emotion. The smell of wet earth, the lush greenery, the misty skies — all create a magical experience.

If you come, I’ll take you to my village. You’ll see how life slows down, how people welcome the rain like an old friend. Bring an umbrella, a camera, and a big smile. Monsoon here is something to cherish!

Warm regards,
[Your Name]

Activity 2 – Phone Conversation with Anita Nair

Editor: Hello, may I speak to Ms. Anita Nair, please?

Anita Nair: Yes, speaking.

Editor: Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m the editor of our school magazine. We all loved your article Waiting for Rain. It beautifully captured the essence of Kerala’s monsoon.

Anita Nair: Thank you so much. That means a lot.

Editor: We’d be honoured if you could give us a short personal interview for our school magazine.

Anita Nair: I’d be happy to. Just email me the details and we can schedule it.

Editor: Thank you, ma’am! We’ll send it right away.

Activity 3 – Speech Writing

Speech Topic: Nature is Not a Luxury but a Necessity

Respected Principal, teachers, and dear friends,

Good morning to one and all. Today I would like to speak on a very important topic — Nature is not a luxury, but a necessity.

We often take nature for granted. Trees, rivers, rain, and clean air — we treat them as if they will always be there. But the truth is, they are fast disappearing. If we think of nature as just something beautiful to look at, like a luxury, then we are making a terrible mistake.

Nature gives us everything we need to live — air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, and even the rain that farmers and villagers wait for every year. Just like Anita Nair writes in her story Waiting for Rain, people in Kerala look forward to the monsoon not for fun, but because it means life, survival, and peace of mind. When nature disappears, life itself is at risk.

Friends, we must act now. Plant trees, save water, stop polluting, and protect our rivers and forests. Because when we protect nature, we protect ourselves. We don’t need to wait for the rain to remind us how valuable nature is. We must understand it now — nature is our lifeline, not our decoration.

Thank you.

Let’s Play with Words

Activity 1: Onomatopoeic Words

a. Circle the onomatopoeic words in the passage:

Passage Extract:

“For over a week now, a brutal wind had been sweeping the northern outskirts of the city with a menacing growl. Window shutters banged. Doors unlatched themselves. Around my home, trees creaked and groaned while leaves hissed and whispered. And here we are, a week into Karkitakam when fields and canals ought to be overflowing and ditches gurgling like streams…”

Onomatopoeic words:

growl
banged
creaked
groaned
hissed
whispered
gurgling

b. Match the onomatopoeic words in Column A with the sounds they describe in Column B:

Column A	Column B
Beep	make a short, high-pitched sound (e.g., from a horn or device)
Crackle	make a hissing or popping sound while frying something
Flutter	make a noise by moving the wings quickly
Giggle	laugh in a light, silly way
Rattle	make short, sharp, repetitive sounds in quick succession
Rumble	make a continuous deep resonant sound (e.g., thunder)
Sizzle	make a sharp hissing sound (e.g., oil frying)

c. Additional Onomatopoeic Words for Classroom Chart:

Boom
Buzz
Clang
Snore
Clap
Splash
Crack
Zing
Tick-tock

d. Complete the conversation using appropriate words from the list:

Word box: honking, blare, gobble, rumbling, sizzle, cracked, drizzle, thud

Conversation:

Dabbawala 1: Hey! How’s your day?
Dabbawala 2: Terrible! Trains are late, and there’s a constant blare of announcements.
Dabbawala 1: My cart hit a pothole and there was a loud thud. I hope none of the dabbas got cracked.
Dabbawala 2: Goodness! Mumbai roads are always a challenge.
Dabbawala 1: True. There is so much honking by vehicles on the roads.
Dabbawala 2: Don’t you hear that sizzle from the street food stall? They are frying something.
Dabbawala 1: I’m hungry. Let us gobble some vada pav and get back to work.
Dabbawala 2: Hurry up. There is a rumbling in the sky. It might drizzle soon.

Activity 2: Vocabulary – Replace with Synonyms

Passage from the story “Anand, The Unsung Hero”:

In the bustling heart of a metropolitan city, there was a stocky man named Anand. He was known for his incredible knack for solving alpha-numerical puzzles, which he modestly attributed to being one of his foibles. He trotted through the city streets every day, dressed up in a worn-out jacket and he was rarely greeted courteously by others. Anand had long been an uncouth outcast in a world of polished men and women. One day he received an unexpected call from the officials of a renowned tech company after they were struck by turbulence in their security system.

Their alpha-numerical codes had been compromised and Anand was summoned to the company’s headquarters. The CEO, desperate to save the company’s reputation, explained the dire situation. Anand’s heart went out to him as he listened to the tale of a man on the brink of penury. With commendable determination, Anand immersed himself in the tangled mess of codes and encryption. In the eleventh hour, Anand cracked the code and restored the company’s security. The CEO’s gratitude knew no bounds and he heartily endorsed Anand’s incredible talent.

Words to be replaced (bold):

stocky → sturdy
incredible → unbelievable
foibles → weaknesses
courteously → respectfully
uncouth → uncivilized
outcast → rejected person
summoned → called
turbulence → chaos
penury → destitution
commendable → admirable
endorsed → certified

Activity 3: Editing a Travel Story

Original Sentence with Homophones:

Last summer, I embarked on a journey too Munnar, India. The whether was perfect, with clear skies and a gentle breeze. Amid lush tee plantations, I couldn’t help but marvel at the vibrant flour gardens…

Corrected Words:

Incorrect Word	Correct Word
too	to
whether	weather
tee	tea
flour	flower
bare	bear
peace	piece
meat	meet
sea	see
son	sun
fare	fair

Reason for Error:
Hema confused homophones — words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.

Diary Entry:

Date: June 10, 20XX
Place: Home

I too would love to visit Munnar. Before starting, I would check whether the weather is fine or not. I would like to see the sea of flower gardens and the charming hills. I would walk through the tea plantations, and maybe spot a bear hiding among the trees.

At the market, I would try a piece of homemade cake and write a fair poem about the beauty of the place. I hope to meet kind people and enjoy every moment under the shining sun. I must remember to take some time to relax and reflect on this magical journey.

Activity 4: Transliteration and Code-Switching

Example from the text:

He accused this year’s monsoon of merely “kaati-kooti poova.”

This is an example of transliteration from Malayalam to English script, reflecting the local cultural flavour.

Other examples of transliteration from the chapter:

Vilamba kaalam – slow-paced rhythm of rain
Madhyama kaalam – medium-paced rhythm
Dhrutha kaalam – fast rhythm
Karkitakam – name of the Malayalam month
Kaati-kooti poova – a Malayalam phrase meaning “just showing off” or “pretending”

These phrases enhance the authenticity and cultural richness of the narrative by blending regional expressions into English writing.

Let’s Play with Words – Activity 5

Part A: Understanding Phrasal Verbs

You are given a diary entry of a tourist visiting Delhi. Your task is to circle the phrasal verbs and write them down with their meanings.

Diary Entry Excerpt:

What an exciting day I’ve had, exploring the vibrant city of Delhi! This morning I decided to visit the local markets and I couldn’t believe the variety of goods I came across at Chandni Chowk. From spices to jewellery and colourful fabrics, it was a shopper’s paradise. I then came by a vendor, who sold some mouthwatering street food. In the afternoon, I came back to my hotel for lunch before heading to Humayun’s Tomb and India Gate. In the evening, I was surprised to find that I had come round to my friend’s house. After dinner, we took a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi’s narrow lanes. I cannot describe what came over me as we made our way through the chaos and charm of the bustling streets. Tomorrow, I plan to visit the Lotus Temple, and I really hope that the day’s plans come off just like today. Delhi has truly come up to my expectations and I can’t wait to see what adventures come out of the rest of my trip.

Phrasal Verbs and Their Meanings

Phrasal Verb	Meaning
come across	to meet or find something by chance
come by	to pass by / encounter
come back	to return
come round	to visit someone, often unexpectedly
come over	to be overwhelmed with a feeling
come off	to happen successfully
come up to	to meet or fulfill expectations
come out of	to result from something

Part B: Complete the Passage with Suitable Phrasal Verbs

Instructions: Complete the passage by choosing the correct phrasal verbs from the options.

Word Box:
come up, come across, come out, come by, come off

Passage (Completed):

In the journey of life, individuals often come across various challenges and opportunities that demand a set of essential life skills. To truly thrive, one must come by skills such as effective communication, critical thinking, and adaptability. When faced with obstacles, the ability to come out as resilient is important, as it allows individuals to become stronger and wiser. Moreover, the capacity to come up with creative solutions is essential for innovation and problem-solving. Hence, acquiring life skills helps empower individuals to come off on top, not only as survivors but as individuals who flourish in the face of adversity.

Let’s Analyse

Activity 1: Sentence Analysis & Relative Clauses

1. Split the sentences into two clauses:

Sentence 1:
“Mumbai is a city that bustles with activities.”

Main Clause: Mumbai is a city
Subordinate (Relative) Clause: that bustles with activities

Sentence 2:
“I must have been the only passenger on that flight who was happy with the turbulence.”

Main Clause: I must have been the only passenger on that flight
Subordinate (Relative) Clause: who was happy with the turbulence

2. Can the italicised words (‘that’, ‘who’) be considered pronouns?

Yes, both ‘that’ and ‘who’ are relative pronouns.
They introduce relative clauses that give more information about the noun preceding them.

3. Function of these words:

‘That’ refers to ‘city’ and connects the clause describing the city.
‘Who’ refers to ‘passenger’ and connects the clause describing the passenger.

These words function as connectors between the main and subordinate clauses, and they identify or describe the noun in more detail.

4. Understanding Relative Clauses:

Sentences given:

a. I have a friend who speaks four languages.
→ The relative clause ‘who speaks four languages’ gives essential information. (Defining clause)

b. That is the house in which I grew up.
→ The clause ‘in which I grew up’ is essential information.

c. I noticed the lady who had been explaining family politics to the man.
→ Again, essential information. (Defining clause)

5. Now these sentences:

a. Arun, who is retired now, spends a lot of time with his grandchildren.
→ Non-defining clause (Additional info, set off by commas)

b. The award was given to Sara, whose short story impressed the judges.
→ Non-defining clause (Extra detail about Sara)

c. A peculiar silence crept among the passengers, most of whom were young men.
→ Non-defining clause (Gives extra information about ‘passengers’)

Activity 2: Identify Relative Pronouns

Instructions: Read these sentences and identify the relative pronouns and their function.

Sentence	Relative Pronoun	Function
The lady who narrated the story was my teacher.	who	Refers to ‘lady’ and introduces the defining clause
This is the movie which I told you about.	which	Refers to ‘movie’, defining clause
I visited the city where my father was born.	where	Refers to ‘city’, giving more detail about place
The boy whose book was stolen is my classmate.	whose	Shows possession – ‘book’ belongs to ‘boy’
Here is the place where we stayed last summer.	where	Introduces place-related clause

Activity 3: Editing Exercise – Relative Pronoun Usage

Given passage (with errors):

The flight nosed into a cloud, and we rocked of the turbulence outside.
A peculiar silence crept between the passengers, most of whom were young men from northern India seek the green…
The plane rocked sum more, and somewhere with me, a child wailed in fright.
An elderly couple alongside, who have been chatting incessantly, was finally quiet.

Corrected version:

The flight nosed into a cloud, and we rocked with the turbulence outside.
A peculiar silence crept among the passengers, most of whom were young men from northern India seeking the green…
The plane rocked some more, and somewhere beside me, a child wailed in fright.
An elderly couple alongside, who had been chatting incessantly, were finally quiet.

Let’s Converse – Activity 1

a. Pick out the expressions used to make suggestions:

I suggest you board the fast local trains on the Harbour Line.
We had better take into consideration the heavy traffic in South Mumbai.
Don’t you think it is a good idea to expand our service to Navi Mumbai?

b. Suggestions from a senior dabbawala using given expressions:

How about double-checking each dabba label before delivery?
Why don’t we use a checklist to make sure no tiffin is missed?
Couldn’t we divide the delivery zones better to avoid confusion?
Does it matter if we start our rounds 15 minutes early?
Would you like to learn our coding system today?
Let’s go to Dadar Station first. It gets crowded later.

c. Likely conversation using suggestions and responses:

Senior Dabbawala: How about double-checking every dabba before boarding the train?

New Recruit: Yes, that’s a good idea!

Senior Dabbawala: Would you like to learn the colour code system today?

New Recruit: Sure, let’s do that.

Senior Dabbawala: Let’s go to Dadar Station first — we’ll beat the crowd.

New Recruit: Hmm, I’d rather go to CST first. It’s closer to our current location.

Senior Dabbawala: Okay, that works too. Let’s just make sure we’re on schedule.

Let’s Perform – Activity 1: Dialogue Writing

Task: Write a conversation between a senior dabbawala and a new recruit using suggestion expressions and their responses.

Answer:

Senior Dabbawala: Good morning! How’s your first day?

New Recruit: A little nervous, sir.

Senior Dabbawala: Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it. I suggest you board the fast local trains on the Harbour Line. They’re less crowded.

New Recruit: That sounds like a good idea!

Senior Dabbawala: How about memorising the dabba codes first? It’ll help avoid confusion.

New Recruit: Hmm… I’d rather take notes for now. But I’ll try to memorise soon.

Senior Dabbawala: Alright. Would you like to accompany me on the route today?

New Recruit: Yes, I’d love to!

Senior Dabbawala: And don’t forget — let’s go to Churchgate first. The delivery time is sharp 12 noon there.

New Recruit: Sure, let’s go!

Let’s Perform – Activity 2: Expression of Guess

Q1. What do the italicised words in the conversation express?

“If I had to take a guess, I’d say it would rain tonight.”
Answer: c. express a guess

a. Classify the expressions

Asking people to guess	Making a guess
Can you guess…?	I guess…
Have a guess!	My guess is…
Guess what!	I would say…
	Chances are…
	Off the top of my head, I think…
	Probably…
	Maybe…

nother class altogether.

Crossword Puzzle: The Global Mosaic

Across:

5. 🇮🇳 India
6. 🇯🇵 Japan
7. 🇦🇷 Argentina
11. 🇨🇦 Canada
12. 🌍 Africa
13. 🇪🇬 Egypt

Down:

1. 🇦🇺 Australia
2. 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
3. 🇨🇳 China
4. 🏴 England
7. 🇺🇸 America
8. 🇷🇺 Russia
9. 🇧🇷 Brazil
10. 🇫🇷 France