Raining in the Sunshine

A slight breeze, a bright sun lit up the landscape with rich and vivid colors of green and yellow. Some clouds added a serene tone to the whole horizon. Max and Avi were playing games like all 9 year old boys play. Avi's elder sister Nimi sat on the grass near the clothes line reading a book. Mother had gone into the house to get the rest of the laundry to dry out in the sun.

Then suddenly Max noticed something strange. "Hey Avi! It's raining and the sun is still out!!" he shouted.

Avi looked up. There were really no clouds over their heads and yet a few of drops of rain fell on his face. "Wow... looks like another Hyena is getting married."

"Eh?" Max made a questioned face.
"What? You don't know the story about the Hyena?"
"No... But I thought that this meant that the Fox Price Steals a bride when it rains with the sunshine."
"No... it's the Prince of Hyenas."
"No... It has to be a Fox Prince... Hyenas are ugly!"
"What does looks have to do with rain"
"Well... nothing but where did you hear this story? I'm sure you got it wrong."
"Where did you hear that it's a Fox Prince??"
"I got it from a comic book... but I checked the net... it's true OK... so I'm not wrong."
"I'm not wrong cause Mom told me."
"Maybe your Mom was making fun of you and you didn't realize"
And a short and vehement argument ensued between the boys and they got into arguing with eath other like any bunch of 9 year old boys would. Nimi had already decided that she would ignore the boy's quarrel and continue to read her book. But like all 15 year old girls, she had a quick change of heart.

"You know, you both are correct. It seems you don't know the full story. Wanna hear it?" Nimi interrupted.
"But I'm sure he is wro... huh? How can both of us be correct?" asked Max.

"You see, Long long time ago, there was a kingdom with 4 Noble and Royal families. One of the Hyena, one of the Fox, one of the Buffalo and finally one of the Lion."

"Isn't that supposed to be a Jungle?" retorted Avi

"Shut up and listen." snapped Nimi and continued, "However, there was some unwanted rivalry between the Hyenas and the Foxes. This state of cold war had been with them for as long as they had known themselves."
"What's a Cold War?" Max interrupted.
"A War in which you try and harm the enemy without facing him or physically touching him. In this state, the Fox Prince once went to train in the mountains. There he came across a village where lived a very beautiful and very graceful maiden. He fell in love with her, and soon the Maiden returned the Prince's feelings. But one of the Heynas who was spying on the Fox Prince's actions could not bear to see the Fox have a happy time. He kidnapped the maiden one night and brought her to his Master - The Prince of Heynas. He immediately
forced the Maiden to marry him, threatning her of the consequences her village would face if she didn't marry him. All the Heyna wanted was to demoralize the Fox Prince. The poor maiden succumbed to his threats and prepared herself for the marriage she didn't want to be in.

Meanwhile, the Fox Prince learned of his lovers abduction. He immediately set out to the Castle of Heynas where the marriage was to take place. While the fox prince was on his way to attack the castle, the marriage ceremony had already started in the Castle. The maiden looked up in the sunny sky and then a drop of water fell on her cheeks. It was raining but there were no clouds. The Heynas in a hush shifted the ceremony indoors, and the Maiden could hear a voice in her heart - 'He is coming for you Milady, coming just to save you.' The Maiden now had a new hope within her heart. She now waited for her Prince to come and
save her. Somehow, she trusted the voice within her.

The Fox Prince had already called his small army and with a very cunning plan attacked the castle. As the Heynas occupied themselves in defending the castle, the Fox Prince managed to go in unnoticed and killed the Heyna Prince amidst the wedding vows. He then took of with his love to his land and married her immediately.

And that's how the Legend goes that the Heyna gets married and the Fox steals a bride when it rains when the sun is still shining. And it is also said that in this moment, the voice that whispers within your heart, is a prophecy that will happen immediately or in the near future."

Mother had already come out with her laundry and was drying them out on the clothesline when Nimi finished her story. Max was in total awe. "I never even imagined that such a thing had happened!"

"You know Max... don't get too happy. She just made up the story right now, I'm sure. She's always like that." warned Avi.
"Avi, it seems you want to sleep with a red butt tonight again..." was the instant reply Nimi gave.

"Nimi! Mind your manners! You've had enough fun today now go inside and start chopping the vegetables." Mother said to Nimi.
"Aww... Mother, at least let me finish one chapter... the weather is beautiful outside."
"Then you can bring the vegetables outside and then cut and clean them outside. No one has stopped you from enjoying the weather, but you must do the work given to you."
Nimi made a face, "No, I'd rather cut them in the Kitchen only." she remarked and went inside.

"So, Auntie... you think that Nimi-Di was telling a lie."
"Who knows... now leave me alone boys and play in the front yard. You'll ruin the laundry otherwise."

The boys complied. But Max was now totally lost in a thought - Whether the legend was true or not.