Beta, it’s simple: take the reference evapotranspiration data from the weather station and multiply by the crop coefficient for your growth stage. But here in Punjab, with our large fields, we don't get lost in these paper calculations anymore. We rely on the schedule from the tube-well, because the canal water turns up when it wishes, and the groundwater level is falling so fast the numbers from last season are just a memory. My own worry is whether the motor will run long enough to cover all my acreage before the next power cut.

My grandson, he tapes a broken stick like they tape a hockey stick in your news clips, beta. This old radio repairman thinks, wah! A whole state deciding a sport is worth fixing for everyone... reminds me of when I re-solder a connection, and suddenly the whole Marwari song fills the room again.