The Post Office | Page 3

he took out from his bundle some
gram-flour, moistened it with water and began to eat. Then he tied up
his bundle and shouldered it again; tucked up his cloth above his knees
and crossed the stream. I've asked Auntie to let me go up to the stream,
and eat my gram-flour just like him.
MADHAV. And what did your Auntie say to that?
AMAL. Auntie said, "Get well and then I'll take you over there." Please,
Uncle, when shall I get well?

MADHAV. It won't be long, dear.
AMAL. Really, but then I shall go right away the moment I'm well
again.
MADHAV. And where will you go?
AMAL. Oh, I will walk on, crossing so many streams, wading through
water. Everybody will be asleep with their doors shut in the heat of the
day and I will tramp on and on seeking work far, very far.
MADHAV. I see! I think you had better be getting well first; then--
AMAL. But then you won't want me to be learned, will you, Uncle?
MADHAV. What would you rather be then?
AMAL. I can't think of anything just now; but I'll tell you later on.
MADHAV. Very well. But mind you, you aren't to call out and talk to
strangers again.
AMAL. But I love to talk to strangers!
MADHAV. Suppose they had kidnapped you?
AMAL. That would have been splendid! But no one ever takes me
away. They all want me to stay in here.
MADHAV. I am off to my work--but, darling, you won't go out, will
you?
AMAL. No, I won't. But, Uncle, you'll let me be in this room by the
roadside.
[Exit MADHAV]
DAIRYMAN. Curds, curds, good nice curds.

AMAL. Curdseller, I say, Curdseller.
DAIRYMAN. Why do you call me? Will you buy some curds?
AMAL. How can I buy? I have no money.
DAIRYMAN. What a boy! Why call out then? Ugh! What a waste of
time.
AMAL. I would go with you if I could.
DAIRYMAN. With me?
AMAL. Yes, I seem to feel homesick when I hear you call from far
down the road.
DAIRYMAN. [Lowering his yoke-pole] Whatever are you doing here,
my child?
AMAL. The doctor says I'm not to be out, so I sit here all day long.
DAIRYMAN. My poor child, whatever has happened to you?
AMAL. I can't tell. You see I am not learned, so I don't know what's
the matter with me. Say, Dairyman, where do you come from?
DAIRYMAN. From our village.
AMAL. Your village? Is it very far?
DAIRYMAN. Our village lies on the river Shamli at the foot of the
Panch-mura hills.
AMAL. Panch-mura hills! Shamli river! I wonder. I may have seen
your village. I can't think when though!
DAIRYMAN. Have you seen it? Been to the foot of those hills?
AMAL. Never. But I seem to remember having seen it. Your village is

under some very old big trees, just by the side of the red road--isn't that
so?
DAIRYMAN. That's right, child.
AMAL. And on the slope of the hill cattle grazing.
DAIRYMAN. How wonderful! Aren't there cattle grazing in our
village! Indeed, there are!
AMAL. And your women with red sarees fill their pitchers from the
river and carry them on their heads.
DAIRYMAN. Good, that's right. Women from our dairy village do
come and draw their water from the river; but then it isn't everyone
who has a red saree to put on. But, my dear child, surely you must have
been there for a walk some time.
AMAL. Really, Dairyman, never been there at all. But the first day
doctor lets me go out, you are going to take me to your village.
DAIRYMAN. I will, my child, with pleasure.
AMAL. And you'll teach me to cry curds and shoulder the yoke like
you and walk the long, long road?
DAIRYMAN. Dear, dear, did you ever? Why should you sell curds?
No, you will read big books and be learned.
AMAL. No, I never want to be learned--I'll be like you and take my
curds from the village by the red road near the old banyan tree, and I
will hawk it from cottage to cottage. Oh, how do you cry--"Curd, curd,
good nice curd!" Teach me the tune, will you?
DAIRYMAN. Dear, dear, teach you the tune; what an idea!
AMAL. Please do. I love to hear it. I can't tell you how queer I feel
when I hear you cry out from the bend of that road, through the line of
those trees! Do you know I feel like that when I hear the shrill cry of

kites from almost the end of the sky?
DAIRYMAN. Dear child, will you have some curds? Yes, do.
AMAL. But I have no money.
DAIRYMAN. No, no, no, don't talk of