The Post Office | Page 6

could have great times with my doll Benay the bride, and
Meni the pussycat and--but I say it is getting late and I mustn't stop, or I
won't find a single flower.
AMAL. Oh, wait a little longer; I do like it so!
SUDHA. Ah, well--now don't you be naughty. Be good and sit still and
on my way back home with the flowers I'll come and talk with you.
AMAL. And you'll let me have a flower then?
SUDHA. No, how can I? It has to be paid for.
AMAL. I'll pay when I grow up--before I leave to look for work out on
the other side of that stream there.
SUDHA. Very well, then.

AMAL. And you'll come back when you have your flowers?
SUDHA. I will.
AMAL. You will, really?
SUDHA. Yes, I will.
AMAL. You won't forget me? I am Amal, remember that.
SUDHA. I won't forget you, you'll see. [Exit]
[A TROOP OF BOYS enter]
AMAL. Say, brothers, where are you all off to? Stop here a little.
BOYS. We're off to play.
AMAL. What will you play at, brothers?
BOYS. We'll play at being ploughmen.
FIRST BOY [Showing a stick] This is our ploughshare.
SECOND BOY. We two are the pair of oxen.
AMAL. And you're going to play the whole day?
BOYS. Yes, all day long.
AMAL. And you'll come back home in the evening by the road along
the river bank?
BOYS. Yes.
AMAL. Do you pass our house on your way home?
BOYS. You come out to play with us, yes do.
AMAL. Doctor won't let me out.

BOYS. Doctor! Suppose the likes of you mind the doctor. Let's be off;
it is getting late.
AMAL. Don't. Why not play on the road near this window? I could
watch you then.
THIRD BOY. What can we play at here?
AMAL. With all these toys of mine lying about. Here you are, have
them. I can't play alone. They are getting dirty and are of no use to me.
BOYS. How jolly! What fine toys! Look, here's a ship. There's old
mother Jatai; say, chaps, ain't he a gorgeous sepoy? And you'll let us
have them all? You don't really mind?
AMAL. No, not a bit; have them by all means.
BOYS. You don't want them back?
AMAL. Oh, no, I shan't want them.
BOYS. Say, won't you get a scolding for this?
AMAL. No one will scold me. But will you play with them in front of
our door for a while every morning? I'll get you new ones when these
are old.
BOYS. Oh, yes, we will. Say, chaps, put these sepoys into a line. We'll
play at war; where can we get a musket? Oh, look here, this bit of reed
will do nicely. Say, but you're off to sleep already.
AMAL. I'm afraid I'm sleepy. I don't know, I feel like it at times. I have
been sitting a long while and I'm tired; my back aches.
BOYS. It's only early noon now. How is it you're sleepy? Listen! The
gong's sounding the first watch.
AMAL. Yes, dong, dong, dong, it tolls me to sleep.

BOYS. We had better go then. We'll come in again to-morrow
morning.
AMAL. I want to ask you something before you go. You are always
out--do you know of the King's postmen?
BOYS. Yes, quite well.
AMAL. Who are they? Tell me their names.
BOYS. One's Badal, another's Sarat. There's so many of them.
AMAL. Do you think they will know me if there's a letter for me?
BOYS. Surely, if your name's on the letter they will find you out.
AMAL. When you call in to-morrow morning, will you bring one of
them along so that he'll know me?
BOYS. Yes, if you like.
CURTAIN

THE POST OFFICE
ACT II
[AMAL in Bed]
AMAL. Can't I go near the window to-day, Uncle? Would the doctor
mind that too?
MADHAV. Yes, darling, you see you've made yourself worse squatting
there day after day.
AMAL. Oh, no, I don't know if it's made me more ill, but I always feel
well when I'm there.

MADHAV. No, you don't; you squat there and make friends with the
whole lot of people round here, old and young, as if they are holding a
fair right under my eaves--flesh and blood won't stand that strain. Just
see--your face is quite pale.
AMAL. Uncle, I fear my fakir'll pass and not see me by the window.
MADHAV. Your fakir, whoever's that?
AMAL. He comes and chats to me of the many lands where he's been. I
love to hear him.
MADHAV. How's that? I don't know of any fakirs.
AMAL. This is about the time he comes in. I beg of you, by your dear
feet, ask him in for a