The Lake

Renee along with her cousin Kiku and grandfather were returning home walking from the village market. The weather was humid, the still air was heavy and dark clouds filled the sky, anticipating rain and wanting to give a feel of adventure to the children grandfather asked them to take a short cut through a dusty mud path. The path was canopied with huge banyan, gulmohar and eucalyptus trees. There were few street lights and benches were under them. One side of the path there was an extremely large ground and the other side a vast lake. Grandfather revealed that both ground and lake dated back to British rule. Magnificent fairs were organised in the ground and the lake was regarded as a prominent source of water for the villagers, until recently when people started having their own bore wells and government supply of river water through pipelines. The kids noticed stone staircases and stone platforms at the bank puzzled them, so enquired about it. Grandfather indicated that the platforms were built to wash clothes, utensils and bathing and protect the lake from pollution, but nowadays it has become a dump yard for the villagers nobody thinks for its cleanliness and safeguard. Grandfather's words impacted the kids in a gigantic way they vowed to conserve the lake. As it started to drizzle the trio had reached their street and were few steps from home.