The Next Turning

Tia was happy as a pig in slop to be with her grandparents in their village. It was a small village where people knew each other and lived like an extended family helping each other sharing joys and sorrows, celebrating festivals. There was an enormous canal to the east of the village which served as a source of irrigation for the fields which were to the south-east of the village. To the west were orchards of mango, guava, custard apple, pomegranate, etc. To the north was the village Temple and School. Every morning Tia went for morning walks with grandfather and thus got to know about the surroundings. Grandfather had told Tia that a small expanse of forest was to the south of the village therefore, they had restricted their walks to the remaining three directions. One morning Tia urged grandfather to take her towards the lane which was near the forest. Grandfather happily obliged her. As they walked towards the forest all around was silent except for the rustling of leaves and the chirping of occasional birds. Tia began to have a strange fear and restlessness. Grandfather sensed that and told her they could have some water and a small break at the village postman’s house who lived at the edge of the forest, which was at the next turning.

The postman’s house was an old broken down brick cottage that seemed falling apart, at the same time was beautiful and rustic. The walls were painted dark yellow and the roof had green tiles at the edges which set the cottage apart from the village houses. They knocked at the door and were pleasantly greeted by the postman. Grandfather told Tia that this cottage was actually built for forest guards and as it lay vacant was allotted to the postman. Tia saw the interiors and was fearful lest the roof falls down completely as it was propped up with bamboos or a wall collapses due to the cracks. The house had minimal furniture and they had to sit on mats. The postman was generous and offered them water and fruit salad. Tia saw a teenage boy at the other end of the house sitting on the floor and sketching. He was unaffected by their arrival. The postman said he was not able to see much as because of an eye infection and was granted voluntary retirement. His wife had gone once to the forest to collect firewood and had not returned since then. He had lodged a missing complaint but there was not outcome. Tia was spooked and decided to leave as soon as possible and gulped down the water quickly. But, grandfather was oblivious of her feelings and belonging to the same village had no doubts at the same time was exhausted from the long walk furthermore was in no mood for haste.

After a long conversation grandfather thanked the postman for his hospitality and they walked back towards home. Tia shared her doubts to grandfather that the postman might have murdered his wife or maybe the son who seemed unperturbed in their presence. Grandfather laughed at Tia’s fascinating imagination. He explained Tia that perhaps the postman’s wife was dejected with him and might have run away from the responsibilities. His son was a teenage naturally not interested in his father's visitors. Grandfather's explanation gave Tia a sigh of relief.