Postman Baba

@ Authored & created by : Anup D.

Sitting down on my bench outside an empty street I see my wreathed bicycle by my side besides the wall -It’s punctured and tyre is burst

Just watching it, makes me feel I should get a new one
It has now lived its life
It has seen the rain
It has seen the sun
It has seen the moonlit cheerful house courtyards
It has seen the spring and the autumn too
It has seen the giggles on the street
It has seen the kids playing stapu (hopscotch)
It has seen the streets filled with holi colors
It has seen neighbor’s gossips
It’s has lived it’s life, like I have
But not as much as I have, I am 83 now

Should I get the puncture fixed or should I buy a new one
Ramesh tyre shop is not far
I should go, before it gets too dark
But …………………………..
…………(Silence)……………………….
………………………………….
do I really need to get this fixed ?

All kids have grown old
They talk on the phone, and use their machines
No one sends letters anymore

Where will I go ?
Who will I deliver the letters to?
Who will share their joys?
Who will give me sweets, when I announce their job letter?
The birth of babies
The visit of Nani and Nana
The homecoming of the son

My old eyes see the world being connected
I don’t see I’m useful anymore
This world have changed and it must
I think I should retire too

But

What will I do when I retire?
My life have been spent delivering letters from address one to address two

How will I not deliver them the happiness?
Why would they not want to share their sorrows with me anymore?
Why would Chinki not jump with joy, after hearing Nana and Nani are visiting home
This road is empty now, but I’m sure some neighbor’s are gossiping on the other road

I must not retire….

I should get the puncture fixed
Ramesh tyre shop is not too far
I should go, before it gets too dark

As the old postman walked up 10 feet, with his bicycle. His son came from the back and held his hand

Where are you going Baba, come and get back to home, it’s getting dark
It’s been 10 years and you do the same every day…

All kids have grown old baba
They talk on the phone, and use their machines
No one sends letters anymore
This world have changed now
You must retire too…….

P.s: Should he retire?….may be ‘yes’, now cos the world have changed or may be ‘no’, cos somewhere deep down we are all the same