# The Post Office/Act I

Act I of the play
Layout 2
THE POST OFFICE
ACT I
[Madhav's House]
Madhav
What a state I am in! Before he came, nothing mattered; I felt so free. But now that he has come, goodness knows from where, my heart is filled with his dear self, and my home will be no home to me when he leaves. Doctor, do you think he—
Physician
If there's life in his fate, then he will live long. But what the medical scriptures say, it seems—
Madhav
Great heavens, what?
Physician
The scriptures have it: “Bile or palsey, cold or gout spring all alike.”
Madhav
Oh, get along, don't fling your scriptures at me; you only make me more anxious; tell me what I can do.
Physician [Taking snuff]
The patient needs the most scrupulous care.
Madhav
That's true; but tell me how.
Physician
I have already mentioned, on no account must he be let out of doors.
Madhav
Poor child, it is very hard to keep him indoors all day long.
Physician
What else can you do? The autumn sun and the damp are both very bad for the little fellow—for the scriptures have it:
"In wheezing, swoon or in nervous fret, In jaundice or leaden eyes———"
Madhav
Never mind the scriptures, please. Eh, then we must shut the poor thing up. Is there no other method?
Physician
None at all: for, “In the wind and in the sun———”
Madhav
What will your “in this and in that” do for me now? Why don't you let them alone and come straight to the point? What's to be done then? Your system is very, very hard for the poor boy; and he is so quiet too with all his ​pain and sickness. It tears my heart to see him wince, as he takes your medicine.
Physician
The more he winces, the surer is the effect. That's why the sage Chyabana observes: "In medicine as in good advices, the least palatable ones are the truest." Ah, well! I must be trotting now. [Exit]
[Gaffer enters]
Madhav
Well, I'm jiggered, there's Gaffer now.
Gaffer
Why, why, I won't bite you.
Madhav
No, but you are a devil to send children off their heads.
Gaffer
But you aren't a child, and you've no child in the house; why worry then?
Madhav
Oh, but I have brought a child into the house.
Gaffer
Indeed, how so?
Madhav
You remember how my wife was dying to adopt a child?
Gaffer
Yes, but that's an old story; you didn't like the idea.
Madhav
You know, brother, how hard all this getting money in has been. That somebody else's child would sail in and ​waste all this money earned with so much trouble—Oh, I hated the idea. But this boy clings to my heart in such a queer sort of way———
Gaffer
So that's the trouble! and your money goes all for him and feels jolly lucky it does go at all.
Madhav
Formerly, earning was a sort of passion with me; I simply couldn't help working for money. Now, I make money and as I know it is all for this dear boy, earning becomes a joy to me.
Gaffer
Ah, well, and where did you pick him up?
Madhav
He is the son of a man who was a brother to my wife by village ties. He ​has had no mother since infancy; and now the other day he lost his father as well.
Gaffer
Poor thing: and so he needs me all the more.
Madhav
The doctor says all the organs of his little body are at loggerheads with each other, and there isn't much hope for his life. There is only one way to save him and that is to keep him out of this autumn wind and sun. But you are such a terror ! What with this game of yours at your age, too, to get children out of doors!
Gaffer
God bless my soul! So I'm already as bad as autumn wind and sun, eh! But, friend, I know something, too, of the game of keeping them indoors. When my day's work is over I am com​ing in to make friends with this child of yours. [Exit]
Amal enters
Amal
Uncle, I say, Uncle!
Madhav
Hullo! Is that you, Amal?
Amal
Mayn't I be out of the courtyard at all?
Madhav
No, my dear, no.
Amal
See, there where Auntie grinds lentils in the quirn, the squirrel is sitting with his tail up and with his wee hands he's picking up the broken grains of lentils ​and crunching them. Can't I run up there?
Madhav
No, my darling, no.
Amal
Wish I were a squirrel! it would be lovely. Uncle, why won't you let me go about?
Madhav
Doctor says it's bad for you to be out.
Amal
How can the doctor know?
Madhav
Amal
Does his book-learning tell him everything?
Madhav
Of course, don't you know!
Amal [With a sigh]
Ah, I am so stupid! I don't read books.
Madhav
Now, think of it; very, very learned people are all like you; they are never out of doors.
Amal
Aren't they really?
Madhav
No, how can they? Early and late they toil and moil at their books, and they've eyes for nothing else. Now, my little man, you are going to be ​learned when you grow up; and then you will stay at home and read such big books, and people will notice you and say, "he's a wonder."
Amal
No, no, Uncle; I beg of you by your dear feet I don't want to be learned, I won't.
Madhav
Dear, dear; it would have been my saving if I could have been learned.
Amal
No, I would rather go about and see everything that there is.
Madhav
Amal
See that far-away hill from our window I often long to go beyond those hills and right away.
Madhav
Oh, you silly! As if there's nothing more to be done but just get up to the top of that hill and away! Eh! You don't talk sense, my boy. Now listen, since that hill stands there upright as a barrier, it means you can't get beyond it. Else, what was the use in heaping up so many large stones to make such a big affair of it, eh!
Amal
Uncle, do you think it is meant to prevent your crossing over? It seems to me because the earth can't speak it raises its hands into the sky and beckons. And those who live far and sit alone by their windows can see ​the signal. But I suppose the learned people
Madhav
No, they don't have time for that sort of nonsense. They are not crazy like you.
Amal
Do you know, yesterday I met someone quite as crazy as I am.
Madhav
Gracious me, really, how so?
Amal
He had a bamboo staff on his shoulder with a small bundle at the top, and a brass pot in his left hand, and an old pair of shoes on; he was making for those hills straight across that meadow there. I called out to him and asked, 1 ' Where are you going ? ' ' He answered, ​"I don't know, anywhere!" I asked again, "Why are you going?" He said, "I'm going out to seek work." Say, Uncle, have you to seek work?
Madhav
Of course I have to. There's many about looking for jobs.
Amal
How lovely! I'll go about, like them too, finding things to do.
Madhav
Suppose you seek and don't find. Then———
Amal
Wouldn't that be jolly? Then I should go farther! I watched that man slowly walking on with his pair of worn out shoes. And when he got to where the water flows under the fig tree, he ​stopped and washed his feet in the stream. Then 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 money! You'll make me so happy if you have a little curds from me.
Amal
Dairyman
Not a bit; it has been no loss to me at all; you have taught me how to be happy selling curds. [Exit]
Amal [Intoning]
Curds, curds, good nice curds from the dairy village from the country of he Panch-mura hills by the Shamli bank. Curds, good curds; in the early morning the women make the cows stand in a row under the trees and milk them, and in the evening they turn the milk into curds. Curds, good curds. Hello, there's the watchman on his rounds. Watchman, I say, come and have a word with me.
Watchman
What's all this row you are making? Aren't you afraid of the likes of me?
Amal
Watchman
Suppose I march you off then?
Amal
Where will you take me to? Is it very far, right beyond the hills?
Watchman
Suppose I march you straight to the King?
Amal
To the King! Do, will you? But the doctor won't let me go out. No one can ever take me away. I've got to stay here all day long.
Watchman
Amal
Won't you sound the gong, Watchman?
Watchman
Time has not yet come.
Amal
How curious! Some say time has not yet come, and some say time has gone by! But surely your time will come the moment you strike the gong!
Watchman
That's not possible; I strike up the gong only when it is time.
Amal
Yes, I love to hear your gong. When it is midday and our meal is over, Uncle goes off to his work and Auntie falls asleep reading her Ramayana, and in the courtyard under the shadow of ​the wall our doggie sleeps with his nose in his curled up tail; then your gong strikes out, "Dong, dong, dong!" Tell me why does your gong sound?
Watchman
My gong sounds to tell the people, Time waits for none, but goes on forever.
{{c}Amal}} Where, to what land?
Watchman
That none knows.
Amal
Watchman
All of us have to get there one day, my child.
Amal
Have I too?
Watchman
Yes, you too!
Amal
But doctor won't let me out.
Watchman
One day the doctor himself may take you there by the hand.
Amal
Watchman
One greater than he comes and lets us free.
Amal
When will this great doctor come for me? I can't stick in here any more.
Watchman
Shouldn't talk like that, my child.
Amal
No. I am here where they have left me I never move a bit. But when your gong goes off, dong, dong, dong, it goes to my heart. Say, Watchman?
Watchman
Yes, my dear.
Amal
Say, what's going on there in that big house on the other side, where ​there is a flag flying high up and the people are always going in and out?
Watchman
Oh, there? That's our new Post Office.
Amal
Post Office? Whose?
Watchman
Whose? Why, the King's surely!
Amal
Do letters come from the King to his office here?
Watchman
Of course. One fine day there may be a letter for you in there.
Amal
Watchman
The King sends tiny notes to little boys.
Amal
Oh, how lovely! When shall I have my letter? How do you guess he'll write to me?
Watchman
Otherwise why should he set his Post Office here right in front of your open window, with the golden flag flying?
Amal
But who will fetch me my King's letter when it comes?
Watchman
Amal
Well, where do they go?
Watchman
Oh, from door to door, all through the country.
Amal
I'll be the King's postman when I grow up.
Watchman
Ha! ha! Postman, indeed! Rain or shine, rich or poor, from house to house delivering letters that's very great work!
Amal
That's what I'd like best. What makes you smile so? Oh, yes, your work is great too. When it is silent everywhere in the heat of the noonday, your gong sounds, Dong, dong, dong, and sometimes when I wake up at ​night all of a sudden and find our lamp blown out, I can hear through the darkness your gong slowly sounding, Dong, dong, dong!
Watchman
There's the village headman ! I must be offo If he catches me gossiping with you there'll be a great to do.
Amal
The headman? Whereabouts is he?
Watchman
Right down the road there; see that huge palm-leaf umbrella hopping along? That's him!
Amal
Watchman
Made him? Oh, no! A fussy busybody! He knows so many ways of making himself unpleasant that everybody is afraid of him. It's just a game for the likes of him, making trouble for everybody. I must be off now! Mustn't keep work waiting, you know! I'll drop in again to-morrow morning and tell you all the news of the town. [Exit]
Amal
It would be splendid to have a letter from the King every day. I'll read them at the window. But, oh! I can't read writing. Who'll read them out to me, I wonder! Auntie reads her Ramayana; she may know the King's writing. If no one will, then I must keep them carefully and read them when I'm grown up. But if the postman can't find me? Headman, Mr.
Headman
Who is yelling after me on the highway? Oh, you wretched monkey !
Amal
You're the headman. Everybody minds you.
Headman [Looking pleased]
Yes, oh yes, they do ! They must !
Amal
Do the King's postmen listen to you?
Headman
They've got to. By Jove, I'd like to see———
Amal
Headman
What's the good of that?
Amal
In case there's a letter for me.
Headman
A letter for you! Whoever's going to write to you?
Amal
If the King does.
Headman
Amal
Say, Headman, why do you speak to me in that tone of voice? Are you cross?
Headman
Upon my word! Cross, indeed! You write to the King! Madhav is devilish swell nowadays. He'd made a little pile; and so kings and padishahs are everyday talk with his people. Let me find him once and I'll make him dance. Oh, you snipper-snapper! I'll get the King's letter sent to your house indeed I will!
Amal
No, no, please don't trouble yourself about it.
Headman
And why not, pray! I'll tell the King about you and he won't be very ​long. One of his footmen will come along presently for news of you. Madhav's impudence staggers me. If the King hears of this, that'll take some of his nonsense out of him. [Exit]
Amal
Who are you walking there? How your anklets tinkle! Do stop a while, dear, won't you?
[A Girl enters]
Girl
I haven't a moment to spare; it is already late!
Amal
I see, you don't wish to stop; I don't care to stay on here either.
Girl
Amal
I don't know; the doctor won't let me out.
Girl
Ah me! Don't then! Should listen to the doctor. People'll be cross with you if you're naughty. I know, always looking out and watching must make you feel tired. Let me close the window a bit for you.
Amal
No, don't, only this one's open! All the others are shut. But will you tell me who you are? Don't seem to know you.
Girl
I am Sudha.
Amal
Sudha
Don't you know? Daughter of the flower-seller here.
Amal
What do you do?
Sudha
I gather flowers in my basket.
Amal
Oh, flower gathering! That is why your feet seem so glad and your anklets jingle so merrily as you walk. Wish I could be out too. Then I would pick some flowers for you from the very topmost branches right out of sight.
Sudha
Amal
Yes, I do, quite as much. I know all about Champa of the fairy tale and his seven brothers. If only they let me, I'll go right into the dense forest where you can't find your way. And where the honey-sipping humming- bird rocks himself on the end of the thinnest branch, I will flower out as a champa. Would you be my sister Parul?
Sudha
You are silly! How can I be sister Parul when I am Sudha and my mother is Sasi, the flower-seller? I have to weave so many garlands a day. It would be jolly if I could lounge here like you!
Amal
Sudha
I could have great times with my doll Benay the bride, and Meni the pussy- cat 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
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
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
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
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
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
Amal
Yes, dong, dong, dong, it tolls me to sleep.
Boys
We had better go then. We'll come in again tomorrow 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
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