No one offers him a cup of tea anymore. He really does not blame any one for it, not in the least the addressees. As buildings grow taller and the volume of business letters grows, he himself doesn't find time enough to chat up any of the so many people he got to know over the years. Certainly not worth a try, not if there is 60 or 80 kg of mail to be delivered every day. In the 18 kilometres area that I cover everyday, there are very few houses.
Most buildings are commercial.
Shyam Lal started as a packer and then took a test to qualify to become a postman. It was not a bad job. The warmth and smiles that he got for handing over letters, more than made up for whatever was lacking. But nobody sends money orders these days, he sighs. That's the New Postal Order.