Letter from Mother

This is a letter from a Sardarjee mother to her son.

Pyaarey puttar,      Vahe Guru.

I’m writing this letter slow, because I know you cannot read fast.  We don’t live where we did when you left home. Your dad read in the paper that most accidents happen 20 miles from your home, so we moved.

I won’t be able to send you the address as the last Sardar who stayed here took the house numbers with them for  their next house, so they wouldn’t have to change their address.  This place is really nice. It even has a washing machine, situated  right above the commode. I’m not sure it works too well. Last week I put in 3 shirts, pulled the chain and haven’t seen  them since.


The weather here isn’t too bad. It rained only  twice last week. The first it rained for 3 days and second time for 4 days.

The coat you wanted me to send you, your Aunt said it would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with all the metal buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pocket.

Your  father has another job. He has 500 men under him. He is cutting the grass at the cemetery.

Your sister had a baby this morning. I haven’t found out whether it’s a girl or a boy, so I don’t know whether you are an Aunt or Uncle. Your uncle,

Jatinder fell in a nearby well. Some men tried to pull him out, but he fought them off bravely and drowned. We cremated him and he burned  for three days. Your best friend, Balwinder, is no more. He died trying to fulfill his father’s last wishes. His father had wished to be buried in the sea after he died. And your friend died while in the process of digging  a grave for his father.

There isn’t much more news this time. Nothing much has happened.
Love Mom.

P. S : I was going to send you some money but the envelope was already
sealed.