The Post Office, Rabindranath Tagore [best reads TXT] 📗

Where is it? Is it on that road winding

through the trees which you can follow to the end of the forest

when the sky is quite clear after rain?

 

GAFFER. That’s so. You know all about it already.

 

AMAL. I do, everything.

 

GAFFER. So I see, but how?

 

AMAL. I can’t say; but it’s quite clear to me. I fancy I’ve

seen it often in days long gone by. How long ago I can’t tell.

Do you know when? I can see it all: there, the King’s postman

coming down the hillside alone, a lantern in his left hand and on

his back a bag of letters climbing down for ever so long, for

days and nights, and where at the foot of the mountain the

waterfall becomes a stream he takes to the footpath on the bank

and walks on through the rye; then comes the sugarcane field and

he disappears into the narrow lane cutting through the tall stems

of sugarcanes; then he reaches the open meadow where the cricket

chirps and where there is not a single man to be seen, only the

snipe wagging their tails and poking at the mud with their bills.

I can feel him coming nearer and nearer and my heart becomes

glad.

 

GAFFER. My eyes aren’t young; but you make me see all the same.

 

AMAL. Say, Fakir, do you know the King who has this Post Office?

 

GAFFER. I do; I go to him for my alms every day.

 

AMAL. Good! When I get well, I must have my alms too from him,

mayn’t I?

 

GAFFER. You won’t need to ask, my dear, he’ll give it to you of

his own accord.

 

AMAL. No, I would go to his gate and cry, “Victory to thee,

O King!” and dancing to the tabor’s sound, ask for alms.

Won’t it be nice?

 

GAFFER. It would be splendid, and if you’re with me, I shall

have my full share. But what’ll you ask?

 

AMAL. I shall say, “Make me your postman, that I may go about

lantern in hand, delivering your letters from door to door.

Don’t let me stay at home all day!”

 

GAFFER. What is there to be sad for, my child, even were you to

stay at home?

 

AMAL. It isn’t sad. When they shut me in here first I felt the

day was so long. Since the King’s Post Office I like it more and

more being indoors, and as I think I shall get a letter one day,

I feel quite happy and then I don’t mind being quiet and alone.

I wonder if I shall make out what’ll be in the King’s letter?

 

GAFFER. Even if you didn’t wouldn’t it be enough if it just bore

your name?

 

[MADHAV enters]

 

MADHAV. Have you any idea of the trouble you’ve got me into,

between you two?

 

GAFFER. What’s the matter?

 

MADHAV. I hear you’ve let it get rumored about that the King has

planted his office here to send messages to both of you.

 

GAFFER. Well, what about it?

 

MADHAV. Our headman Panchanan has had it told to the King

anonymously.

 

GAFFER. Aren’t we aware that everything reaches the King’s ears?

 

MADHAV. Then why don’t you look out? Why take the King’s name

in vain? You’ll bring me to ruin if you do.

 

AMAL. Say, Fakir, will the King be cross?

 

GAFFER. Cross, nonsense! And with a child like you and a fakir

such as I am. Let’s see if the King be angry, and then won’t I

give him a piece of my mind.

 

AMAL. Say, Fakir, I’ve been feeling a sort of darkness coming

over my eyes since the morning. Everything seems like a dream.

I long to be quiet. I don’t feel like talking at all. Won’t the

King’s letter come? Suppose this room melts away all on a

sudden, suppose—

 

GAFFER. [Fanning AMAL] The letter’s sure to come to-day, my boy.

 

[DOCTOR enters]

 

DOCTOR. And how do you feel to-day?

 

AMAL. Feel awfully well to-day, Doctor. All pain seems to have

left me.

 

DOCTOR. [Aside to MADHAV] Don’t quite like the look of that smile.

Bad sign that, his feeling well! Chakradhan has observed—

 

MADHAV. For goodness sake, Doctor, leave Chakradhan alone. Tell

me what’s going to happen?

 

DOCTOR. Can’t hold him in much longer, I fear! I warned you

before—This looks like a fresh exposure.

 

MADHAV. No, I’ve used the utmost care, never let him out of

doors; and the windows have been shut almost all the time.

 

DOCTOR. There’s a peculiar quality in the air to-day. As I came

in I found a fearful draught through your front door. That’s

most hurtful. Better lock it at once. Would it matter if this

kept your visitors off for two or three days? If someone happens

to call unexpectedly—there’s the back door. You had better shut

this window as well, it’s letting in the sunset rays only to keep

the patient awake.

 

MADHAV. Amal has shut his eyes. I expect he is sleeping. His

face tells me—Oh, Doctor, I bring in a child who is a stranger

and love him as my own, and now I suppose I must lose him!

 

DOCTOR. What’s that? There’s your headman sailing in!—What a

bother! I must be going, brother. You had better stir about and

see to the doors being properly fastened. I will send on a

strong dose directly I get home. Try it on him—it may save him

at last, if he can be saved at all. [Exeunt MADHAV and DOCTOR.]

 

[The HEADMAN enters]

 

HEADMAN. Hello, urchin!

 

GAFFER. [Rising hastily] ‘Sh, be quiet.

 

AMAL. No, Fakir, did you think I was asleep? I wasn’t. I can

hear everything; yes, and voices far away. I feel that mother

and father are sitting by my pillow and speaking to me.

 

[MADHAV enters]

 

HEADMAN. I say, Madhav, I hear you hobnob with bigwigs nowadays.

 

MADHAV. Spare me your jests, Headman, we are but common people.

 

HEADMAN. But your child here is expecting a letter from the

King.

 

MADHAV. Don’t you take any notice of him, a mere foolish boy!

 

HEADMAN. Indeed, why not! It’ll beat the King hard to find a

better family! Don’t you see why the King plants his new Post

Office right before your window? Why there’s a letter for you

from the King, urchin.

 

AMAL. [Starting up] Indeed, really!

 

HEADMAN. How can it be false? You’re the King’s chum. Here’s

your letter [showing a blank slip of paper]. Ha, ha, ha! This

is the letter.

 

AMAL. Please don’t mock me. Say, Fakir, is it so?

 

GAFFER. Yes, my dear. I as Fakir tell you it is his letter.

 

AMAL. How is it I can’t see? It all looks so blank to me. What

is there in the letter, Mr. Headman?

 

HEADMAN. The King says, “I am calling on you shortly; you had

better arrange puffed rice offerings for me.—Palace fare is

quite tasteless to me now.” Ha! ha! ha!

 

MADHAV. [With folded palms] I beseech you, headman, don’t you joke

about these things—

 

GAFFER. Cutting jokes indeed, dare he!

 

MADHAV. Are you out of your mind too, Gaffer?

 

GAFFER. Out of my mind, well then I am; I can read plainly that

the King writes he will come himself to see Amal, with the state

physician.

 

AMAL. Fakir, Fakir, ‘sh, his trumpet! Can’t you hear?

 

HEADMAN. Ha! ha! ha! I fear he won’t until he’s a bit more

off his head.

 

AMAL. Mr. Headman, I thought you were cross with me and didn’t

love me. I never could think you would fetch me the King’s

letter. Let me wipe the dust off your feet.

 

HEADMAN. This little child does have an instinct of reverence.

Though a little silly, he has a good heart.

 

AMAL. It’s hard on the fourth watch now, I suppose—Hark the

gong, “Dong, dong, ding,” “Dong, dong, ding.” Is the evening

star up? How is it I can’t see—

 

GAFFER. Oh, the windows are all shut, I’ll open them.

 

[A knocking outside]

 

MADHAV. What’s that?—Who is it—what a bother!

 

VOICE. [From outside] Open the door.

 

MADHAV Say, Headman—Hope they’re not robbers.

 

HEADMAN. Who’s there?—It’s Panchanan, the headman, calls—Aren’t

you afraid of the like of me? Fancy! The noise has ceased!

Panchanan’s voice carries far.—Yes, show me the biggest robbers!

 

MADHAV. [Peering out of the window] I should think the noise has

ceased. they’ve smashed the door.

 

[THE KING’S HERALD enters]

 

HERALD. Our Sovereign King comes to-night!

 

HEADMAN. My God!

 

AMAL. At what hour of the night, Herald?

 

HERALD. On the second watch.

 

AMAL. When from the city gates my friend the watchman will

strike his gong, “ding dong ding, ding dong ding”—then?

 

HERALD. Yes, then. The King sends his greatest physician to

attend on his young friend.

 

[STATE Physician enters]

 

STATE PHYSICIAN. What’s this? How close it is here! Open wide

all the doors and windows. [Feeling AMAL’S body] How do you

feel, my child?

 

AMAL. I feel very well, Doctor, very well. All pain is gone.

How fresh and open! I can see all the stars now twinkling from

the other side of the dark.

 

PHYSICIAN. Will you feel well enough to leave your bed with the

King when he comes in the middle watches of the night?

 

AMAL. Of course, I’m dying to be about for ever so long. I’ll

ask the King to find me the polar star.—I must have seen it

often, but I don’t know exactly which it is.

 

PHYSICIAN. He will tell you everything. [To MADHAV] Will you go

about and arrange flowers through the room for the King’s visit?

[Indicating the HEADMAN] We can’t have that person in here.

 

AMAL. No, let him be, Doctor. He is a friend. It was he who

brought me the King’s letter.

 

PHYSICIAN. Very well, my child. He may remain if he is a friend

of yours.

 

MADHAV [Whispering into AMAL’S ear] My child, the King loves you.

He is coming himself. Beg for a gift from him. You know our

humble circumstances.

 

AMAL. Don’t you worry, Uncle.—I’ve made up my mind about it.

 

MADHAV. What is it, my child?

 

AMAL. I shall ask him to make me one of his postmen that I may

wander far and wide, delivering his message from door to door.

 

MADHAV. [Slapping his forehead] Alas, is that all?

 

AMAL. What’ll be our offerings to the King, Uncle, when he

comes?

 

HERALD. He has commanded puffed rice.

 

AMAL. Puffed rice! Say, Headman, you’re right. You said so.

You knew all we didn’t.

 

HEADMAN. If you send word to my house then I could manage for

the King’s advent really nice—

 

PHYSICIAN. No need at all. Now be quiet all of you. Sleep is

coming over him. I’ll sit by his pillow; he’s dropping into

slumber. Blow out the oil-lamp. Only let the star-light stream

in. Hush, he slumbers.

 

MADHAV. [Addressing GAFFER] What are you standing there for like

a statue, folding your palms.—I am nervous.—Say, are they good

omens? Why are they darkening the room? How will star-light

help?

 

GAFFER. Silence, unbeliever.

 

[SUDHA enters]

 

SUDHA. Amal!

 

PHYSICIAN. He’s asleep.

 

SUDHA. I have some flowers for him. Mayn’t I give them into his

own hand?

 

PHYSICIAN. Yes, you may.

 

SUDHA. When will he be awake?

 

PHYSICIAN. Directly the King comes and calls him.

 

SUDHA. Will you whisper a word