Piare puttar,
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 commod e. 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 the 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 fulfil 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.