Arrival of the postman, especially in small towns, was a matter of excitement for many. Just engaged fiancées would await him for an envelop from the fiancé; the old man would gaze through the window in the hope of a letter from his son posted in the army at some far off place or a mother would endlessly wait for a postcard (pc) from her son.

Each letter was a treasure to cherish. It would start with name on the left side and complete address on the right hand side followed by the date. The space in between was occupied differently by different people. For example, the older generation would write an Om or Ganeshay Namah there and a just engaged fiancé might doodle a heart or a rose flower. Concept was not to waste space.

Thereafter, depending upon the age and relationship of the writer to the addressee the opening sentence would start. If it was from the old man to his son, it would mention not only his name but would address the daughter in law and the kids as well and bless them all.

A detailed description of the family, neighbors, relations, friends and even the domestic animals followed. “The cow has not eaten food for the past five days” or the “new born calf has already started galloping in the courtyard” the letter from the mother to her student son would read.

The magic of pc was such that it would reach any part of the country within an appreciably reasonable time. The liveried postman on his “Post Office red” bicycle would come to deliver letters two or three times a day.
The detailed, informative letters on a pc of the yore have become a thing of the past. Now the short and abbreviated email typed on a PC (personal computer) has replaced the good old letter.

Mails start with a Hi followed by “hru” (How are you) and say “m well, send 4k 4 fees” (I am well, send Rs 4000 for fees). “Bye”. 

A new lingua of mails and SMS has evolved. Sons, daughters, parents, daughter in laws, all are busy. What keeps them busy is their business. One awaits the postman in the falls hope of a pc, but alas one has to logon to the PC to check mail and to find a HI from a dear one.