Every village has a well in its centre. Villagers take water from it for drinking and washing purposes. The well has a raised platform around it. The villagers draw water by means of buckets.
Some young women come to the well daily to draw water. They cleanse their utensils there. Their sweet smiles with shining eyes show that they are cracking jokes with one another. Next moment they become serious. Perhaps they have seen some elderly man coming towards the well. At some distance from the well you can see some women washing their clothes. On the other side, some young men are taking bath. They try to show their muscles. Some use soap to show their good position. Elderly men pour water on their heads saying “Hari Om” and “Ram Ram”.
Near the well there is a trough. People bring their cattle there. It is a pleasing sight to see thirsty cattle drinking water from the trough.
The village well is a news agency. Here you can get all kinds of reports, true and false. The village well becomes a battle field when the women quarrel over some topic. They exchange hot words. But the quarrel is soon over. The presence of some old men brings the quarrel to an end. The village well is a meeting place of the people of the village. It becomes a centre of activities. There is a big tree near the well. The people spend their afternoon time under its shade. Some people play cards and sing songs.
A village well becomes a busy place since morning. With the rising of the sun, the activities go on increasing. They last till night.
Vocabulary
Cleanse—make clean
Thirsty—feeling thirst
