Sikh Mother's Letter

Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot. (Charlie Chaplin)

Comedy is an escape, not from truth but from despair; a narrow escape into faith.

A Sikh’s mother wrote the following letter to her Sardar son who lives in America.

Pyaarey Puttar,

Vahey 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 home, so we moved 20 miles.

I won't be able to send the address as the last Sardar who stayed here took the house numbers with him for his new house so he wouldn't have to change his 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 the nearby oil 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 in the sea.

There isn't much more news this time. Nothing much has happened.

With Love

Your Mom

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

Do you know of a Sardar who parked his car in front of board which said,
"FINE FOR PARKING"?