BooksBarbecue
Back Passage West
Chapters (59)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. Cast of Characters
  5. Part One
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. Letters
  14. Part Two
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. Letters
  26. Part Three
  27. 18
  28. 19
  29. 20
  30. 21
  31. 22
  32. 23
  33. Letters
  34. Part Four
  35. 24
  36. 25
  37. 26
  38. 27
  39. 28
  40. Letters
  41. Part Five
  42. 29
  43. 30
  44. 31
  45. 32
  46. 33
  47. 34
  48. 35
  49. 36
  50. 37
  51. 38
  52. 39
  53. 40
  54. 41
  55. Epilogue
  56. Acknowledgments
  57. About the Author
  58. Also by Rishi Reddi
  59. About the Publisher

If you have no objection, and it is in line with your own thinking, I will make some plans for my return, to see for the first time my son’s face. Is it possible? I pray for your well-being always. Please reply soon. Greetings to all.

Your humble nephew,

Ram

21 November 1916

My good nephew,

I trust that this letter will find you in good health and spirits. You know that I seldom engage in letter-writing. But you have been such a boon to this household that I thought it wise to inform you of this in my own words. After all, you are like a son to me.

Here at your home, everything was well until last week. Your cousin had a beautiful wedding. Everyone was happy and singing your praises. The money you have sent these years has accomplished so much. Ishwar and I went to the village and inspected and purchased 32 acres of land of the best soil. It is very near to our ancestral plots, and only 4 furlongs from the district headquarters. You have made me proud, and you have made your mother proud.

But recently, there has been misfortune in our household. Early morning on Saturday last week, the barn caught on fire and burned down. We were lucky that Ishwar rose very early for some purpose that day and roused all of us and we moved all the animals. But the barn will have to be rebuilt. Also, we need to build another home on our new lands, for Ishwar and his soon-to-be wife, so that they may bring those lands into proper cultivation. Please, just accomplish these tasks and then you may return. Your home will be waiting for you.

From the hand of your uncle,

Chanda Lal

18 January 1917

Dear Ma,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Probably Padma is reading it to you, and I am picturing the scene in my mind. Perhaps Uncle has informed you, the money I sent has paid for the land that he and Ishwar bought in our Shahpur village. I am telling you so that you should not feel obliged to him. He should express to you clearly his gladness. But he has asked that I send more money for repair of the barn, and also for constructing a home on the new lands. I do not understand why so much money is needed. What sort of grand structures will these be? But I will do as Uncle says. It is my duty. My heart is sore with the thought of staying away from you and my wife and my son, who is still a stranger to me. I hope Padma is looking after you well.

Your son,

Ram

30 March 1917

My dear son, my world,