A dream of the past

Its pretty cold. There was thin layer of snow just hanging over the face of that fine morning. the hoot of morning cochin express was just coming in. The gate was closed. No cart or horse car were there on both sides of the gate. Govindettan, the gate keeper was lazily smoking a beedi , enjoying the weak smoke of it, casually. there was a small wooden rode, wrapped with red and green flags partially torn on his left hand. He was just waiting for the express to pass. sam, the 8 yr old boy with a cloth bag in his hand was just waiting on the right side of the gate, looking at gateman, curiousely. He was on his way to Fair price shop to get Andhra rice for the week, supplied by Govt., at low price for poor people.his umma sent him so early, that he can be in the cue as first one as the shop opens at 8/30.So he can come bak and go to madrasa and school, at 9/30. That fairly cold morning was in the yr, 1956.there was accute shortage for rice and the people of malabar was not in a position to spend 12 annas for a seer( a measure of rice)and hence they opt for the ration rice at 5 annas.sam was just dreaming of getting a puttu from Mareetha on other side of gate, which was his wage for this morning job. He was so impatient that the train may come quick.