P.O.Nellayi-680305!

In my younger days visiting post office with my brother was a regular happening at least during vacation time.
We used to get lot of letters/periodicals by post then. Reaching home reading these letters to parents, uncles was part of daily routine on holidays. In those days most of the villagers used to assemble in the post office and wait eagerly for letters and money orders. The post master and other staff used to be very friendly with every one. The mail had to come from Padukkad Post office and the waiting was for the arrival of the man carrying the mail in cycle. While sorting the letters the post man would say 'a,b, c your letters are there' The happiness on receiving a much expected letter/ money order is a scene to be seen. The disappointment on the face of the people when the post man says "no letters" is also a scene to be seen. The post master used to talk to villagers and console them by saying "it would come tomorrow". This behavior gave great respect to the persons working in the post office and they had a semi God status then!
I remembered all these when I visited my village post office recently. I was visiting the office after a very long time and I was shocked to see no one waiting for letters/M.Os there. The technology change has changed the scenario drastically and I felt sorry for the change as one office is fading out from lime light and facing its natural death. I did feel sorry for the persons working there. Their status among the villagers has comedown considerably as one seldom gets a chance to see these people and talk to them. The relationship with them if not lost fully,but it seems to be at the lowest ebb these days. The kaki uniform of the postman has undergone colour change and presently it's in sea blue colour.
I went to the post office to collect a registered letter, as per the intimation served at my house. I gave the intimation slip to the post master. He showed no interest at all, but showed some distress and was engaged in doing some ledger posting. After a good 10 minutes, I reminded the gentleman about the letter. He then handed over the slip to the person seated next to his table This gentleman took the bundle of letters and very slowly gave it to the 'sir'. Another 5 minutes went by and after entering the details of my letter in records he gave me the letter after obtaining my signature on a paper.
It took more than 25 minutes to collect a registered letter from a post office, which had a deserted look. I felt sorry for having felt sorry for the technology development!
But one good thing happened by this visit to the post office, I got nostalgic feelings about my younger days and the working of the very same office then!