In our house, there was an open well in the middle of the plot. Part of the well was dug-up by my parents. We drew water over a pulley with a bucket tied to a rope. There were many sparrows which made nests in the holes made on the wall of the well. These small holes were made for a foothold to climb up or down using a rope. They bring straw and other material to build the nest. Sometimes their eggs fall into the well and break. The whole water in the well smelled like a rotten egg, and it was tough to drink the water for two to three days. Once someone gave a turtle and we have placed it in the well. During clear days we could see it swimming and occasionally surfacing to breath air. The water in the well is usually warm during early morning hours as compared to the already stored water.

Well was the only source of water for about two decades in our house. Particularly, in the summers we three siblings and my mother used to draw water to irrigate the plants. We used to carry the water in small pails. One of us or sometimes, me and my elder sister used to draw water together. For pulling the heavy bucket and to do the job faster, sometimes we used to jump by pressing the leg on the parapet wall of the well. Giving water to plants by running was fun. We wanted to complete the job as soon as possible so that we could go out and play. By the time all the plants are given water, we would be almost drenched in water. In contact with the water, the dry seeds of Kanakambaralu flower or Crossandra infundibuliformis (firecracker flower) plants used to burst out like bullets and make a ‘tic’ sound. Some of the seeds also hit our legs, it was so fun.