Often I visited the village during the summer holidays. In the fields with other children, played with the Sorghum stalks. The inside white colour soft pith - which appeared like thermocoal, and the sharp bark of the stalks which we used for making the artefacts like bullock carts, pull carts and ornaments.

Whenever I visited the fields after harvesting the grains, often saw the soppa-kuppa or heaps of Sorghum stalks. It was used as fodder for the cattle. I loved climbing and jumping from the soppa heaps. It was very dangerous. Its outer bark is very thin and razor sharp, and sometimes one might get deep cuts. My Mama often warned me not to jump. The relationship between the Mama and son-in-law i.e., sisters son, is always very special.

I also liked exploring the streams and brooks. The beautiful sand, pebbles and gravel found along the banks were beautiful. The water appeared crystal clear and the shadows of the small fish on the sand is seen very well as compared to the fish in camouflaged colour.

One day, one of my relatives took the Buffaloes for a bath in the stream. I also accompanied him. He climbed on a buffalo and asked me to get on another buffalo. I followed his method and tried to climb from the tail side. Placed my foot on the knee joint and held the two projecting pelvic bones to climb. I succeeded in climbing it. After some time, it did not like me sitting on it. The buffalo jerked its body and I fell on the soft sand along the banks of the stream. In Madhubani area, Bihar state, in many villages, people sit and also try to sleep on a buffalo while it grazes grass. Especially in the winters, it is a common sight, people and children sit on the buffaloes and they also bask in the warm sunlight.

A child on a grazing buffalo