The Well That Never Drains: A Village's Unease

An unsettling change has come over a village where a well, once a symbol of community life, now evokes fear. An elder observes that the well's water level remains constant, even after eight months of drought, prompting concern that "the water never recedes."

This unchanging water level is a stark contrast to the well's past. Villagers recall a time when it was a place for children's games and a spot for women to gather and gossip while washing clothes. The sound of water splashing was a familiar measure of the well's depth, a depth no adult had ever truly measured.

“

The water never recedes.

The memory of dusk, marked by the call to prayer from a worn-out surau, signaled the end of the day and the mandatory return home for children. Even Bu Sum, known for her sharp voice, would ensure children were indoors, acting like a teacher absent from the classroom.

The narrator reminisces about a childhood spent with Sohib, Bu Sum's son, crafting kites. They sharpened kite strings with broken glass, a practice their fathers warned against, fearing severed tendons. The narrator remembers the sting of saltwater on their hands and the lingering scent of brine in the air, a constant companion in their coastal village. The contrast between these carefree memories and the current apprehension surrounding the well creates a poignant sense of loss.

“

Fortunately, someone saw it then. Rojak. He's an odd person, but fortunately, he was there.