The mad woman

I walk a kilometre or so to school every morning. Sometimes I come across a mad woman dressed in a dark dirt:, sari. She probably had not had a bath for years. Her hair is matted, teeth stained red with betel-nut and eyes blood-shot with the look of madness. I always keep my distance from her for my own safety for I cannot be sure what she will do flex: Also she smells terrible up close.

It is never pleasant when I see her standing by the roadside. She is by no means violent but she has the nasty habit of following people who pass by. Normally when I see her I cross over to the other side of the road just to avoid her Usually that works. Sometimes she crosses the road too. So run. Fortunately she cannot run very fast and gives up after while.

One morning, as I crossed the road to avoid her, she tried to cross too. I started to run. She started to run too but. tripped on her sari. She fell down hard on the road and lay there in a heap. I wanted to keep running but I saw that she was in great danger of being run over by a car. So I ran over her to pull her to the roadside.

As much as I disliked it, I had to help her. The other passers-by did not seem to bother. So I held my breath as I pull her by her arms towards the roadside. By now people and cars had stopped to watch. No one helped but at last I managed to drag her to safety.

She opened her eyes and gave me a smile. I could only stare at her dumbly. Then I turned and hurried to school to wash my hands.

Nowadays I cycle to school. It is much faster this way. Also I do not have to contend with the mad woman again