THE BRIDGE OVER THE RUSHIKULYA RIVER

                             When I was in primary school, there was no bridge over the Rushikulya river that cut through the old Surada town, my ancestral village in Ganjam and Gopalpur Sashan ,a hamlet on the Surada-Bhanjanagar road. People who wanted to go to Bhanjanagar had to wade through the shallow water or sometimes the knee-deep water to come to Gopalpur Sashan to get a bus or any means of conveyance. During the rainy season all  communication was cut off by the flooded  river. Soon a bridge began to be constructed over the river to facilitate communication and transportation between these two places. We ,the children of the Paik Street, Surada  had irrepressible desire then to see the construction site. We had already  made up a plan to go to the place without the knowledge of our parents.

                            However, a rumour that two children were sacrificed at the construction site in a tantric ritual and their blood was offered to an unknown deity, scared us very much. Our parents were petrified in horror and advised us not to  go to that place under any circumstance. Anyway, now a beautiful bridge stands over the river connecting Surada to Gopalpur Sashan. Whenever, my family and I drive along the bridge, thoughts about the old days come to my mind and make me nostalgic.

( Writer-Dr. Pradeep Kumar Nayak )