The Canal is a short story featured in the book ‘Secrets’ by Ruskin Bond. The story is about some adolescent boys’ frolic activities in and around a canal in Dehradun. Ruskin (the narrator) and some of his friends used to bath and while away time in that canal during simmer time. The canal used to come from the mountains up the valley. The canal was famous because once it was a battle point and historians called it Nalapani. Well, the gang of boys called it Panipat battle point, since they were weak at history lessons. Their only interruption to the fun was Miss Gamla. The canal flowed touching the backside edge of her house. There were a lot of pot plants in her house and for this reason the boys called her Miss Gamla. She was around sixty year old spinster. Because of her presence, boys hardly ever bathed in full nakedness. At the sight of grown up boys, she felt upset. Boys’ noise often disturbed her afternoon siesta. She would often warn them to be off but boys never listen...
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