The Tale of Tuntuni and the Barber

A folktale from Bengal, by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury

The old, neglected house had many little nooks and crannies that housed all kinds of creatures. Several families of bulbuls and sparrows had set up house in old ventilator holes in the derelict walls . Untidy nests could also be seen in the cups of ancient fans, that hung from the ceilings. The garden was a dreaming jungle of sunlit foliage and flowers.…