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| Sunday, 21 July 2002 |
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Short Story The deserted Child by Piyadasa Wickrema Seneviratne The court house was filled to capacity no sooner its doors were opened. The strong and brawny grabbed the few available seats. Others had standing accommodation only. Those who were in the corridors stretched their necks to have a glimpse of what was taking place inside.
Wimalasiri had filed an application for a writ of Habeas Corpus to obtain the custody of Ranga, his three-year old son. His wife Kusuma had handed Ranga over to her brother and stealthily slipped out of the country in search of greener pastures. All his endeavours to get back the child had failed and as a last resort he had sought redress from the court. As he sat amidst the crowd, his thoughts began to linger on the past. It was five years ago that he married Kusuma, a good-looking and unsophisticated village girl. It was a sequel to a 'love-at-first-sight' at a function in the village temple. There was no opposition from the girl's parents as he had a government job, Wimalasiri worked as a Karayala Karya Sahayake in a government department in Colombo. They married with the blessings of their parents and during the past five years of their marriage they were happy and contented. Trouble The trouble started when the lady of the neighbouring house Mary Akka attempted to lure her into a job in the Middle East. Mary Akka had returned from Doha after a spell as a domestic aid. She had put up a house, bought all the modern luxuries like a TV set, washing machine and a host of other electrical appliances. Her imported dresses and the jewellery that decorated her buxom body earned the envy of Kusuma. Wimalasiri could not afford the luxury of a house in Colombo for his family. He therefore, lived in a small rented out room in a shanty at Slave Island during week days and visited his family during weekends. Visited One fine morning when Wimalasiri was away in Colombo, Mary Akka visited his wife with imported chocolates and an impressive little bottle of perfume. Kusuma was overjoyed with her visit. Mary Akka had a long chat with Kusuma about Doha Qatar and her spell of service under an Arab millionaire. She also told her how she was able to get over her woes with the money she earned abroad. "Had I not taken this decision to go abroad I would have been dead and buried long ago. My man would have ruined the entire family" said Mary Akka. Kusuma was highly impressed by the achievement of Mary Akka. When she left, she gave an assurance to Kusuma to help her too to get a job through her millionaire employer. One evening when Wimalasiri was fondling their baby and was in a happy mood, Kusuma thought that it was the best opportunity to discuss this matter with him. "Mary Akka dropped in this morning. She brought a big chocolate for the son and a nice bottle of perfume for me. They seem to be very prosperous now after she went abroad. "She was in Doha for a mere five years. See what she has done? She has put up a house. She has bought all her household requirements. Psh! you must see the gold she is decorating herself with!" Broken Family "True Kusuma, I am not jealous of her, but see what has befallen her family. Her husband is now living with another woman. What is the use of wealth even of the whole world when the family is broken up" said Wimalasiri unconcernedly and proceeded to fondle the baby. "Families of all women who go abroad do not break up like that. Now see Wimale, we are living in a shack. Don't you think that we need a masonry-built house like our neighbours? In a couple of years we have to send our son to school. All this needs money...." "So...?" asked Wimalasiri inquiringly. "I thought of going for a job abroad. I will be able to collect a little money and come. That will lighten your burden to a great extent." "To go abroad?" asked Wimalasiri in surprise. "Yes Wimale. Mary Akka said that she can help me find a job" said Kusuma with confidence. Wimalasiri had heard many stories about women who had gone to the Middle East in search of jobs. Some had had immense trouble with their masters who had made improper advances to them. Others had to work like slaves. There were instances when they had been severely beaten up or even killed. Who knows what her fate will be? Apart from that who will look after the child. He was thoroughly displeased with her ill-conceived plan. Welfare "Look here Kusuma, money is not everything. More than anything we have to look into the welfare of our tiny tot" said Wimalasiri with disapproval. "That precisely is the reason why I thought of this move." "Kusuma, nothing can compensate a child for the loss of her maternal love. We will face our problems as they come, I will endeavour to earn some extra money perhaps doing some overtime. But as regards going abroad my reply is an emphatic 'No' said Wimalasiri resolutely. Several weeks passed with no further discussions or arguments. On a particular Friday evening Wimalasiri came home as usual with sweets for the baby and some household needs as it happened to be pay day. As he stepped into the compound he felt some unusual loneliness and a deserted appearance in the house. Usually Kusuma used to look forward to her husband's arrival for the weekend and when she saw him coming she used to walk towards him with the child and exchange pleasantries with him. On this particular day things were different. The house was closed and there were no lights. Where had she gone? Was the child sick? Wimalasiri thought to himself. He tapped at the front door but there was no response. He got a little alarmed and walked round the house tapping at every door and window calling out Kusuma but there was dead silence. The place was as quite as a grave yard. Wimalasiri was getting tense and highly perturbed. He went to the house of Mary Akka, but she was unable to give any information. He made inquiries from the neighbourhood but no clue was forthcoming. He then got alarmed and ran to Kusuma's parental home. "Did Kusuma come home?" he asked with abated breath. "Kusumawathie Akka left for a job in Qatar yesterday" said Sirisena, his brother-in-law who was in the verandah. Wimalasiri felt as if the whole world was spinning round him. His legs were shivering and his mouth ran dry. Recovering his normal self after a few seconds he shouted. "What? left for a job? I am totally in the dark about the whole matter. I am her legal husband. She can't do such a thing without my permission. Did she take the child too?" "No she left the child with us" said Sirisena. Wimalasiri thought for a moment. He was impatient to see the child. "Let that bloody bitch go to any 'timbuckto.' Where is my child? Give him to me." "Sorry Aiya, Kusumakka has given me strict instructions to keep the child with us. My wife will look after him well" "Who the hell is that woman to make orders like that? Give me my child, quick." "Sorry we can't do that" said Sirisena. All his entreaties and the subsequent threats were of no avail. He went to the Police Station to lodge a complaint but \was told that they could not intervene in the matter as the mother had entrusted the child to Sirisena and his wife after making an entry at the Police Station. After spending a sleepless night he met a lawyer and on his advice filed an application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus to obtain custody of his son. Sirisena was the Respondent in the case. Wimalasiri was brooding over his plight. He had no understanding of what was taking place in the court. Will I get back my child today? I will never take this woman under my roof even if she comes back with loads of gold. What is the use of a woman who is lured by money at the expense of an innocent child? Where is the maternal love which this poor child richly deserves? Is money everything in the world? She has been blind to everything after seeing the glittering jewellery of Mary Akka. "Case No...Wimalasiri. Applicant and Sirisena Respondent" came the high-pitched voice of the Mudaliyar. Wimalasiri was suddenly awakened from his reverie. He squeezed through the crowd and stood behind his lawyer. Sirisena stood on the opposite side with the child. "Thaththi Thaththi! I want my Thaththi' screamed the child as he saw Wimalasiri. He struggled with Sirisena to get himself released and run to his father. But Sirisena held him firmly trying to pacify him with loving words. "Take that child out for a moment and come back when called" said the Mudaliyar after consulting the Judge. Sirisena walked out with the screaming child.. Cruelty "This is yet another case of human cruelty, Your Honour, in this instance it is by a mother to her child" said the Petitioner's lawyer. "This woman, lured by the gold of the Middle East has virtually deserted this child. While the husband was away in Colombo during week days engaged in his employment, she had conspired with a lady called Mary Akka and planned to get a job in the Middle East. She had obtained her travel documents with the help of this woman and stealthily slipped out of the country leaving the child with the Respondent. When Wimalasiri came home for the weekend he found that Kusuma had slipped out leaving the child with the brother. Now we are asking for custody of the child Your Honour." Greener pastures "She has gone in search of greener pastures in the interest of the child, Your Honour. With the paltry salary which the Petitioner draws as a government servant, they could not make ends meet. That is why she has accepted employment abroad. Respondent is the child's uncle and he is being well looked after. I therefore move that the Respondent be permitted to retain the custody of the child", said the respondent's lawyer. After hearing the submissions of both counsel the judge finally, made order. "I have given my careful consideration to the submissions made by counsel on both sides. This child has been virtually deserted by his, mother, in her quest for more money and the innocent child has lost his mother's love. Uncle or even the father for that matter is no proper substitute for the mother. This child who has been the victim of unstable desire for money of the mother at least deserves the love and care of the father. I therefore, order that the custody of the child be handed over to the father of the child Wimalasiri." The child was brought back to the court house. Seeing Wimalasiri he started screaming again" I want my Thaththi, I want my Thaththi" and started beating Sirisena on his chest trying to get release himself. "Yes you can have your Thaththi" said the judge in a lighter vein. It was a touching scene. The child was allowed to go to Wimalasiri who lifted him with tears in his eyes. The child clasped the father's neck and kissed him and Wimalasiri fondly embraced him. |
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Wimalasiri
was lucky enough to get a seat. although it was in the last row. He could
hardly see what was going on before the judge, he could only hear the
hoarse-voiced yelling of the court mudaliyar. Wimalasiri had hardly any
sleep the previous night. His wearied and unshaven face were
manifestations of his internal worries.
