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| Sunday, 18 August 2002 |
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by Punyakante Wijenaike
A life size portrait of her father, the Mudaliyar dominated the hall. His moustache still curled brisk and unforgiving. The colour had not faded through the passing years. The gold buttons down his black coat still gleamed as if polished every day. His wife stood next to him, equal in stature eye brows raised in constant displeasure. She had been brought up by an ayah called Selestina. She bathed Apsara dressed her, fed her, put on her shoes and socks. Her long hair was daily combed, brushed and tied with a red ribbon and Selestina even carried her bag to school. She grew up, as girls do, and married a Civil Servant, Devendra, in a very correct, upright service. Yet another civil servant tied the knot officially. Weak man It did not take her long to find out that her husband was a weak man. A sensitive man who wanted peace at all costs. He gave into her all the way. She expected him to wait on her, like her ayah had done, run the estate, tackle her income tax. She, following her mother's example, became a pillar of a Woman's club. Morning, noon and night she spent at the club, always well dressed, playing mah-jong or bridge, tennis or sitting at tea parties or dinner parties as ladies of leisure did. Only child They had just one child, a girl. Handing the baby over to a well trained nanny, she decided she would never go through another painful child birth however much her husband longed for a son. The girl went through school with the help of her father. Her mother, meantime was fully engrossed in the activities of the Club. Soon she became its vice-president. It did not seem to matter that her world consisted of women only, competing with clothes, hair-do's and back-biting remarks. She revelled in it all. The household was run by servants. Very often as she drove away to her club, he would watch her go wistfully, knowing he had no wife. Brains The girl got through her O'Levels and A'Levels with credits to her name. She had inherited her father's brains. Apsara began boasting of her daughter's achievements at the club. She wanted her daughter to enter her world, to join the club. The girl refused. She chose to spend the evenings with her lonely father, planning to follow a career of her own choice. She married a man of her own choice, much against her mother's wishes who wanted her daughter to marry into the 'upper crust' of society. Her choice was a musician, a different world from that of her parents. Apsara accused Devendra of turning her daughter against the mother, of turning her into something that did not belong with the Mudaliyar's household. Home But the girl told the father. "I don't want to be a woman like my mother. I want my home to be the centre of my life. I will put my husband and children before a club. Of course I will have friends but they will be of the sort who will stand by me in times of need. No social butterflies.' 'You must understand your mother,' Devendra said wearily one day. 'It is true she is a spoilt only child. She was used to fluttering between home and other places. She can't change old habits now. But I believe she is now beginning to wonder what the real meaning of life is. Care 'I am glad I am not like her' said the girl violently. 'Why don't you come and live with us father? You are all alone here with no one to care for you.' He shook his head. 'I can't intrude on your family life. Keep bringing my grandson to see me though. Although I have no son I have a grandson now.' 'The garden is neglected' she said 'why don't you take an interest in the garden. Grow some flowers. Make yourself happy.' Again he shook his head. 'It is Her garden. She wouldn't want me to touch it.' 'What kind of a life are you leading father? Denying yourself being lonely all the time? Loved He said gently; 'Ah but I may not be lonely for long. Before long your mother might realise she needs me when her fine friends forget. When she can no longer drive the car, play bridge or Mah-jong. You see my patience will be rewarded then. She will realise then that I waited all these years for her love and not her possessions. I have touched nothing that belonged to her. She will then realise I have loved her, all these years.' |
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The house was hers. From the beginning of their marriage that had been
established between them. He may live in it because of the marriage
certificate. But she was the Boss.
