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| Sunday, 13 October 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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by Ruth Cole
He saw an old man wearing a sarong and a rag around his shoulders sweeping the Walawwa garden. As the sunrays spread to the veranda he saw a red and blue mattress on the floor. A small boy was sleeping crouched on it. The old man would come to the Walawwa every night to watch it and his son came along to assist him. But the boy always came for the dinner he got, and then fell asleep like a log. As the day broke the small boy was awaken and he disappeared behind the Walawwa with his red and blue mattress for his plain tea. Nimal saw the old man, much older now, walking towards the Walawwa. "Appachchi, it's too early. The dew is high today", Nimal yelled. The old man looked up at the balcony and said that he wouldn't get ill with the blessings of Dalada Hamuduruwo. Nimal didn't argue. It was difficult to stop his father from his much accustomed habits. Thus he went inside. Recalled Nimal drove to work along a row of houses. In his childhood it was a green group of trees. He recalled a small boy dressed in a white shirt and a sarong walking to school. Then he heard the bells of the bullock cart. The old man now drove the cart. A little girl sat at the back. "Simon, stop the cart!" she ordered. The cart did stop. The boy got in. Sat on the seat opposite Chutty Menike's and the cart left for school. This procedure happened almost every day. Walawwe Hamu too knew about it. But they never encouraged the boy to come to the Walawwa and get into the cart nor did he prohibit this. They pretended that they didn't know. Walawwe Hamu provided all the boy's need for schooling. It was part of the old man's payment for all the chores he did. But when the ploughing and reaping seasons came, the boy helped the farmers of the Walawwa paddy fields staying away from school. It was like a secret agreement. Walawwe Hamu never asked the boy to cut school. But it happened every season. Nobody talked about it. It was Chutty Menike who helped Nimal to catch up with his schoolwork. She taught him not only school lessons but also lessons in good breeding. It's this teaching that helped Nimal to shine in society a few years later. Nimal was her best friend and she shared her secrets and tales with him. It was only she who was happy with all her heart about the boy's success. His parents were ignorant and hers were jealous. Nimal became a manager of a leading bank. He had come back to the village after a long time, and he was disturbed by his past. He felt as if he left home yesterday. In his mind Nimal saw a little boy entering the bank with 'Liyana Mahattaya'. Liyana Mahattaya was teaching the boy banking procedures. Nimal saw the boy's eyes greedily looking at all the money they were depositing. But the greed in the boy's heart was not for money, but to be a gentleman like the impressive manager behind the massive desk. Nimal recalled how the boy came to the bank with Walawwe Hamu at times. It was when he deposited a large sum of money from the sale of lands which became his when the poor mortgagees couldn't pay their debts. The boy always stood behind Walawwe Hamu's chair and watched the manager with shining eyes. He, in his European dress, was more of a great magnitude and importance than Walawwe Hamu. Report Today Walawwe Hamu entered the bank alone. Nimal impulsively stood up. He had never sat in his presence before. He was disturbed by his guest's defeated face; he felt a great sympathy when he heard that Hamu wanted to mortgage the Walawwa to the bank. Nimal remembered the little boy getting up as Walawwe Hamu entered the veranda and sat in his usual armchair. Then the boy would sit on the steps of the veranda. Next he would report to the Hamu of what had happened at school, in the fields or in the village. The other family members too would listen to the child. This time of the day was devoted to this friendly talk. The same crowd was gathered today, though they looked much older. Chutty Menike had grown up to be a charming young lady. As Nimal entered the Walawwe Hamu got up and welcomed him. He was embarrassed at this unexpected welcome. He felt lost. And so were the others. Only Chutty Menike managed to bring up a conversation. She had always called Nimal by his name. The Walawwe folk had called him "Kolla" in the past, thinking that "Nimal" was too grand a name. But they couldn't call him 'Kolla' today. Yet they found it difficult to call him "Nimal" or "Manager Mahattaya". Nimal didn't know how to start the conversation. He knew that the Walawwa was going to be mortgaged to find money for Chutty Menike's dowry for her marriage to Bandara Hamu of the next village. He too was bankrupt. Mango tree He expected to pay his debts to the bank by the dowry he would get. Nimal couldn't bear to see Chutty Menike being married to a bankrupt man and suffering. But he also knew that Hamu would not approve if he proposed. Nimal; their servant's son; their 'Kolla', proposing such an alliance itself will be considered an insult. Nimal felt that he was a fool to have come here without any plan. After some conversation, Walawwe Hamu and Loku Menike left the veranda leaving the 'children' to themselves. Nimal was not a guest here. Chutty Menike went to the bench under the mango tree, and Nimal followed her. This had been one of their favourite places during their childhood. Nimal had not sat there since he left the village to accept his first appointment in Anuradhapura. The village had changed ever since. By the time he returned, there were lot of outside businessmen in a lot of new houses. Even his brother-in-law had put up a big house for Nimal. The Walawwa looked shrunk in the presence of his massive mansion. Nimal tried to convince himself that this was because the Walawwa was sinking in a growing pool of trees. But he couldn't ignore all the big houses which were owned by the newcomers, who didn't know the customs and culture of this village. They didn't know who's who, neither did they care. For them there was no difference between Nimal's mansion and the Walawwa. They respected Nimal more because he had money and a prestigious position compared to Walawwe Hamu who had nothing but a good pedigree. This change of attitude and situation had made Nimal hesitant to go to the Walawwa since he returned. Nimal felt more relaxed under the Mango tree. Chutty Menike asked Nimal about himself and then she told him of her dislike for Bandara. She said that her parents too didn't like the proposal. But they didn't have much of a choice as they couldn't leave an unmarried daughter behind when they were dead and gone. They had to leave her under some protection: for the new neighbours didn't know her or respect her as she had been respected. Only a marriage would give her security. Not sure of himself, Nimal asked if Hamu would approve, if he proposed to her. After much consideration she said encouragingly: "Appachchi might consider it. Nobody is any longer interested in the past except for some old villagers. Their children are changed with their newly earned money. There are so many newcomers. They only care about money and nothing else" Poruwa Nimal saw a big crowd which was glamorously dressed for their wedding. They were the emerging business class. The blinding glitter of their gold out shone over the ancestral jewellery of Menikela. The small boy who was sleeping on the red and blue mattress disappeared behind the Walawwa with this new relationship. Now he is very well recognized, and was part of the gentry. No one will ever talk about the small boy; the 'Kolla' but only about Nimal; Walawwe Hamu's son-in-law. The timidity in his eyes turned to a confident gleam and he proudly looked at the people whom he joined....... ........At the far end of the hall, away from the ceremony, he noticed a pair of disapproving eyes of an old man. |
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The sun was creeping through the mountain range. Yet the 'Pahan Tharuwa'
was still visible. Nimal went onto the balcony of his house. From there he
could clearly see the veranda of the Walawwa. Though it's now old and
decaying, its woodcarvings and porches witnessed a bygone era of grandeur.
For a moment Nimal was swept away to those majestic days of the Walawwa.
