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| Sunday, 23 May 2004 |
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The Romantic fortune teller by Andrew Scott Ranjith was an English teacher in a remote school off Hanguranketha several decades ago. Though he was educated in a Colombo school he could not enter the university as he fell short of the all important cut off mark. This frustrated him to a great extent but his parents who were constantly dreaming of a bright future for their only son were more frustrated.
Then having passed out as a fully fledged English teacher he was appointed to Malulla Sinhala school as its only English teacher. Though this school was far away from his home-town Ranjith became fascinated by the rich greenery of this utterly rural area and the life style of its poor peasants who had very scanty needs. Ranjith tried his best for the sake of these innocent half clad students who clamoured to acquire some knowledge of English. Devils brew Before a year passed Ranjith got addicted to the use of liquor through a close friend of his in the same school. His friend led a very frustrated life having lost his beloved wife and child in a nasty road accident some years ago. He advised Ranjith that one could get over all frustrations and bitter experiences in life by taking liquor. To begin with Ranjith took a small quantity of liquor but as time passed on he became so addicted to this devils brew that he gave a great deal of trouble to the school where he was teaching as well as the quiet village of Malulla. The villagers and the students who cherished the company of Ranjith at one time, turned against him now ignoring him completely. Fortune teller Through a mutual friend-Ranjith's parents in Colombo came to know the plight of their son. Using some political influence they got him a transfer to a school in close proximity to Colombo where he could travel from home. Having got their son into their clutches Ranjith's parents decided to seek the assistance of a well known astrologer cum fortune teller in the outskirts of Matale to rid the evil planetary influences affecting Ranjith's life. The astrologer was well known in many parts of Sri Lanka and he had a daughter named Yamuna who had a winsome smile and an attractive Kandyan figure. She had beauty in every line of her attractively carved slender body which showed off well in her simple village attire. Yamuna was her father's principal helper and while helping him she too was training herself to be a competent astrologer cum fortune teller. As soon as Ranjith entered the portals of the astrologer's house his rowing eyes fell on this simple village beauty - it was love at first sight. Uneventful romance The astrologer advised Ranjith's parents not to worry too much and that according to Ranjith's horoscope the bad influence of his stars to which he is now subjected to would vanish very soon. Ranjith's parents and Ranjith went back home quite satisfied. However Ranjith could not take his mind off from Yamuna whose figure appeared and re-appeared to him day and night. He started visiting Yamuna's place regularly and his anxious parents got wind of this. The parents got annoyed to hear that their only son has fallen for a village girl and thought that he is a total disgrace to their entire family. Once again using some political influence they got Ranjith transferred to a distant school in Polonnaruwa. Though Ranjith continued his connection with Yamuna through regular correspondence his parents intercepted the letters to Yamuna by bribing the postman. Yamuna was frightfully shaken up but was helpless to do anything though she pined for Ranjith's company day in and day out. After some time he received a letter from an unknown person informing him that both Yamuna and her astrologer father died recently being afflicted with dengue fever. This ended Ranjith's uneventful romance with Yamuna, a simple girl from a Kandyan village. The excitement One day Ranjith who was living in the teachers quarters found his coveted degree certificate missing from his possession. He was deeply agitated by this and one of his friends in Polonnaruwa advised him to consult a lady fortune teller practising her craft in a remote village off Polonnaruwa. This astrologer had a reputation throughout the area for helping people to successfully trace their lost belongings. This lady fortune tellerr's consulting room was full of miniature statues and pictures of gods and it emanated the mellow scent of freshly burnt incense. When his chance came Ranjith nervously entered the room, placed the 'pannduru' (payment) wrapped in some betel leaves, and explained his problem to the fortune teller who listened patiently. Then glancing at a glass she said that the lost certificate is tucked away in his trunk along with some old files and the letters sent to him by a girl. Ranjith was simply taken aback by this prediction. He could not talk for a while. Then he hastened to ask the fortune teller whether this girl is dead or alive. She said: "she's still alive and is still longing for you." Ranjith interrupted: "Tell me where she is. Tell me where she is." Ranjith's voice was shivering with excitement. "Go to the public park in the town today itself at 7 p.m. You are sure to meet her there" the fortune teller advised. Married with blessings When deeply pondering Ranjith made his way to the park thoughts about Yamuna flashed across his inward eye. He reached the park by about 7 p.m. Slowly and steadily a pretty girl in an eyecatching saree appeared. "Where is Yamuna, where is Yamuna" Ranjith asked her as if in a trance. "I am Yamuna - the Yamuna you are so desperately searching for" said this girl in a very confident tone. Yamuna had changed so much over the years. Ranjith was so surprised - he couldn't believe his eyes! The girl standing before him was the lady fortune teller he consulted that morning. He thought that he had come out of a dream. The sundered romance started once again and before long Ranjith and Yamuna married with the blessings of their parents too. |
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It was amidst this background that Ranjith decided to be a teacher away
from his home-town and his familiar surroundings and friends. To achieve
this purpose he entered the Maharagama Teachers Training College where he
excelled in both sports and studies.
