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| Sunday, 6 June 2004 |
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Features |  |
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Nicoline- 'A candle in the wind' by Prasad Gunewardene Mystery surrounds the death of 15-year old Nicoline De Almeida, an year ten student of St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo, a fortnight ago. Affectionately called "Nicky" by her loved ones, this little girl was an outstanding athlete in school who bagged many a cup and trophy. These awards that stand on the cabinet shelves at her home is testimony of her dream to be a Marion Jones in Sri Lanka. But, she least dreamt that she lived and competed in a society filled with jealousy and hatred. The brief stay of Nicky in this cruel world brings back the emotional lyrics of Sir Elton John's melody- "A candle in the wind". Little Nicky's achievements in the track and field scene could be seen from the picture of her we carry alongside this sad episode. She carried away all awards and trophies in her age group. She had only friends everywhere. She least realised that her track and field talents could create enemies for her. She was preparing herself for the junior nationals that was scheduled in mid May this year. Her only dream was to bring honour and pride to her school. She was a born athlete from her childhood. When I visited her residence at Welisara to know what really happened to Nicky, all her awards and trophies standing on the shelves of a cabinet caught my eye. It was difficult for me to count them as this little girl seemed to have given nothing away. Her mother Leonie wept while her father Errol held back his tears with great pain. Errol played a video recording of Nicky's last event. Leonie was heard screaming in grief shouting, "my darling Nicky what happened to you". The video showed how Nicky won the two races by several lengths. "Nicky had suffered a cramp on the left leg while at practice on April 4 and that was the beginning of her tragic story", Leonie said wiping her tears, with reluctance to divulge what treatment was given and who administered at the school premises. "Nicky had only friends and I can't believe the events that followed", she sobbed. Despite the problem on her left leg that had aggravated after an oil massage, she had continued to take up the challenges ahead. On April 29, a tired Nicky after practices had accepted an offer for a cool drink to quench her thirst. When she had woken up next morning, she had complained of body ache and some ulcer type bubbles inside her mouth. Nicky had looked a different person from that day refusing to attend school and had lost her love for athletics. "She was a different girl", Errol lamented. She had been seen by top medical specialists. Hospitalised twice at private nursing homes, doctors had failed to diagnose the cause. Nicky's best friend, Shenuri Nugawila, now studying abroad on hearing the sudden demise of her friend in an e-mail had described Nicky as a fun loving person who dreamt to be the Marion Jones of Sri Lanka. Nicky's condition turned worse and she closed eyes permanently on May 22, just three days after her fifteenth birthday. The cause of death is yet unknown. Those in charge of her medical investigation after the death have a heavy responsibility cast on them. With a few changes to the lyrics of Elton John's melody, it seems to all that she lived her life like a candle in the wind, never fading with the sunset when the rains set in. And her footsteps will always fall along the Bridgeteens' greenest turf where she did proud for her alma mater, as her candle burnt out early leaving fond memories here. Her parents, brother and little sister, welcome empty days without her smile, praying to God to tell them, what happened to their golden child. The truth seem to be buried somewhere, but don't let it die with little Nicky forever. The CID which visited her home has a vital role to make a breakthrough as they did two decades ago in the famous vicarage double murder case. |
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