|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 22 May 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Telling tales Mother Outside the dog barked. Indumathi recognised the barking and ran out of the house since she knew that her father would come to take her back home to celebrate the new year with her friends. Usually Indumathi's pet dog came with her father whenever he came to see her.
Reaping Once every year, after reaping the harvest of Maha season, Indumathi was allowed to be with her parents. They sent her back to Bandusena's village with her father. More than five friends lived outside her village after getting married. They too came back home during the New Year festival with their beloved ones to enjoy the festival with Indumathi. Almost all her friends, liked Indumathi's company very much. They went to the fair together to buy new clothes, jewellery, etc. made for the occasion. Indumathi was interested in wearing silver ear-rings and buying Pabalu necklaces. When she was at her mother-in-law's place she had been waiting eagerly to celebrate the festival. Sometimes, she counted the days to the harvest of Maha season. She went about her daily routine - fed the cattle, cooked for her husband and the workers who had been helping him to reap the harvest. Visit Now, once again she was getting ready to visit her parents' village. Indumathi got ready to go home with her father. Bandusena too came home after finishing up his day's work. At once he got confused when he saw his father-in-law, because he knew that he would be alone for a few days at home. Indumathi greeted him and said, "May I go now?" He said nothing. He looked at his beloved wife sadly. "Please, come in two days to celebrate the festival with me there," she pleaded. Bandusena ignored her and looked at the sky. "Why don't you answer me?" Indumathi asked, a little cross. "Why, do you want me to stay this time with you?", she asked looking into his eyes. He just shook his head pleadingly. "Your mother said nothing," Indumathi said childishly. "My mother...," Bandusena did not finish the sentence. Before the sun set, Indumathi got ready to go. She had no children and therefore no problem of leaving her house. She came out of the house, with her brown coloured suitcase. Her father followed her. Bandusena could not tolerate her leaving this time, even though he allowed her to go home earlier. Indumathi and her father went towards the gate. Bandusena had been looking at them with his tearful eyes. At once he ran towards them and begged, "Indumathi, let's celebrate the festival here with me." Indumathi's father looked at them helplessly. "I request you once again, do not go," said her husband. She said nothing. She just said, "See you!" Bandusena did not ask again. He waited under a huge palmyrah tree till they passed the broken bridge. He remembered the way he met Indumathi. He had gone to 'Iravur' to collect paddy during the Maha season and they had exchanged their hearts. Ultimately, he met her alone and their marriage was arranged. He was given fifty thousand rupees in cash as dowry. He did not want dowry but he was persuaded by his parents, to take a dowry. He went home and got ready to have a wash. "Where were you?" cried out his mother suddenly. He just looked and ignored her. Once again she asked, "Did you go to 'Iravur' with Indumathi?" "Why should I go there?" Bandusena replied changing his voice. At that moment, his father was lying on his arm-chair without uttering a word, though he heard the argument. Bandusena wanted to say, 'You too are a husband like me, why do you not understand my situation?' But he remained silent because he knew that his father would never go against his mother. Four years Bandusena and Indumathi had been married for four years but they did not have children. When they got married their parents did not consider their races. Both Bandusena and Indumathi hailed from two different races. Bandusena's mother wanted to be blessed with a number of grandchildren but Indumathi was unable to have even one. Even before Indumathi's departure, his mothere had the idea of finding a bride for her only son and she had even paid fifty thousand rupees to a family to get their daughter married to Bandusena. Being obedient to his mother, he agreed to marry her. Despite getting married to that lady, he loved Indumathi very much. He knew that she would be unable to take the position of Indumathi. Even if he responded to the new woman physically, his heart was dead. He used to go to the paddy field early in the morning just to see the beauty. One day while he was digging the field, he saw a man coming towards him. He could not recognise him, till he came close due to mist. He was Jinasena, an old classmate of him. "Jine, where are you going so early in the morning?" Jinasena stopped for a while and cited, "Iravur." When he heard that Jinasena was going to Iravur, he too wanted to go with him, as he had gone last year, but he could not go that time, because he was no more responsible for Indumathi. Jinasena left the place showing no interest in Bandusena. Bandusena could not even convey his regards to Indumathi. The next morning, Bandusena saw that Jinasena riding his bicycle towards him. Bandusena asked nothing about 'Iravur.' But Jinasena sat in front of him. His face was dull and sad. "Indumathi is dead," Jinasena said in a dull voice. Bandusena held his friend's shoulders and asked him "What?" "Why after your marriage, she hanged herself," he said. Bandusena could not speak further, he felt like as if he was being burnt. He went home. When he went, no one was there. Everyone had gone to the temple to take part in a bhavana campaign. He found a white sheet of paper curled. He began writing a letter. "Amma, ... I was with you for the last couple of years as a kitten. I did obey you and did what you wanted me to do. I married for the second time because of you. You destroyed my family life. You made Indumathi go home. I now know that you were not a good mother to me and I won't be able to live with you under one roof. You've got your beloved daughter-in-law with you. Try to be happy with her. I leave you all. Being a religious minded woman, you know that Prince Siddartha left his wife and son in search of the truth of life; I am leaving you not to find out about life but in search of my eternal love." Saumya Sri Chaturanga Aloysius, Anuradhapura. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Indumathi, being a Tamil, lived in a separate village called 'Iravur'
which was situated a few miles away from her beloved husband's village.
They had to walk along a narrow way which had been constructed during the
'Dutch Era.' Whenever, she wanted to go home, she would take her husband
Bandusena with her. She would see the homes of her friends when she went
with Bandusena. Most of those houses had been destroyed due to artillery
shelling. 
