Short story - Not alone

Arnolis looked at the sky. But he knew there could not be even a ray of hope to dispel the gloom that he was wrapped with. Though he has read about birds that carried massages, he could not be a fool to expect such a bird.

A cloud was moving fast as if to take shelter somewhere against the invading darkness. He had not heard about Kalidasa or his Meghaduta to expect a cloud that will bring him a message. Now it was more than half an hour since the last bus went past the 'Home for the Aged', where he is an inmate now.

Now he has been here watching the passing vehicles for more than two hours. But going back to his room is more tedious as he knows that there he has to answer a barrage of questions he is sure to face from the other inmates.

He is sure to be called, in about half an hour for dinner. Until then he would remain in this usual veranda watching the flowers that had bloomed on the Erabadu tree in the compound.

Doctor

Arnolis is the father of Madhubhashana who is a doctor now living in Nugegoda. Now it is more than five years since he saw his son last. He can remember how his time wept when she heard the son's decision to settle down in Colombo as he should live there to continue his studies. Though after becoming a doctor he gradually cut down visits to his parents they never thought he would leave them and line somewhere else.

"We know puta, you can't live in this small house. But now you can build a new house here. If you want, you can buy even an acre or two from here." "I don't like to live here. How can I live with these people? They are like buffaloes. They call me 'Arnolisge Lamaya'. Don't they know I'm a doctor now? Why can't they call me 'Sir'?"

"Sometimes they don't know you are a doctor. When they come to know, they will not call you 'Arnolisge Lamaya'.

House

"I'll send you money to build a new house of you want".

"When you are not with us, what's the use of a new house? Your father is too old now to do hard work. I also fall ill often."

"Take medicine. I'll send you money." Arnolis remembered how he left forever promising to send them money. For a few months he sent five hundred rupees each month by money order. It was enough for the old couple to buy their monthly needs. But suddenly it stopped and God only knows why. Later they came to know their son had married a white woman and gone abroad for higher studies.

Separation

Etanahamy, Arnolis's wife could not bear the separation from her son. The grief told on her health immensely. Arnolis did whatever was possible to make her happy. Medicine could do little. She gradually became a mantel wreck and had Not alone to be kept on guard. Arnolis remembered the day as if it were yesterday.

"Arnolis Ayya, Etannahamy Akka is in hospital. Ayyo! When I heard the noise everything was over. Why on earth did she come to the road?"

It was only for half an hour he left the house asking his wife not to leave the room. There was no sugar in the house and they had to be without tea since morning. Arnolis could not leave the house until a neighbour woman came to look after her. But that day no one came until it was late in the afternoon.

Ethanahamy kept on asking for tea. So, Arnolis left the house thinking she would be safe until he comes back.

"Didn't you inform your son?" Was the question asked by everyone who attended the funeral. Who will inform the son? Even the father did not know where he was.

Alms-giving

"How can he come so soon? He is not in the country. He will come for the alms giving." It is no matter to Arnolis whether the neighbours and other relatives believed it or not. On the day of the alms-giving, the priest of the village temple delivered the usual merit-giving sermon indirectly referring to Madhubhashana as one of the sons who shamelessly forgot the parents in their time of need.

"No, no. My son is not like that. He will come when he gets to know this. He loves us. Don't blame me, puta, for not informing you... How should I inform you?... How should I inform you?... But I told them you are not in the country... These people... you know puta... they have no other business except digging into others' affairs..."

Arnolis did not hear the last part of the sermon. He remembered where he was when he heard the voices, Sadu... sadu. Luckily, that day no one pestered Arnolis by asking about the son. They have understood his reluctance to answer such questions.

"Perhaps they have suspected I tell lies about him. Who cares?... My son will come... But where is he?..."

A distant relation of Arnolis, Sudu Banda, who happened to meet Arnolis at the village fair several weeks after the alms-giving, broke the news about Madhubashana. Now he is back in Sri Lanka, living in a palace in Nugegoda with his Sudu nona and the son. But how could he go there? With the promise that he would meet Madhubhashana in a few days, Sudu Banda left him. Truly he had kept his promise.

Madhubhashana appeared before Arnolis one afternoon. A prince has descended from heaven! He had come alone in a luxury car. No bounds for joy! God has answered his daily prayers. Arnolis almost ran towards the car.

"You are here disgracing me. Get ready soon. I'll take you to a place where you can live comfortably," said the son with a grim face.

"Your mother..."

"No need to talk about the dead. You are still alive. How can you live here? What would these people think of me?"

Arnolis remembers how his son brought him to this place without listening to any of his protests.

Before leaving the Home for the Aged, he promised to come in two days to take him to his own place.

"My son... He is a doctor. He has not forgotten this old man... If his mother was alive to see her prince..."

"Where did he go? Why did he dump you here?"

"He will come... He will come... He will take me to his palace..."

Days passed by. Then weeks... And then years.. But the hope is still there. Is he deceiving himself?

Another day is dragging to its end. Five years and twenty days. He is disturbed by a song... No, no.. my son will come... But the song continues... Some words begin to etch in his memory.

Ona deyak ihiliyaheki mahalu jivithe

Eth pute numba navoth duka wediy hite

So, I'm not the only one, Arnolis muttered to himself.

Varuni Tennakoon, University of Kelaniya