Opposites attract, why not?

Darling we aren't too old, though we pass the Jubilee Gold

by Lakmal Welabada

"When my nieces reprimanded and baited me for accepting the proposal of 'the darkest man in the world' I barely said I would not mind it as he would get a pension from the Bank of Ceylon at the tail end of this life so that I would not have to suffer in my latter stage," laughs Somawathie alias Sudu Akka starting off her conversation about her 50 years of marriage with her husband Jeerasighe one of the old workers of Bank Of Ceylon.

"No matter whether they are younger to me or same age or elder to me, everybody has being calling me 'Sudu Akka' because I was very fair," she smiles. Sudu Akka is not merely fair, but still with a smart straight tall figure which gives evidence how she might have looked like in her bubbling youth.

"You can marry a handsome guy, Sudu Akka. Look at him, he is pitch dark," Somawathie still recalls her nieces' sneering words.

Jeerasighe was staying at his cousin Ariyawathie's place at Kalubowila, where Somawathie used to visit with her mother. All three were related distantly. And it was how two hearts tied their knot.

Hewa Kuruppuge Somawathie was born on March 14 in 1938. Her father, H.K.James Appuhamy earned his living by being a farmer died when Somawathie was about 7 years.

From that point onwards, her mother Nallaperuma Arachchige Hinnihamy had to take the burden of both Somawathie and her younger brother. Somawathie studied at Akuressa Maha Vidyalaya, and that was also up to grade 5. Her mother could not find assistance to support her education, and also may be the girls education was not given a proper value during that time. However she had quite a peaceful childhood.

Peter Jeerasinghe in that case was not that fortunate as a child. "I can call myself an orphan though my father lived. Once a child loses his mother his life apparently becomes parallysed. No love, no care, no attention, no nothing...," he pauses and then sighs.

"I lost my mother when I was very small. I cannot remember her. But her sweet smell still haunts in my heart," he wipes a tear. "You know child, my father brought a step mother, and she made my life miserable. No harsh feelings," he smiles, but still in tears. "I am the youngest of five children. My brothers and the sister were given lodging at our relatives' place. Only I got caught to stay at home. I had an extremely bad childhood. I studied only upto grade one," he sighs.

"My step mother also had six children, and it was I who had to bear up most of the house chores including looking after the step siblings. I rarely had time for myself even to play as my step mother was eternally behind me commanding me to do that and this.

Also if I fail to attend to her demands I had to expect 'Veval Kasaya' from my father in the evening. He used to cane me without even asking me what had really happened. He believed whatever the step mother said. It was terrible. I didn't have anybody to turn to," he cries. Childhood nightmares still haunt in his dreams.

Jeera lived in Thibbatuwawa, Akuressa, Matara. His father was a vendor who did a small garment business at the village fair. He had hardly any time to attend to other things.

The youngest son of his first marriage was the most affected person due to his negligence. Jeera suffered, a lot. Everytime when his father caned him he wept silently at night. When he sees a glow worm flying to and fro in the dark, he used to imagine that it was a messenger from heaven sent by his mother to console him.

He hardly remembered his dear mother's face. and he thought she must be just like Mahamaya Devi (Prince Siddhartha / The Buddha's mother) who, he had seen in a fresco painting at the temple.

"Aney Amme, can't you come back to me?" little Jeera wept.

Time passed, months and years. Jeera was not a lazy chap, also on the other hands he rarely had time to idle. But if he got a few seconds to spare for himself he would love to sit under a coconut tree and stare at the sky blankly.

He had no hopes. His only hobby was to admire the evening sky with colourful clouds in which he thought his mother lived.

Ariyawathi Jeerasinghe was his cousin whose house was in Jeera's neighbourhood. Ariyawathie who was already married and settled down in Kalubowila used to visit her parents' place. She noticed the brooding of the teenager who looked much older than his age due to his sorrowful life. She was sorry.

She could remember how Jeera's mother used to console him when he was an orphan. "Amma nethi daruwa duk vidinava (Oh! the motherless child is suffering under the step mother's shelter)." She had heard villagers talking about the situation of Jeera. Unlike today, there were no Child Probation Offices or Child Prevention Acts against child abuse.

However the dark clouds in Jeera's life seemed gradually brightening up. After consulting her husband James, a vegetable vendor, Ariyawathie managed to fetch Jeera to her place at Kalubowila. "Koluwata yahapathak venonam kamak nehe (It's ok, if something good is happening to my son)," his father said while his step mother was grinding her teeth thinking of the heavy load of house chores that was going to land on her shoulders.

For the first time in life Jeera felt he was breathing. He helped James Aiya in his vegetable stall at Kalubowila, he spent his spare time playing with the small children of Ariyawathie and James. Now he was having a family.

"There were boarders in Ariya Akka's place. One was working at Bank Of Ceylon (BOC). Through him I applied for a job at Stores of BOC at slave Island in 1952. Unlike today, during that time educational qualifications were not considered that much and only the recommendation given by a known person was required," says Jeera.

Jeera's first salary was Rs. 6.00 per day. He would buy a half loaf of bread for 12 cents, a dish of Dhal for 10 cents and a Three Rose cigarette for 3 cents for his lunch from Somapala's Bakery at Slave Island. He would give Rs,15 per month to Ariyawathie Akka for the dinner. Rest he deposit as a treasure for his future.

"I worked at Anuradhapura branch. It was 1953. The BOC building was one of the few buildings put up at Anuradapura town. BOC was under the private sector. A Britisher, one Mr.Hunter was holding the top position like as of the post of Chairman today. I learnt Tamil as there were lots of Tamils at the BOC. We worked as one family.

The BOC used to send me as the in-charge of stationary and other equipment to Jaffna. It was interesting. I even went there during the time of the Indian Forces handling Jaffna," he recalls.

"Jeere Malli, now it's time for you to settle down. What would you say about the pretty 'Sudu Kella'? They are distant relatives to both of us. They might come to our place for Vesak in Colombo. Give me a word," said Ariyawathie.

Jeera was elated. He used to admire the pretty girl who had her black lengthy hair falling below her knee. Her fair glowing complexion was alluring. But, he wondered. "Would she like me?"

The twenty-year-old Somawathie did not mind as it was the first proposal she got. Jeera spent his weekends at Somawathie's place. And he never failed to take presents to her mother and grand mother even if he didn't take anything to his love.

"Oh, I never failed to take perfumed soaps and Cuticura powder to her," he butts in. They entered in to wedded life on August 9 in 1957. "Our three daughters and two sons have arranged a Pirith Pinkama on August 10 and 11 at our place at Kottawa.

We are really proud of our children who studied well and are holding good positions in life today. We are proud grand parents of nine; the eldest is 27 years and the youngest is 5 years," Somawathie wipes a tear.

"He is dutiful, but very stubborn. But I've never raised my voice against him as I believe arguing would not win you anything. But, although I was strict with children, he has never raised his hand on a child. He only shouts at them," says Somawathie.

"No, no, I don't believe in hitting and harrassing children. It's criminal. I don't want any child to suffer a second as I did during my childhood," he specifies.

Jeera was felicitated by the BOC for his dedicated service for 36 years. "I retired on the day the BOC had a Pirith Pinkama to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. It was memorable. I was a honest man to my job," he boasts humbly.

Bank of Ceylon even carried a small appreciation of him in their 'Bank Of Ceylon' journal to salute his devoted service rendered throughout.