Itipahan (Burly Lamp) - Chapter 1

By Sumithra RAHUBADDHE

Translated by Ranga Chandrarathne and Edited by Indeewara Thilakarathne

"I am a lamp burning on both ends

Known well that I cannot pass the night

Yet

See my friends

Foes

How powerful light

Burnt

To dispel the darkness"

Duleena was happy about the villagers known to her who had gathered to thatch the roof. She thought that they are the same as they were in the past. She thought that the cadjan leaves from Amarawardene Ralahami's house would enough to cover the one-roomed wattle and daub house.

Three fresh coconut beams among the worn out ones were also from Amarawardene Ralahami's house. She recalled the time she spent with Heen Appu on this land at the corner of Ralahami's rubber estate. After a lapse of seven or eight years when she returned to the village, Heenappu was no more.

At the time she went to Jaffna to work in the Government Agent's bungalow, she had spent only two Sinhalese New Year festivals since she married to Heen Appu.

Heenappu was not a bad guy. But Duleena remembered that she was reluctant to go round the village telling that she had had no sex life with Heen Appu.

It was true that he fed her, clothed her and also provided for her when she was ill. Liyanage Dulina would have been aged 22 when Heen Appu took her to this cottage in marriage, about a month from the end of the World War II.

As she had no birth certificate, the exact age of her is not known. Heen Appu does not talk at all. He does not tolerate Dulina speaking at all times either. Dulina reminded herself that it was only the big knot in the hair that gave some shape to Heen Appu's thin self. Duleena recalled that Heen Appu's hair was more beautiful than that of a woman when it was let loose.

She did not want to dump Heen Appu. Dulina thought that it was due to meritorious deed in the previous existences, at least, to have a husband who provided for her albeit without a sex life.

At that time, William Singho, who worked at the Colombo "Kacheri", provided employment for village women as domestic aids at the higher officials' and had a close rapport with higher officials. It was only after Magilin Nona of the neighbouring village who returned to village after working in Colombo that Duleena had the wish to work in Colombo. Having a chat with Magilin Nona, Duleena thought it was better to work in Colombo than tapping rubber in village. Duleena recalled how she contemplated on going to Colombo to earn a little money and to lead a decent life in her youth instead of being trapped in a sex-less marriage. Even today she is not that old. She thought she is not more than thirty or thirty two although she does not know her age for sure. For Government Agent's bungalows, she is still a young girl but not for the village.

William Singho had accompanied her to Colombo saying that he was taking her to the Government Agent's bungalow in Colombo. Actually, he took her to GA's bungalow. Duleena had to go to Jaffna, even before a month from her arrival in Colombo, as GA took up duties there. Duleena did not know why Heen Appu had tolerated all these in silence. Duleena thought that Heen Appu was not strongly hurt of her separation as he used to lead a life as a lonely man for a long time. It was the nature of Heen Appu. The day she told him of her decision to work in Colombo and the day of her leaving, Heen Appu's response was only to make an almost inaudible noise. However, in the night the day before her leaving Colombo, Heen Appu talked to her as if knowing that she was awake on the mat.

"Duleena, you are a young woman. You are not mature enough to work there".

He said only that. Duleena did not reply. She thought that, on no account, she could not change the decision she made. On the following day, Heen Appu was sitting silently on the threshold, when William Singho escorted her to Colombo. A handful of men and women of the village were looking pensively.

They were worried about Heen Appu being, now, alone. He was alone ever since his only brother Kumatheris married. When Duleena who led a lonely life, came to Heen Appu's cottage, both had a companion in life. Duleena imagined that villagers thought that now there would be nobody to care both of them.

However, she had enough of the life of frowning. She thought what she consumed; during the season, she ate jak and off the season dried up jak seeds ("Vali Kos Eta") and during the harvesting season, rice and curry offered by farmers during "Kaiyya". Suddenly she thought that it was not good to recall in this manner. He provided food, clothes and medicine when she was ill, as he could afford to. When she married him, she had no hope of either his providing things beyond that or acquiring things for herself.

Everyone who came to cover the roof with cadjan leaves was engaged in the task as if it were their own work. When a shelter for the girl is made, she can take charge of a portion of rubber plantation from Amarawardene Ralahami's rubber estate, for tapping. That portion should be near the house. She thought that she should strive hard to make a comfortable life for the girl. The girl sat on a fallen down rubber log as if in fear.

"Duleena, what's your daughter's name?", asked Kumatheris Aiyya when the roofing was about to complete. Kumatheris Aiyya is Heen Appu's brother.

Kumatheris, brother-in-law had no enmity towards Duleena for whatever shortcomings on her part to Heen Appu. If there had been such an enmity the brother-in-law Kumatheris would not have come for roofing. Duleena looked at brother-in-law Kumatheris who asked the girl's name. She thought that brother-in-law Kumatheris was not a person with a thin body as Heen Appu.

The hair was well-combed and tied. Duleena saw that brother-in-law Kumatheris who was clad only in loin cloth drenched with sweat.

"Duleena, what is the name? And how old is she? ," asked brother-in-law Kumatheris again. Till then Duleena looked on him.

(To be continued)