Itipahan (Burly Lamp) Chapter -5

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"

Continued from last week...

Since Nanawathi Hamine avoided a campaigning Duleena to visit the house of Thegiris Gurunnanse to ask for an auspicious time for the girl, she visited with Pillawegedara Maginona. Duleena had hidden a sum of rupees fifteen under a stone in the hearth in expectation for the girl's puberty as she was maturing like a ripening pini jumbu fruit. She had herself made a reed bag and mat to be given to Redi Nanda as per the custom in the village.

The new earthenware pots bought for the girl sometimes ago and kept at a corner of the house, had gathered cobwebs. As Duleena had gathered what were needed for the girl to be given a bath, with a diligent of an ant, now she did not want to bother Nanawathi Hamine for help. Duleena felt sad about Nanawathi Hamine avoiding her to ask for an auspicious time for the girl. On the other hand, Duleena was happy that women like Nanawathi Hamine who bore no children did not join in on this auspicious visit.

Duleena felt a great burden as if a stone was placed on her chest when Thegiris Gurunnanse told her that the girl's astrological paths are not good. Duleena though that Thegiris Gurunnanse would have misread girl's auspicious time. But Duleena made up her mind to bath the girl at the auspicious time given by Thegiris Gurunnanse since he is the most sought- after astrologer whose reputation is unrivalled in the village. However, Duleena learnt that rumours were circulating in the village concerning the girl's Malwara Nakatha.

"Duleena, are these rumours circulating in the village true concerning the girl's come of age?" enquired Nanawathi Hamine a few days after bathing the girl. Duleena, who wiped her eyes with the cloth, looked sharply at Nanawathi Hamine.

"Hamine, what are those rumours?" Duleena asked with eyes widely opened up to her temple. All this is because the girl stands out elegantly among others in the village. She had not let the girl stave and therefore, she had not asked in any house in the village for food. She did not know about the rumours that villagers had spread concerning the girl. Duleena tortured herself mentally about the rumours that were spreading in the village even before the lapse of fifteen days, the girl wore white after come of age.

"Duleena, you do not have to worry a lot about them. What I say is that it is Thegiris Gurunnanse's fault. It is very ugly of him to spread the good and the bad of the auspicious time, isn't it? , "asked Nanawathi Hamine who looked around as if to make sure there was no one around.

"They say that according to the astrological paths for your girl, that the entire village will be perished. I tell this to you not because that I believe in them but to be alert you on these rowdies."

Though Nanawathi Hamine said so, Duleena had neither heard nor considered about it. Thegiris Gurunnanse did not say any such thing to Duleena when he was consulted for an auspicious time for the girl. If there was such an ill-time, what Thegiris Gurunnanse should have done, was not to spread it to the villagers but to advise her on the measures to be taken. Duleena tried to understand why Thegiris Gurunnanse had said so. If there was something wrong with the auspicious time, Thegiris Gurunnanse had no inhibition not to tell it to her. The villagers say a lot about the girl's pedigree and she had not visited any where else to rectify them.

Kumatheris Aiyya is not an outsider, Heen Appu's brother. Though it is true that Kumatheris Aiyya has a family, she had no intention of breaking it up.

Milinona, Kumatheris's wife, thinks that Duleena influences Kumatheris to visit her. It is only Duleena knew that she had no inclination to encourage Kumatheris to visit her up to now. Though he said that he would bring a bag or two of rice, he had not given her even a grain of rice. Once in a blue moon, he would bring her a bread roll with Seeni Sambol worth ten cents.

Though Kande Mahattaya visited her for a couple of days, his visits were cut short after Lamathani heard of his strolls.

Duleena recollected how she had to endure insults and humiliations when Lamathani visited the rubber plantation to reprimand her. Whenever she struggled to evade Kandemahattaya, what happened ultimately was to succumb to his strength. She gave vent to her agonies of heart by crying out like a she-buffalo on the day Lamathani insulted her. All of the villagers knew all the facts of the incident. All the villagers know these things well.

It is unavoidable that Thegiris Gurunnanse learning about the rumours.

Duleena thought that Thegiris Gurunnanse created these tales because of rumours circulating about Duleena in the village. Now, what is happening to her who dreamt of better prospects for her girl? Duleena thought that unfolding events would make her head go off. She thought why villagers are so angry of her that the little one is considered as scandalous woman who was born to destroy the village?

"Don't mind villagers are like that. You should try to behave well on the sake of the girl. Until a partner is found, she has to be protected" Duleena heard Nanawathi Hamine whispered while she was contemplating on. Duleena thought what Nanawathi Hamine, who talks about her ill-behaviour knew the facts. Duleena's character was not solely dependent on her but on someone else who would force into her hut in the night.

However, Duleena thought that she should live without herself and the girl being subjected to rumours. She thought even Kumatheris Aiyya need not visit her. Things should be arranged without causing inconvenience to the girl. After working for Nanawathi Hamine for the day, Duleena could take rice and curry in a Mati koppe. She thought that it was better to skip a meal without rumours being created on her character. Rather unpleasant Kumatheris Aiyya comes in the middle of the night. Nor protection or help comes from him at all.

Duleena was sad that she could not keep the girl at a corner of the house even before she finishes dressing up in pure white after come of the age.

Duleena had to tap the rubber in Nanawathi Hamine's plantation and helped out in her domestic work from the day after the bathing the girl. Although it was yet to happen Duleena had realised the intention of that Nanawathi Hamine who wanted the girl to do domestic work under the pretence that the she had come of age. It is not possible for her to allow the girl to go through the same suffering from morning till late.

"Now, let the girl learn some work. It is useless to raise her like a Japanese doll," said Nanawathi Hamine who finished talking of the rumours circulating the village. Duleena did not respond. But she determined that the girl should not be engaged in work live slavery.

Duleena heard laugh of the girl, and loud voices between Sriyadari Nona and Punchchi Mahattaya. She could not summon the girl who was laughing with happiness and get her to work as if she was a grown up woman.

"Oh, I could not go to school. Ganga told that this time, she would propose me for the Secretary of the School Society. "Somawathi said sadly. Every time Sirinatha gets nominated for the chairmanship of the Society. Some knew well even this time Sirinatha would be selected for the same.

"Proposing the name along is not enough. Children should raise their hands, "said Sirinatha, as usual with threatening tone. As usual, Somawathi looked at Sirinatha with widely opened eyes. Children in several classes supported her. If her name would be proposed, the she would definitely be selected as the Secretary. Some smiled with Sriyadari assuming that Sirinatha was vociferous to make her angry.

"Why don't the children raise their hands? Why don't they like Soome? "asked Sriyadari in a tranquil voice. Soome looked at Sriyadari for a while.

Whenever she watched Sriya Akka, she was reminded of Nibbuthapada. Though she could not pinpoint it, she thought there was an odd resemblance between Sriya Akka and Kisagothami who praised prince Siddhartha looking out of her window. Soome thought the Kisagothami would have become a woman with solemn habits as she watched prince Siddhartha with controlled manners.

Sriyadari Akka did not hurt her feeling on any occasion under any circumstances. Soome thought that Sriyadari displayed a motherly love rather than a friendship. She garments are always long. Soome had not seen Sriyadari in sleeve-less gowns. She always tied her hair and sometimes, she let her tied-hair to come down up to the neck. Soome thought that Sriya Akka got a pertinent name.

"The school children like me to be the Secretary, but Sirinatha does not like the idea" replied Soome in response to a question from Sriyadari without looking at Sirinatha. He frowned at Soome. Sirinatha thought that Soome is trying to be too smart. If the society would be held, Soome would to deliver a speech, sing a song and ask a lot of questions. Everyone in the school knew the name Daisy. A lot of them like Soome's pretty name 'Daisy Suzan'. But Sirinatha thought that he could never address Soome as Daisy Suzan who is the daughter of Duleena.

"It is ok for not to be the Secretary. I work off the society as usual.

Sirinatha would sit in his chair and ask us to do that and this. I would not make a speech or ask questions?" said Soome with a sarcastic smile. Sriyadari just laughed, having heard the arguments between Sirinatha and Soome.

"Akka, it is you who fondling this Nattichchi. She is trying to be the boss in the school. She always tries to take the leading role by involving in all activities," said Sirinatha blaming her sister. Though Soome tried to snap, Sriyadari prevented her. Sirinatha got up and went away.

Sirinatha thought that Soome who is junior to him by a class and being Daisy Suzan as the other children called her was always trying to imitate him ever since they came to know each other. She is prettier than the other girls in the school. It was only he who knew that he did not hate her. When she was around, he felt a strange feeling of affection. That feeling was there lingering in his mind since she arrived in the village from nowhere.

Sirinatha was happy that he could travel to and from school with her and quarrel with her. He had a lot of thing to talk with her about while travelling to and from the school. She chattered non-stop at all times.

Sirinatha thought that she had an innate ability to turn any story an interesting one.

When they arrived home after school, it was he and Soome who took lunch together in two plates of rice and curry. As soon as Soome took her plate, she looked at Sirinatha's.

"Nanawathi Hamine had served more dried fish to Sirinatha," Soome said most of the time.

"That's the way, male should be served more. Men are the boss"

"I would silence because I eat in your home. Otherwise I would grab the dried fish from the plate and throw it away. "

"I will hit you hard if you grab them "

"Then you think that I would keep silent? "

"You eat from our house. But you have a big mouth,"

"I am not eating for nothing. Nanawathi Hamine pays Amma only for tapping the rubber. She does all other works free of charge. I eat in return for all her work," said Soome and suddenly she grabbed a piece of dried fish and threw it off. Sirinatha did not hit her in return, thinking of the advice of priest of the village temple, father and aunt that one should not attack even an animal while having a meal.

Soome, who normally plays in the yard till dusk, returns to the hut with Duleena as darkness gathers. Sirinatha thought why he felt sad when she is about to leave with her mother to their hut.

"I would pluck a pera if you stay a while" Sirinatha recalled telling her in order to make her stay a while. Soome likes very much the guava with red cornel.

"They always quarrel. But brother does not allow Soome to go home." said Sriyadari. Despite her sister's words, Sirinatha tried to keep Soome ignoring Sriyadari's words. Sirinatha thought that Soome is different to other girls he meets in the village and in the school. Though all say that Soome is not more a child, for him, she is still a talkative little girl.

Sirinatha knew though quarrelling with him, she too liked to hang around him. The thing that he detests most is that she struggles hard to imitate him. If he draws a painting, she would also like to draw one. If he wrote a poem, she wanted to write one. When Sirinath was attempt to write short stories, Somawathi also tried to write one. However, Sirinatha thought that she is a friend whom he could let go and she should be nearby.

"When I marry, I will change this house. Like Duleena works for my aunt now, then Soome could help my wife in the kitchen. "Sirinatha told Somawathie who was in a pensive mood. Sriyadari laughed with a wide opened mouth.

"Oh, he has not entered senior class, now he wants to marry; change the house. Aunty, see how big he has turned?", shouted Sriyadari. Somawathi looked at Sirinatha's laughing face with anger.

"Sirinatha is planning to have me as a servant. I will never work in your rubber plantation and in the kitchen like Amma. Sirinatha that will not happen." Somawathi said with a rage that Sirinatha never anticipated of. She talked with a rage accompanying a shiver. She, who looked at Sirinatha and Sriyadari for a while, got up from the place she was. She was angry and disgusted about the manner in which Sirinatha decided her future. She went out of the room even without looking at Sriyadari.

"You should not go alone. It was a joke by my brother" said "Sriyadari.

Somawathi did not wait to hear her words. When Soome arrived home, Duleena was combing her hair. Looking at Soome from a distance, Duleena thought of Mr. Packstone. She heard trees swinging in an arranged manner never before.

She recollected the kind smile on the Government Agent's face. She tried to grasp the kindness of him in her mind about a kind person who came from and returned to a far of land.

"Did you give up even a white man? Now, putting up false front for us" that's how the men who came to seduce her talked. She had no body to share with the entire village. She also didn't have a large heart to share with them. Duleena slightly noticed Soome dashing into the house. Somawathi is fair in complexion and has sharp features. She is like a lamp that lights the cottage at the end of the rubber plantation. That proud nature and that light are from her father. Duleena recalled the majestic way the Agent walks in a white short and a short-sleeve shirt. She thought that she had never seen such a majestic figure even in the neighbouring villages. He carried a very powerful personality. Duleena thought that Soome is fortunate to be a daughter of such a personality. People say a lot of scandalous stories. Duleena thought pensively that if she had been sent to white people's land with the Agent, Soome would have brought up like a white woman in a mansion. But the misery that can be seen is better than fortune that cannot be seen. Duleena went into the cottage to see what Somawathi was doing there. She was on the camp bed her body and head with sheet of cloth.

"What's wrong with you child?," Soome got up throwing off the cloth.

"Sirinatha is planning to have me as a slave when I grow up," she yelled angrily.

"If you allowed that white man to take me with him, everything would have been okay!" the girl said suddenly. Duleena was in shock. That scream created a fear in her. She felt that she was the guilty party and cornered.

Her daughter had begun to cross-examine her to pin her down.

"Mother, though you didn't tell me, I know my father was a white man.

Whoever that man was, if you had given me given me to that man, everything would be okay now". Soome said angrily. Duleena thought sadly that her daughter is not matured enough to discuss matters of this nature. But she had to answer and she was compelled to do so.

Duleena recalled events from the day she went to work in a bungalow in Jaffna as if they were emerging from storage in her mind. She recalled the turbulent events in her life after she separated from Heen Appu. She thought of the play-boy life that the Government Agent led after sending his wife back to England following a chronic disease. His fondness for her grew up in a manner that Duleena anticipated. She, who was born to serve him, had a fortune to win his heart and receive reciprocal love from him. She recalled how he treated the little one who was born out of that love, like his own daughter. When the Government began to recruit natives for senior positions, he had to leave the country. Though he wanted to take the child with him, she did not like the idea at all. Though he could have taken the child by force abusing the power and authority of his position, he did not do so.

Until he left the country and until she returned home from Jaffna, the child slept by him. She ate, drank, talked and read books as he desired. By that time, his wife had passed away due to some illness as they described in English. He had two grown up children. They had gone to England to sit for higher examinations. Whatever others would think of him, he did not build up a relationship like Kumatheris or Kandegedara Ralahami or other persons of the village who attempted to seduce her like a pray all the time. He showed her a love and kindness that no other per had ever bestowed upon her. The girl looked at her, waiting for answers to a host of questions.

Footnotes

Amma - Sinhala word for mother**

Seeni Sambol - Seeni sambol is a fried onion savoury from Sri Lanka. It is used both as a condiment and as a side dish. Seeni means sugar in Sinhala and *Sambol is the generic term for a spicy condiment.

Meedena - she buffalo. This term is used in this chapter to indicate the helpless nature of Duleena.

Mati koppe - A clay pot

Redi Nanda - A woman who washes clothes for people in the village as a way of living determined by the feudal cast system that evolved into even the 20 twentieth century.

Pini Jumbu - Rose Apple or Wax Apple. The botanical term for this fruit is, Eugenia farancia

Pera fruit - guava

Nibbutha Pada - wards of tranquillity uttered by Kisa Gothami

Kisa Gothami - A beauty seeing the Prince Siddhartha sang stanzas in praise of him.

Nattichchi - A Sinhala slang for actress.

Malwara Nakatha - Auspicious time especially when a girl attains puberty.