 Lawful elopement
 When I was transferred to the
Kandy branch of the bank I worked I accepted it very willingly as I had
a great desire to trace my ancestry as my great grandfather had
immigrated to Kotte from the up-country over a dispute with the then
king of Kandy. The branch manager was a fatherly gentleman who liked me
as I was hardworking and obliging. When I told him about my desire he
jovially promised to arrange a rich girl suitable for me to marry and
settle down in Kandy.
One day a young lady named Kumudika Gajanayake came to cash a cheque
to pay the salaries of the staff of her father’s estate. Her father had
been an old and good customer of our bank and friendly with the manager.
Our manager proudly introduced me to her as his new current account
officer with a degree in English Literature and also awaiting the
results of the LLB Exam.
Kumudika was a lawyer working with a senior lawyer. Though the only
child of a rich man she was very simple and jovial.
Thereafter whenever she came to the bank, she never missed to see me.
So, as time went on we became good friends and by and by understanding
lovers.
The manager, noticing our movements, warned me to be careful as her
father being a very strict man might not like our connection. Kumudika
told me at the very start that her father had agreed to give her in
marriage to an estate owner’s son whom she did not like as he is a
careless young man addicted to liquor.
 Hence, according to her, the only alternative to get out of her
critical situation was to marry secretly. On a holiday she invited me
for lunch at her best friend. Sugandhika’s place with the intention of
discussing this matter in detail. There, she informed me that her father
had come to know of our love affair and he is making arrangements to
hasten her marriage against her will.
So, after a long discussion, we schemed to marry secretly and go to
Australia for a holiday till her father’s objection and anger would
subside.
The entire staff of our branch was shocked hearing that I had been
transferred to Hambantota branch with immediate effect. A send off party
was arranged in the very evening and I was presented with an unexpected
hat collection. In spite of all those obstructions Kumudika was adamant
and wanted to proceed with our scheme without any alteration.
We met at 12 noon at the airport as our flight was at 1.30 in the
afternoon. When we were walking toward the entrance a police inspector
with a party stopped me and asked for my passport as one Poojitha
Bandara Gajanayaka of Kandy had made a complaint against me stating that
I had conspired to elope with his daughter Kumudika Jasmine Gajanayake.
Hearing it, Kumudika fully fired up stood between me and the inspector
saying.
 “Inspector, I am Kumudika Jasmine Ellepola nee Gajanayaka. Poojitha
Bandara Gajanayaka is my father. Chinthaka Bandara Ellepola is my
husband. We both are majors and lawyers. We are a newly married couple
going to Australia for a holiday. Very regretfully I got to say that my
darling father’s allegation is wrong. As you seem to be an experienced
police officer, I feel, I need not tell you about human rights” So
saying she pulled out our marriage certificate from her handbag and
handed over to the inspector. He after reading it carefully said.
“Mrs. Ellepola, I am also a father of a daughter of your age. I
admire you dexterity and daring. I beg your pardon for the inconvenience
caused by me. I wish you both a happy flight and a safe return”. So
saying he went away bowing and smiling.
To avoid further delay, we with our hand luggages entering the
airport and passing the visitors’ lounge, we walked hand in hand into
the customs-area laughing heartily.
- Davidson Goonetilleke
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