Chapter 20:

The Black Australian

Maya (part 1)

by Sunil GOVINNAGE

Returning to his office, Siri checked his e-mail but found his mind drifting. He felt as if Maya's dark eyes were following him everywhere. He pulled his eyes back to his computer screen to read his e-mail, where a new message had appeared in his "In-box".

The sender's name and the subject heading were visible. It was from Maya, titled: "SOS -Tomorrow." He opened the note with some trepidation.

Hi Siri,

It was great meeting you. I can assure you that I value your input on further improving the company's approach to work. Your suggestion for improvements will not only be considered but would be appreciated. Thank you for your briefing today. On another subject, it would be appreciated if you could help me learn Thai culture and teach me a few useful phrases before next week. I'll be visiting Thailand next Wednesday to negotiate a new contract for the company. This is my first major overseas project and I want a "win" for the firm.

Would you please find time to teach me for an hour or so after work on Thursday? We can have coffee and I'll try to be a good student!

Regards "MAYA"

Siri read the note ten times before replying.

Yes, I can meet you on Thursday. I know a good place just behind our office. It is conducive to learning! SIRI

Siri received an immediate reply.

Great! Thanks. I'm looking forward to coffee and the lessons! MAYA.

PS. When I finish work, I'll meet you at your office.

That evening Siri drove home happily, cruising in his red Mazda sports car along the Mounts Bay Road, overtaking other vehicles and ignoring speed limits.

After serving himself a cold beer, Siri dusted off his old Thai text book" "Thai Fundamentals" and listened to the accompanying instructional tapes. He also found a Thai Phrase Book, a Thai-English Dictionary and an article entitled "Cross-cultural communication for foreigners working in Thailand." One of his American friends who used to work at the UNICEF Office in Bangkok had given it to him.

The next day, Siri woke up early and dressed himself in one of his best suits; one he normally did not wear to work. At work, he watched the clock and agonised over how slowly the day passed. Finally, at just after five, Maya appeared in Siri's office. They walked silently to a cafe a block away and found a corner table. After a brief introduction to Thai language, Siri gave the books and papers to Maya.

"Thank you very much. I know that you are a Thai language guru, but I don't know how you became one. Daryl told me how one day, when you all went to a Thai restaurant how you managed to get the group a buffet lunch with a big discount because you spoke fluent Thai!"

"I spent over fifteen months in Thailand doing a Master's degree at the Asian Institute of Technology. I was fascinated by Thai culture and learnt the language. I think if you speak a language like Sinhala, it is easy to learn Thai. The roots of most Thai words come from Sanskrit. Say for example, for hair in Thai you say "Kesha" in and in Sinhala it is "Kes"! Thai people use the word "are-u" for "age" and we use a similar word in Sinhala."

"Well, it would have taken me years to learn all that. Despite my connection with Indonesia, I'm not even fluent in "Bahasa!" confessed Maya.

The Thai language lessons finished earlier than they both had anticipated, and the conversation drifted back to other matters.

"Why aren't you working on engineering projects instead of wasting your talents looking after an old computer system? Why not you ask for a transfer to the Project Management Division?" Maya suggested.

"I don't know whether I've the skills to work on civil engineering projects anymore! In fact, for the last seven years, I haven't worked on any construction projects at all. That's why I'm working with computers. To tell you the truth, it's a kind of a cover-up for me! When I was hired by Daryl Cook, they thought my skills would be more useful in managing information systems. That's what I studied for my MBA. In fact, the agreement with Daryl was for me to work on construction projects as well. But after I joined the company, the original plan was never discussed, perhaps it was my fault too. Now I work with old computers, every day, every week and every month. You don't need an engineering degree to run these mainframes or new NT boxes. Anyway, computers are my cover-up!" Siri said with a sad tone.

"I've heard so many good things about you. In fact, I know Daryl well. We have a distant relationship but we are good friends!"

"Well, you are highly connected. I gather that you are also related to the big boss!"

"That's immaterial! By the way, what are your feelings about the firm? What are your expectations? What do you want from me as the Head of the Division? What are your ambitions?"

"Nothing! I want to be free! I want to be a writer. If possible, I'll do a Master's degree in literature. I'm focusing more on non-material things these days. I go to meditation classes on Fridays at Nollamara Buddhist Centre." Siri changed the subject. "How're you getting used to the company, Maya? You've been away from Perth for over five years. It's a long time for a young person like you. How are you getting used to this new life after working in Asia for so long? How do you feel to be the boss of a Division with an old computer system that you are supposed to close down and manage a few old diggers who are winging?" said Siri and gazed at her radiant eyes.

"I can face any challenge at work, but I think I need to get used to my new life back in Australia. Growing up in Indonesia and later working in India changed my life. Overseas travels also had an impact on my life. To tell you the truth, I'm still in a kind of a culture shock since I returned to Perth two months ago.

I've changed a lot since I returned from India. A few personal things have changed my attitude to life and work. At one point, I nearly gave up everything to go and live in Italy. Anyway, those things aren't relevant."

"Why Italy and why not Asia?"

"That's another story!" Maya smiled coquettishly.

"Have you travelled extensively in Asia?"

"Oh, yes, almost every country, except Afghanistan and Mongolia. I even visited the Maldives and your beautiful country, Sri Lanka. It's indeed a paradise! It's pity that the country had been destroyed by the Civil War." She paused for a moment and drank water gazing at Siri.

"Who told you that?" Siri questioned innocently and gave his interpretation. "The country was never destroyed by the Civil War! It only destroyed our peace and tranquility temporarily and perhaps the good image we had.

Things will get back to normal eventually. People need to live together despite their differences. Civil War is an opportunity for us to realise the need to live in harmony. After living in Australia, I've learnt how important it is to live in harmony with other groups with different ways of life and cultures.

Living in harmony with each other should come from our hearts. The need for change should not be over-shadowed by petty political or religious stands that some of us keep in our heads.

The best example is a myth we have in Sri Lanka. Most of the Sinhalese believe a mythical folklore that Sinhalese people are a pure race and descendants of a lion. Another myth suggests that Tamils are inferior to Sinhalese and should live under the majority rule. My own nephew is a great believer of that myth and I can't convince him on anything else!"

"Well, you apparently have strong views about your country."

"You mean Australia?" Siri asked sarcastically. "Yes, of course, I'm a Black Australian! Moreover, I've strong views against the invaders! In fact, some time ago when I visited Amsterdam, I was given a royal treatment at a pub, the people over there thought I was a Black Australian! I mean an Aborigine!"

"I don't deny your Australianness, or that piece of paper you probably carry to suggest that you are no different to me. But I'm interested in learning more about the history of your country. Maybe we can have dinner on my return from Bangkok."

"All right. That's a deal! I don't know much about the history of Sri Lanka. We were only taught who conquered our country and the British history. But, I know a little bit more for a mediocre Sri Lankan engineer. I will study history while you are away!"

Siri did not take Maya's invitation for dinner seriously, though he did not doubt her intention of learning about Sri Lanka. He thought that she wanted to make an impression on her first project by accessing his knowledge of Thai language and Thai culture.

Apart from his weekly formal meetings with Maya, Siri did not find time to catch up with her to talk on other matters for two weeks.

Maya left for Thailand to attend her first overseas mission for the firm. The work continued routinely as dry as ever just like the long hot summer days in Perth.

The day after Maya left for Thailand, Siri went home early. He felt as if he was entering a fortress that had kept him away from his past. He opened a window in his unit. A cool breeze from the Swan River blew in with an unpleasant stench. Closing the window, he put the air-conditioner on to breath in purified filtered air.

(For feedback and readers' response: [email protected]) Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.