The gypsy palm reader
by Davidson Goonetilleke
When I was thinking of a way of
relieving my mother of the burden of paying my school and boarding fees,
the idea of becoming a part-time hawker came into my mind. I had seen
boys of my age selling things like fruits and sweets in buses. My mother
used to tap rubber on our small plot of land to meet expenses.
Of late, she fell sick very often due to hard work and old age. So, I
decided to sell chewing gum as it was popular among children and also
easy for me to carry. One day after school, I bought a box of chewing
gum and went to the Pettah bus stand. When I peeped into the bus, I saw
a beautiful girl in a sari with a violin in one hand begging while
singing and playing.
 So, I had to wait till she finished. When getting down and seeing me
in my school uniform, she smiled sympathetically signalling me to get in
and start selling.
In the first bus itself, I could sell about a dozen packets. When I
got down, she was still there waiting for me. She followed me from bus
to bus until I finished my box of chewing gum. So I was happy as in the
first day itself I could sell a box of chewing gum. I thanked the girl
for encouraging and helping me.
On the following day as well, she helped me a lot by introducing me
to the aggressive hawkers who were rude to newcomers.
Later I learned that she was a gypsy girl named Chintha and she was
begging to feed her mother and twin brothers as their father had died in
an accident.
Chintha was a charming girl with an appealing smile and always out to
help others. So, by and by we became good friends.
Chintha made it a habit to wait for me in the afternoon and after
finishing our work, we used to meet at a nearby kiosk. We talked for a
while having refreshments before parting for the day.
After sitting for the O/L examination, my mother wanted me to come
home and stay till the results were released. Chintha became thoughtful
hearing that I would be away for about two months and she proposed to
visit the Zoo on the following day to be together at least for a few
hours before leaving. She wanted me to come wearing a sarong and a shirt
over it to look like a gypsy boy. So as arranged we went to the Zoo and
walked hand-in-hand looking at the animals and birds in their cages.
Lastly we visited the aquarium and ended our trip. As we were tired
and hungry, we went to a nearby restaurant and had lunch. To please
Chintha, we went to a studio to take our photograph.
On our return journey, we departed at Pettah and went to a shrine
under the Bo-tree and prayed together. Unexpectedly, Chintha began to
sob, shedding tears. So I had to console her with great effort. She got
up wiping her tears and kissed my cheeks like a mother.
When it was time to bid farewell, she took my hand in hers and kissed
it gently without looking back while I stood stunned looking at her
through my tears.
When I heard that the results were out, I rushed to the college with
trepidation to check the results. Fortunately, I had passed with
distinctions in all subjects. So impatiently I went to inform the happy
news to Chintha but to my dismay I learned that she had not come there
for two months. In spite of all my attempts I could not trace her. I
found a job as a teacher in a private college in Colombo and started my
higher studies.
One Saturday evening, I was walking along Baseline Road to attend an
LLB class, I saw a gypsy woman reading a man’s palm under a shady May
tree near Campbel Park. There were a few people around her. When I went
near, to my dismay, I saw Chintha. Though a little plump, she was more
beautiful and charming. Seeing me she smiled, pursed her lips and went
on with her work calmly.
 Finishing with the client, she looked at me from head to toe and
beckoned me to come near. Taking my hand gently and fondly, she kept it
on her left palm and went on feeling it with her delicate fingers
pretending to examine it. Looking at my teary eyes, she went on telling.
“Master, your father had died when you were very young.
As a result, you had to face plenty of hardships. But as you are a
man with a strong will, you have overcome all your difficulties and
fulfilled your aims. Now you are attached to the education sector but
you are destined to be an eminent lawyer.” She pretended to examine the
sides of my palms and said, “Master, you have had a love affair with a
girl and she too had loved you genuinely and sincerely. When she
realised that she would place you in an embarrassing situation, she
vanished so that you won’t be able to trace her.” She said, “Now she is
married to a young man of her own type and is with child. I got to
advise you to forget her and get married to a suitable girl and lead a
happy life.”
She, seeing me dewy-eyed said, “Master, I have told you everything I
had to tell. Now kindly leave me alone to carry on with my business.”
Looking at her appealing face, I turned back to go thinking that through
an illiterate gypsy woman, Chintha always acted more wisely and
sincerely than anyone of our so-called professionals. |
