A friend in need

Siripala and his family lived by the river. Their home was on high ground. The occasional rise in the water levels due to the tide and the rains did not affect them. Apart from the luxuriant vegetation of shrubs and other erosion arresting water phylis plants, there was a beautiful cluster of bamboo growing by the bank of the river. One single plant with a lovely set of branches. They were long, and a couple of branches bent quite low into the river. The cluster of bamboo had been there for ages. In fact, it had been planted by Siripala’s grandfather.

Siripala’s two children aged seven and five used to sit under the shadow of the rustling branches on holidays and Saturdays. They played on a mat with their toys and their little doggie ‘Scooby’, under the watchful eyes of their mother.

With the boom in building construction, there was a huge demand for bamboo for scaffolding. The demand was increasing by the day but the supply was diminishing. Siripala had a good supply in his bamboo plant but he did not sell a single bamboo stem. He was not interested in selling.

One day one of Siripala’s close friends, Rukman, who was in the construction field, came rushing to meet Siripala. He needed some bamboo urgently. He was pleading with Siripala to give him at least two large stems. Siripala was hesitant. He reluctantly took Rukman to the bamboo tree. Rukman pointed out to the two large stems bending into the river. He told Siripala that he would get his men to cut the stems at the lowest place so as not to disfigure the cluster. He needed the bamboos that day itself. An attractive payment was made. Rukman drove off in his car leaving behind a truck with two of his workers. He was expecting the bamboo to be delivered in two hours .

The family loved the bamboo cluster. They knew there was quite a large population of aquatic life including the giant freshwater prawn taking shelter in the confines of the roots. However, Siripala could not disappoint his good friend Rukman. He and his wife walked upto the tree. They were dwarfed by the sheer size of the resplendent bamboo cluster. The leaves were rustling, some with the wind and others by the gently flowing water. Siripala and his wife looked up but they felt sad to cut the bamboo cluster ,even two stems of the waving cluster.

“We want to remove a part of you. Not for the money but for friendships’ sake,” they told the bamboo cluster. Just then a few drops of the morning dew fell on their faces and their eyes. “Look”, said the wife. “Our bamboo tree is crying.” “It certainly seems so,” said Siripala. Then he looked up at the bamboo cluster and said, “No! we will not cut any of your branches. We cannot cut our friend to please another friend. You, our sweet bamboo tree has been a part of the family for many generations.” Then they both caressed the tree and went home. They sent the truck back to Rukman with the unopened envelope containing the money, apologising for their inability to give the stems. Rukman was very angry.

A few days later on a Saturday, the children were by the tree with Scooby as usual. Scooby was chasing a squirrel, when he lost his balance and fell into the river. The elder girl saw the dog fall into the river. She ran and promptly jumped into the river to save her beloved pet. She was followed by the little boy.

People on the other side of the river who saw them started shouting. Siripala’s wife too was running to save them. The little girl had managed to grasp the dog. The little boy was holding on to the girl’s leg. All three were struggling to stay afloat. A struggle for survival. A tragedy was about to happen.

Just then, the massive bamboo branches bending into the river, the branches Siripala’s friend wanted to cut, moved with the wind and the water to block the children from getting pushed downstream. The girl promptly clung on to it. Now she was holding the bamboo branch with one hand and the little brother with the other. Scooby was sprawled on all three – the branch, the girl and her brother. All were clinging on to Siripala’s friend – the life saving bamboo branch. Some of the people who had jumped into the river quickly brought all three ashore. Siripala’s children and the little dog were scared and shaken, but in good shape.

Later that evening, Siripala, his wife and children visited the bamboo tree. They embraced the stems and even placed some flowers near it in gratitude. “We were about to destroy you.

But you saved our children. You will be with us always. Dear bamboo tree, you were made an instrument by the one whom we believe in. He showed His love for our family and also for you. Thank you.”

Yes. Siripala may have lost a friend in Rukman but he gained another, a beautifully cascading, bamboo tree. Later that day Rukman who heard the story rushed to Siripala’s house. Both walked up to the bamboo tree and Rukman saluted the tree and asked Siripala to forgive him.

Now there is a cluster of not just bamboo – but three good friends.

- Siripathy Jayamaha