All for the love of a child!
By Ananda Agalakada
Anuradhapura is an ancient city with a history that spans over
thousands of years. It was once the capital of Sri Lanka, and is full of
artefacts and historic temples. Anuradhapura even today has withstood
the test of time and many tourists throng the area to view its
splendour.
In this backdrop, a gruesome fratricide story unveils from
Illukkulama in Anuradhapura. Forty-three-year- old Jayakody was a farmer
who faced many hardships in his life.
His youth was, however, a happy one, although his parents were poor.
Jayakody as any other child enjoyed the serenity of Anuradhapura. He
happily attended school and played with other children who loved the
tranquil environment there.
It was during his schooldays that he met Chitra, a beautiful village
damsel. Chitra was a charming woman. It was love at first sight when
Jayakody met Chitra at school. They spent many hours together at school
as well as in the paddy fields playing and assisting their parents in
cultivation and harvesting.
The childhood friendship with the passage of time had gradually
transformed into an intimate relationship between Jayakody and Chitra.
However, tragedy struck early when Jayakody’s father met with an
untimely death. The burden of the family suddenly fell on the older
children in the family.
Although Jayakody was keen on pursuing his education he had to
abandon his dreams and shoulder the burden of his family.
It was a sad beginning to the youth’s adult life with his dreams for
a bright future being shattered with the demise of his father. Jayakody
was, however, a determined youth and took to farming which was the
livelihood of his folk for generations.
He, however, could never forget his first love Chitra who loved him
dearly. Chitra had pleaded with Jayakody to marry her.
She promised him that she would endure any suffering and assist
Jayakody in his farming. In the beginning, Jayakody had refused to heed
to Chitra’s pleas as he knew that their lives would be plunged into more
suffering as he could barely earn to support his family which had become
destitute after the untimely demise of the father.
Destiny
However, the bond between the two was too much to break off and
destiny was already written for Chitra and Jayakody and Jayakody had
decided to marry her.
This was the beginning of many calamities in their lives. Chitra
helped Jayakody in every possible way from household chores to farming.
However, with the passage of time the hardships began to mount.
They had four children. Drought and famine were regular occurrences
in Anuradhapura.
Farming was not a profitable business any more. Jayakody had not only
to look after his wife and children but also other members of his
family. In this backdrop, the first setback hit the family, when Chitra
made a plea to go to the Middle East and earn money so that she could
ease some of the burdens the family faced.
“I can make your lives much better if you allow me to go out of this
country and work as a housemaid in the middle East,” she told Jayakody
one day. She pleaded saying “ Let me go to the Middle East and earn some
money, that will ease most of our burdens and we could pay off our
debts”. At first Jayakody vehemently opposed the idea and Chitra had to
give up the idea of leaving the country. However, as time passed she
somehow managed to convince Jayakody that there was no other option
other than going to the Middle East. After much pleading Chitra left for
Saudi Arabia seeking employment. But this did not ease Jayakody's
problems and he endured many hardships to bring up his four children.
He was especially fond of his first born son and favoured him on many
instances because he used to help his father in his farming. Jayakody
endured much without Chitra to bring up his children but destiny had
other plans for them. His children got married and wanted to live away
from the family.
His elder son settled down in Waturegama. His daughter Manel married
an army officer. However, tragedy struck when Manel’s husband met with a
tragic death. This was a big blow to Jayakody because he was fond of his
daughter for whom he made many sacrifices.
Events
The story takes a dramatic turn with the events that unfolded after
that.
A few months after Manel’s husband’s death she developed an illicit
relationship with another youth in the village and was hell-bent to
continue with the affair although there was vehement opposition from the
father and began living together with her paramour.
Manel’s father Jayakody was irked with the decision his daughter had
taken, because he wanted a decent life for his children and was a
religious man.
He advised Manel many times to put an end to the affair and said he
would teach her paramour a good lesson.
It was in this background that someone tipped Jayakody off that his
daughter Manel had arrived in Waturegama at Jayakody’s eldest son’s
house with her paramour. Hearing the news Jayakody was furious.
He could not control his emotions and decided to go to his son’s
house promptly and teach his daughter and paramour a good lesson.
On that fateful day, a few hours later the Kirindiwella police were
informed that a terrible killing had taken place in Waturegama.
The OIC of the Kirindiwela police Dilruk rushed to the scene of the
crime.
However, it was too late by then, as a brawl had taken place between
Jayakody and his daughter. Jayakody had in no uncertain terms made it
quite clear that his daughter could not be tolerated and that her
paramour should be thrown out of the house.
Then Jayakody’s eldest son had in a rage of fury grabbed a knife and
stabbed his father two fatal blows.
The police arrested the elder son on charges of homicide. |