A twist of fate

by Ananda Agalakada

In a strange twist of fate Weeran had turned out to be the village thug. The entire village in the area from where Weeran hailed feared him. They dared not say a word against him because they feared his wrath. Weeran was tall and big-made. Handsome you might say in a way but he wore a moronic expression all the time. A crooked smile hung about his face because he was up to no good. All he did was drive fear into the people of Queensland estate. The estate folk who lived in dinghy line rooms hid whenever there was intimation that Weeran was about. Now a week ago, the village of Maskeliya which is normally misty turned mistier and moonless. There was no noise except for the crickets’ chirp in the pitch darkness of the night.

Feeling rather cold Weeran had wrapped himself in a warm but smelly blanket and was trying to fall asleep in his rickety bed when he heard a knock on the door. At first he thought it was his imagination that was running riot but the incessant knocking continued.

He somehow had a quaint feeling that the knocking was a bad sign. It was Weeran who normally knocked on doors to extract whatever he had to take so the knocking on the door perturbed him.

With the unbearable cold outside, Weeran stealthily got off the bed in the dead of night and walked towards the door to unlock it … What happened next will unfold later on. In some ways, for the small worker community he was a protector, helper and a man to fear.

At certain times the well-built fellow was always at hand to help the community when they needed him. People looked up to him when they faced problems and he never let them down. However, he ruled through fear and not by love. Everyone feared him but he feared none. Sometimes he was a hero to the villagers and at other times he was the villain.

The-32-year-old Weeran lived in Queensland in Maskeliya. He was a father of three and in a way was also a good husband and a good father to his children.

But he had skeletons in his cupboard. He had a secret which he did not reveal to anyone. Because of this he did not lead a happy life . He was disappointed with his first love. Anamma was her name and she was a girl from the same village.

The village damsel Anamma was a pretty girl, typically Indian in her looks. She had a prominent jawline and a sharp nose. Athough she was dark, her pleasant disposition spoke volumes about her goodness. The 55-year-old Sella was her father and 20-year-old-Kris was her brother.

Her mother was Vellamma and her sister was Maheswari. All of them lived in the tea estate and worked in the estate for a living.

Weeran had set his eyes on Anamma and he followed her constantly and pleaded with her to marry him. Although reluctant at first, she later fell for his charms and had a roaring affair with Weeran.

Anamma's parents came to know of their daughter's love affair with the village thug and in no uncertain terms voiced their displeasure.

Her father was livid because they were decent estate folk who minded their own business and he could not believe that his daughter was having an affair with this notorious, village thug.

However, they feared the young man and were reluctant to confront him. So they secretly arranged for their daughter to wed someone else and gave her in marriage to a young man from Nawalapitiya.

After Anamma was given in marriage, Weeran was unusually quiet. Later Weeran married another estate Tamil woman who was not a patch on his beloved Anamma also from the same area, known as Thamil Arasi. She was a labourer in the tea estate.

He fathered three children with her but he could not forget his beloved Anamma.

Weeran's wife was wondering what this man was always talking about admiring the beauty of someone called Anamma. He was yearning for her and could not contain his emotions.

Thamil Arasi entertained fears that he must be surely in love with somebody else and this thought upset her no end. It was in this backdrop that he was discretely meeting Anamma.

Anamma's husband did not believe the rumours about his wife having an illicit love affair. He trusted her. She was carrying on her duties with devotion and he had no reason to believe in the rumours that were doing the rounds.

As time went by Weeran openly went about with Anamma and Anamma too lost all sense of shame and went with Weeran ignoring the furtive looks by the villagers. Weeran then could not continue with this charade and he thought it was best that he takes Anamma to his marital home. He summoned enough courage and took Anamma by force to his marital home.

His legal wife was a rather docile woman and did not object. She also feared him knowing very well that had she objected there will be hell to pay. Thamil Arasi did not want to incur his ire and cause unpleasantness for herself and her children whom she loved very much. She feared for the future of her children. Their faces spoke a million words.

Thamil Arasi wanted to protect the peace and so she did not quarrel with Weeran. She lived with Anamma and Weeran and her children under the same roof without raising a whimper due to fear.

However, Selva, Anamma's father was overcome with shame and hatred due to his daughter's behaviour. He planned to take revenge against her. He could not control his emotion. His anger was getting the better of him day by day.

He came up with a plan to teach his daughter a good lesson. With the assistance of his son and son-in-law, Selva left for his daughter’s house.

They were at Weeran's doorstep in double quick time. They called for him and asked him to open the door. As soon as he opened the door they bludgeoned him with an iron rod before Weeran could raise a cry or howl in protest.

It was like a bolt from the blues. When he was opening the door one of the trio hit him with an iron rod. Anamma and his wife who attempted to come to his rescue were also injured in the melee.

A neighbour informed Maskeliya police that a brawl had broken out in the vicinity. OIC of Maskeliya police, Asitha Thodagodawatta, OIC Crimes, SI T.G. Sunil and a police team rushed to the scene and the injured were admitted to the Maskeliya hospital.

Weeran succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the brawl at the Maskeliya hospital.

Selva, his son and son-in-law were arrested by the police. The implements used in the brawl were also taken into custody

Names are ficticious.