Short story

In disguise

by Yasmin Jaldin

Siyaneris Mudalali was a household name for sweetmeats. He learnt the craft from his father and improved his sales by introducing new recipes. He had a quick market especially for his cakes topped with different layers of chocolate, strawberries, cherries and many kinds of fruit.

His small business commenced from home with the help of his family. Gradually having brisk business catering to hotels, tourists, small boutiques and households, in no time he opened two outlets in the village he lived in.

This paved the way for employment opportunities for the youth of his village.

Though Siyaneris was a humble and generous man, he had a peculiar crave. Now in his late forties the man had a penchant for gold jewellery a craving most unbecoming for a male. He would wear three rings on each of his left and right fingers, a thick bracelet, gold wristwatch and a heavy chain, all made of very expensive gold and sit in his office. He would flaunt them before his wife and tell her of its worthiness which irritated her.

The husband and wife had petty quarrels regarding this issue and she often warned him that his craving would one day be his doom, but it fell on deaf ears.

Gold

Whenever he thought that a ring or two weighed less in gold, he would exchange them for heavier and glittering ones. Before retiring to bed, every night he would remove his jewellery and put them in a safe box and the following morning his first task would be to clean and adorn them admiring his self before the mirror.

It was the practice of the family to visit Kataragama annually, and a day was set aside in December. A month ahead, they would plan and make preparations for the journey.

Leaving early morning on December 26, 2004, they proceeded on their trip. Passing through, Siyaneris and his family never failed to offer poojas and panduru at every temple, and their next stop was the Seenigama temple.

From the profits of his earnings, he never failed to set aside a tidy sum for the welfare of the Seenigama temple and this amount was handed over to the incumbent Bhikkhu so their arrival was eagerly looked forward by the dayaka sabhawa, and his family were warmly welcomed. Palming out a few rupees to the outstretched hands of some beggars who had lined up, he noticed a hunchback blind beggar who come forward to meet him asking for food. Calling out to his wife, Siyaneris requested her to bring a parcel of food from the vehicle. The beggar thanked him profusely for his kind gesture.

Thereafter, the family entered the temple. While everyone was at prayer he heard shouts and screams that a sea wave had come upto the road. Paying no heed to the commotion, meditation and prayers were in progress.

Little did anyone realise that a great tragedy was ahead. Siyaneris felt a little uncomfortable and having excused himself came out to see the commotion, when suddenly another wave came in followed by a third which engulfed the entire area and there was a total blackout. He could not see anything, the gushing waters of the angry tsunami was sweeping him away. Panting, he swam for dear life unable to fathom where he was heading, everything was sailing.

Trauma

Clutching on to a driftwood that came by he managed to swim across and reach a roof top of a building which was submerged half in water. Close on his heels was also another man who climbed the roof top where he was. Siyaneris thought at least he had company to relate his trauma. Alas, it was not to be!, the man pointed a knife at him and demanded all the jewellery he was wearing.

He was threatened with death and pushed into the raging sea if they were not handed over. In the dark, the silhouette bore some resemblance, Siyaneris recognised the man, yes, it was none other than the 'old blind beggar', who was not blind nor had a hunchback, after all.

The poor man could do nothing, his screams for help could not be heard with the rolling sounds of the gushing waters, the thief relieved him of all his jewellery. On the following day when everything returned to normalcy, Siyaneris found his wife and two daughters safe in the temple, his vehicle was at the far end of the opposite side, sans all its possessions covered in brackish water and debris.

The chaos caused by the sudden tsunami was a total destruction with many buildings razed to the ground. Looters had their day. Everything lost in a few hours, their lives were saved to relate their tale.