Short Story

The hard realities of life

by Hector S. Yapa

The bus was slowly moving along the village road avoiding the potholes. It stopped at the bus halt near a boutique. I got off the bus and walked on the dam across the paddy field. The water in the stream which looked crystal clear was flowing down slowly. The birds which were resting in the bushes started flying. The storks which were targeting fish for their meals were taking to their wings.

Some small fish were playing on the surface of the water in the stream. After passing the dam, I got into the lane which led to Pathirana's house. The lane was washed away by the rain. I reached the compound of the house.

The house looked deserted. The grass grew up well over the compound. The walls of the house were dilapidated with the broken plaster. The white could hardly be seen amid the moss on the walls.

The door of the house was ajar. A boy sitting on the step in a pensive mood did not see my arrival there. I had doubts whether Pathirana was at home. I cleared my throat louder to break the silence. The boy was excited and got up at once.

“Hello Son.... where is Pathirana? Is he at home? I asked.
Y....Yr....Yes.... he is in the room resting in bed....”

Saying so the boy rushed to the room.

Visitor

“Tell him he has got a visitor” The house seems not to be a welcome place for visitors. My eyes suddenly surveyed the house. The smell which came from the house was unbearable. The interior of the house was very gloomy. There was enough light to see the cobwebs in the corners of the house. The teapoy in the sitting room was full of dust. Some old wooden chairs were placed here and there.

“Ask him to sit down....” Pathirana's weak voice came from the room.
The boy who came from the room asked me to sit down.

I occupied a chair in the sitting room. There was an old armchair near the window.

Pathirana who came out from the room gazed at me through his spectacles. I realised that he could not recognise me.

“Sir.... Can you make me out?” I asked.

“Oh.... Saman.... Our English master.... so how are you? Where do you live now.... I came to know that you got married.”

Pathirana sat in another armchair.

“I live in Bandarawela now. I am teaching in a school there. I am a Master Teacher now.”

“Good you are a hard working man you should get good posts. Master Teacher is a recognised post, Pathirana said.

“You may be tired Saman, I'll make a cup of tea for you.” Pathirana stoop up from the armchair and moved to the kitchen with the boy.

Pathirana was the principal of the school where I worked as an English teacher. He was an efficient principal who looked after the students well. The Junior School was upgraded to a Maha Vidyalaya because of his dedication to work. The school produced good results.

Leftist

Pathirana was a strong leftist. He devoted most of his time for party work. He took part in demonstrations and campaigns. He spent a part of his salary for party work. When Pathirana worked in a rural school, he had a love affair with a teacher there. But the affair was broken up due to his politics.

He did not show any interest for a marriage after that. He may have considered marriage is another burden on his work. The effort taken by his friends to find a partner for him became a failure due to his socialist ideas. He devoted his full time for the school and the political party.

“What is this marriage? It is really a bond.... you have to give up everything because of your marriage. How can I work for the party....? How can I devote my time for the children? Marriage can be done at any time,” said.

Pathirana had several siblings. Now all of them are married and enjoying their lives with children in far away places. They have no time to visit him. Once a brother had come to take him to his place. But Pathirana had declined the offer.

Pathirana played a prominent role when there was a wedding or a funeral in the village. He was the master of ceremony at weddings and funerals. He was a great orator. He was also the mediator of domestic problems in the area. Once he brought me a marriage proposal. But he had no time to follow it up. Time passed. Pathirana's life was sacrificed to the school and the party. Then he retired and lived alone.

“Sanjo.... Bring the tea here. Saman, have a cup of tea.” Pathirana said.

“Saman.... This is my life now.... I am now confined to this small house. I spend my life with this small boy. This is the reality of life.... When we worked those days we did not want to think of our future. How much have I sacrificed for my political party? Some leaders are dead. Some have changed the party for their personal benefits. The party is very inactive today,” Pathirana said.

“Politics is a business now”, I said.

“Those days my friends brought me several marriage proposals. They were pestering me to think of my future. I had no time to think of a marriage. Some of my schoolchildren come to seem me. Most of them have forgotten me now. I still remember the good old days. I have helped a lot, but nobody wants to see me”.

“This is life. There's no use of thinking of the past,” I said.“Yes, you are quite right,” Pathirana said.