Short story

Victory over vengeance

by Joseph Anthony

Martin Mudalali was a rich man. He was a reputed broker and was engaged in buying and selling movable and immovable properties. He had amassed a great fortune and was an important man in the area. He had a palatial house on one side of the lane. On the opposite side was a house that belonged to a retired principal. Martin Mudalali had a son and daughter while the retired principal had a daughter, all grown up. The parents were looking for brides and bridegrooms for their children but it never materialised.

Martin Mudalali sent his son and daughter to a prestigious school. His dream was to see his son Senaviratne passing out as a graduate and holding a high post in the government sector. But Senavi was not bright in his studies, may be due to the unlimited freedom he enjoyed as a son of a rich man. He stopped his studies after his GCE A/L examination.

Martin Mudalali's daughter Santhya and the principal's daughter Dilini were good friends. They were seen in the houses often. Santhya was very beautiful but Dilini was not equal to Santhya but looked attractive.

Martin Mudalali was steeped in tradition and he wanted to find a girl from the same caste with a big dowry for his son. Contrary to his expectation, Senavi was having an affair with a girl in the same village from a different caste. When the news reached Martin Mudalali he breathed fire. He warned his son that he should stop the affair forthwith. His wife's pleadings on behalf of her son fell on deaf ears. Ultimately, Senavi eloped with his girl to an unknown destination. Of course, his absence left a vacuum in the house.

Graduation

Edirisinghe from Gampaha hailed from a middle class family. After his graduation he was looking for a suitable job. One day he saw an advertisement in a weekly newspaper for a bank clerk. He applied and passed the interview and was posted to a branch in an area where Martin Mudalali lived.

He alighted from the bus and was walking along the lane to the bank but he was not sure where it was. As he was walking he saw a girl watering her flower plants. She looked very beautiful. Her exquisite appearance enthralled Ediri. "Excuse me," he said. The girl turned around and looked at him.

He was very handsome and she blushed. To allay her excitement he asked her where the particular bank was. When she gave him the directions he thanked her and went on his way. Lowering the hose, not realising the wastage of water flushing out on the ground. She was looking at Ediri until his figure vanished. She had not met such a handsome youth like him before. She fell in love with him at first sight. She stood still, building castles and neglecting the plants.

She couldn't do any work that day. Usually she doesn't do any work as her mother does all the work. She was lying on her bed and dreaming. She realised that he will have to take the route to get back to his house wherever he resided. In the evening she put on her best dress and stood at the front door. There she saw the youth coming, carrying a brief case. She was restless.

He saw her from a distance and when he cam closer he said, 'Thank you for the direction and I had no problem in finding the bank." She blushed and he looked at her quizzically. Then he left.

Daughter

Her mother came out from the kitchen and saw a well-dressed, handsome looking, youth walking past the house and her daughter gazing at him. She inquired who he was and what he said. Her daughter replied that he asked directions to the bank in the morning and he thanked her.

"Oh", the mother said, "That means he is working in a bank. If he happens to talk to you again ask him from where he is and where he is residing." "Why mom do you want him as your son-in-law?" The daughter teased. "Who knows, if you have the luck it can happen. After all having a bank officer in our family is more than the wealth we have."

On the following morning after a good make-up Santhya was using the hose in the garden pretending that she was immersed in her work. "Good morning." She looked up and reciprocated his greeting. "By the way, you have a beautiful garden. Can I place an order for a few roses as I need to decorate my room," he said. "No order is needed. You can have what you need, of course, free," she said. "Please wait a minute", She rushed into the house and came back with a penknife. The she cut a few flowers and gave him. "Thank you so much," he said taking and smelling the flowers.

"May I know where you are from?" she asked. "I am from Gampaha. I am staying with my uncle, two kilometres away," he said. He looked at his watch and saying it was late took his leave of her. She was enamoured with the little conversation she had with him and ran to the kitchen to tell her mother what transpired between the youth and her. Her mother felt very happy and wanted to apprise her husband and she thought he will be happy too.

When Martin Mudalali returned home in the evening he had a wash and sat on the easy chair with a newspaper. His wife came with a cup of tea and sat in a chair close to him. She began the conversation. She told about the bank clerk whom he had seen in the bank. After hearing everything he said he would find out about him. He was also of the same view as his wife.

Jealous

Their tete-a-tete was watched by Dilini. Next morning Dilini joined her friend in the garden. She purposely avoided inquiring about the youth. Ediri arrived. He asked Santhya who the other girl was and she told him that she was her friend Dilini living in the opposite house. "Happy to be introduced," he said to Dilini and his penetrating look made her heart pulsate with excitement. But he was talking more with Santhya which irked her much. When Ediri left, Santhya teased Dilini that Ediri was looking at her as if to swallow her wholly to which Dilini retorted that she saw him only that day for the first time but knew Santhya had already enchanted him with her beauty. Santhya was enjoying herself inwardly to hear such words.

On other days when the friends were together Ediri talked a lot with Santhya not caring much for Dilini. One day Santhya and her mother had gone to visit Santhya's grandma and Dilini was glad that she could have a nice time with Ediri.

In the evening she was wearing exotic clothes with excessive make-up and was standing in the compound expecting him. She saw him coming and his eyes searching for Santhya. He asked her where Santhya was. When he was told that she had gone to see her grandma, he excused himself and proceeded. Dilini was angry and disappointed. She was more angry with Santhya and resolved to break their affair, with vengeance.

She was hatching out plans to disrupt the love affair. Her mother too took her daughter's side. They conspired to put an end to Santhya's love affair. Now Dilini avoided Santhya and even stopped going to her house. Santhya knew that Dilini was jealous.

One Saturday, Santhya went to the market and when she was returning she heard someone calling her from behind. She turned around and saw a well-built youth but could not identify him.... When she was looking at him thoughtfully he asked "Santhya, can't you recognise me? I am your brother Senavi. Oh, my moustache must have made you wonder." When Santhya came to her senses she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck and started crying.

He stroked her hair and asked where she was going. "Oh, brother, how can you do this? You have deserted us. Mother is ill and grown weak always thinking about you. Even father is sad. Where are you living?" she asked. There was a concrete bench under a mango tree. They sat on the bench closely. Santhya was eager to hear her brother's story.

Senavi said, "Santhya, do you think I am happy about leaving you all? At that time I had no alternative but to elope with my girl since father was not in any way amenable. I loved her whole-heartedly and promised to marry her.

"How is my sister-in-law? Does she treat you well?" she asked.

Reaction

"She is very beautiful like you. She is a kind-hearted girl. She is a teacher. We have a little son. I do contract work. As we are earning there is no problem. We have rented out a house at the other end of the town. I am sure you will tell mother about meeting me and she will tell father and note the reaction and tell me next Saturday. Now you go home, it's getting late," he said.

When Santhya told her mother about meeting her brother and his story, tears of joy rolled down her face. She went to the shrine room and worshipped. She wanted to share the good news with her husband.

Matin Mudalali returned in the evening, had a bath and sat in the easy chair as usual. His wife offered him a cup of tea, pulled a chair and sat close to him. "I have good news but I am afraid whether you will accept it?" she said reluctantly.

"Sipping the tea her husband looking at her inquiringly said, "If your news is good, why should I get upset?

"Today Santhya met her brother." She said watching her husband's reaction.

"What, Santhya met my son? Where and when?" He was restless. He sat straight and his wife told him what her daughter had conveyed. He called her daughter, who appeared before him not knowing what her father's reaction would be and stood silently.

Facial expressions

"Santhya, where did you meet your brother and what did he say and where is he living and how does he look?" A barrage of questions and his facial expressions reflected the interest he had in Senavi and Santhya was relieved and related all that took place. Finally she said, "Daddy, brother wanted to know whether you are still angry with him?" He got up from the chair, looked the other side and wiped his tears. To the mother and daughter that seemed as a signal for the change of heart towards his son.

"No my child," he said. His voice shook with emotion." At that time I thought what he did was wrong. Now let us bury the past. He is my only son. Tell him to come next Sunday with his wife and child," His change of heart soothed the mother and daughter and they were very happy.

Came Saturday evening and Santhya hurried to the market and saw her brother seated on the concrete bench. She ran to him, caught hold of his hands and gave him the happy news. Senavi was overwhelmed with excitement. They chatted for a long time.

Dilini who went to the market at that time saw Santhya in conversation with a youth and she was thrilled. She knew Senavi out without a moustache and so she thought him to be Santhya's lover.

Her wicked mind was planning. She took her camera phone and clicked. Satisfied, she vanished from the place without being noticed. She showed the picture to her mother. "What? This is Santhya. Who is the youth next to her? I can't believe this", her mother said. Dilini explained what took place. "This is evidence to break their affair. Show this to Ediri tomorrow', she told Dilini.

In the morning Dilini was waiting for Ediri. For her luck Santhya was not at home. She saw Ediri coming. He was looking towards Santhya's house. He asked Dilini where Santhya was. "She must have gone to see her boyfriend" Dilini said with a triumphant smile. "Boy friend? What are you talking?" he asked awe struck. "Why? Didn't she tell you? Here you can see them." She gave him the camera phone. Ediri saw Santhya seated close to a youth and chatting. He felt as if a thunder bolt struck him. He returned her phone and without a word departed.

He felt restless. But why should he worry? They hadn't uttered a word about living each other! He became calm. However, he decided to check on this in the evening. He wanted to know the truth.

Dilini was watching his arrival in the evening. She saw Ediri entering Santhya's house. Her mother also joined her and they were watching Santhya's house, secretly.

When Ediri went in Santhya's mother greeted him and asked him to sit. This is the first time Ediri had entered Santhya's house. "Wait, I will bring you a cup of tea", the mother said. "Thank you and where is Santhya?" he asked. "She is in the bathroom" and before her mother finished Santhya appeared from the bathroom wiping her face with a towel. "Oh, welcome Ediri what a surprise! This morning I went to see a friend of mine and just returned", she said seated opposite. "Yes, Dilini told me and I saw you have a handsome boyfriend", he said. "What boyfriend Ediri, what are you talking about?" she asked unable to fathom him.

"Why. I saw you seated with a youth on a bench under a tree. Dilini showed me the picture in her camera phone", he said. Santhya fell silent and was contemplating for a whole. She understood what had taken place. She looked at Ediri smilingly and told him that he was not her lover but her own brother. She divulged he family secrets to him from the beginning. Ediri was satisfied. He said he was sorry for suspecting her. He felt a sense of relief. At that time the mother came with a tray of sweetmeat and Ediri enjoyed the taste. His exit from the house with a smiling face irked Dilini and her mother, for they expected the opposite. They stared each other in bewilderment.

Good tidings

On Saturday evening Santhya went to meet her brother with good tidings. Senavi was expecting her with unease. When she told him that everything ended in success and their father wanted him to come home with his family, he was amazed.

Martin Mudalali was expecting his prodigal son. He was walking to and fro in the compartment when a three wheeler came and stopped. Senavi and his wife carrying her child, alighted from the vehicle. Martin Mudalali, his wife and Santhya hurried towards them and the father embraced his son warmly, followed by Santhya and her mother. Martin Mudalali took the child from its mother and saw the child's face closely resembled his. He was proud. He also noticed how beautiful was his daughter-in-law and felt sad about the past incidents. They sat round the table and enjoyed the sweetmeat specially prepared by Senavi's mother who knew her son's taste.

Martin Mudalali told his son that he need not stay in rented houses any more and to come and live with him. After all he was his only son and the whole house and property belonged to him ...

So, Senavi and his family moved into the Mahagedara. Peace and happiness restored, The mother one day mentioned about Ediri to Senavi and Senavi assured he would look into the matter. Senavi made extensive inquiries and found Ediri was from a respectable family.

One day Senavi invited Ediri to lunch and Martin Mudalali was, inquiring about Ediri's family. He said to Ediri that he knew her daughter and Ediri were friendly and whether Ediri would like to marry her. Ediri was overwhelmed with the proposal and gave his consent without a second thought.

Wedding Ediri and Santhya were married and Dilini and her parents were invited to the Dilini embraced and kissed Santhya and felt guilty for the betrayal of trust. But for Santhya it was a victory over vengeance.