Short story

The elevation

by Niranjali Motha

"I feel too lonely at times...I cannot afford to have friends here in my capacity," Kanthi said leaning on to the table. "The moment you show some concern, they expect favours from us. They try to be one among us..." she jabbered. I am unable to grasp what she means by 'they' or 'one among us'. I feel lowly to be one among her.

I was a colleague of hers long time back. Today I am her visitor. We chat about our children, work and taxes.

Our conversation is interrupted several times by Kanthi who chooses to make calls to colleagues ordering tasks. I sense her urgency to get things done and decide to take leave. "Wait, what's the hurry?" She keeps saying but her action speaks otherwise. We walk together out of her enclosed office.

Kanthi, as she is known at present, was Sisilakanthi to some of us a decade ago.

Interview

I remember the first day she walked into the office accompanied by her father, an aged frail figure clad in a discoloured white sarong and a shirt.

A broad black belt held the sarong in the narrow hip of the haggard man. Sisilakanthi was in a floral frock. Her fair complexion was adored by locks of jet black hair. She was a pretty damsel with a shy smile.

Sisilakanthi had come for a job interview. To be a typist at our prestigious establishment. She was being interviewed on the request of her estate manager, a friend of our proprietor. Nelson, our manager, calls her to be interviewed. We offer a cup of tea to the father who looks too tired and rugged. He becomes vocal with us.

He gives us vivid details about his employment in the tea estate, a day waged labourer. He explains to us about his meagre earnings, and the constraints of feeding seven mouths.

According to him, Sisilakanthi is the third child among his five children, and the only one who was fortunate to attend school. That he says was because of the generosity of the estate manager ...the Waththe Mahathtaya.

Sisilakanthi had been the part-time domestic- aid at the estate bungalow where her mother was a cook. She had been taking care of the Mahaththaya's babies after returning from school.

In his own words the father admits, "This girl is prettier than many estate children, the Mahaththaya and the Nona liked her". After she failed in her grade ten exams, the Waththe Mahaththaya has helped her to follow a course in stenography. The younger brother of Sisilakanthi is deaf and dumb. "Sins of the previous birth..." laments the father. "If only this employment comes through, the rest of the children could have a meagre gruel a day. At least rice porridge for the three meals would do"

Nelson comes out, Sisilakanthi trails behind him. He calls me and Janaki to a corner. "Her typing speed is not more than 12 words per minute.' He rolls his lips in disappointment. I relate to him the 'situation report' of Sisilakanthi's family. "At least on humanitarian grounds?" Janaki slants her head in a plea.

Nelson smiles and nods. "When can you start work?" he turns towards Sisilakanthi. I notice the surging emotions of Sisilakanthi, the flashy joy that reddened her face.

"Nothing will go wrong in my girl's life," the father is jubilant as though his daughter has conquered the world. They smile innocently and walk away.

Long story

Sisilakanthi arrived on Monday. Her father relates a long story about the previous day, on how he had to stroll through the households in the estate to borrow 100 rupees for the day's journey.

Sisilakanthi was brutally truthful in admitting her poverty during conversations. The desperate illustration of her lifestyle was too much for us to grasp, the problems faced by her survival.

I remember Janaki taking her out one day on short- leave to buy her a pair of sandals and cosmetics. I remember the day she was offered her first salary. Sisilakanthi was visually moved as she needed every cent of hers for her family to survive.

Sisilakanthi was loved by all. She was respectful and of good conduct. Her peers supported her unselfishly. They shared her workload and never let her superiors know of her inabilities. Sisilakanthi's typing skills improved gradually to the expected standard.

In a sad turn of events,Sisilakanthi's father died after a few months of her employment. That was the paradigm shift for us to understand the poverty of her family, poverty that we never understood to its reality.

Their two-roomed house was built on a crown land. The dingy house had only a few kerosene lamps lit at the time we went there. The equally poor neighbourhood was only able to purchase the cheapest coffin available. They were expecting the waththe mahaththaya to help in the Mala batha.

Line supervisor

After this incident, Chandrika proposed that Sisilakanthi be appointed as a line supervisor in the production section. She argued that it would enable Sisilakanthi to work on shifts and that she could earn extra money through overtime.

It was aptly adapted by the management on humanitarian grounds. Janaki who was living with her widowed mother let Sisilakanthi stay with her which aided save Sisilakanthi's boarding fee.

After a lapse of time it was Lionel who brokered the marriage of Sisilakanthi to Vishnu a budding businessman in Colombo.

Vishnu fell head over heels in love with Sisilakanthi. Vishnu's family was hesitant in accepting Sisilakanthi. The traditional and cultural barriers were unearthed by the family to oppose the alliance. Vishnu was adamant and stern. Instead of letting go of his love Vishnu transformed Sisilakanthi to be the lady his society accepted.

Sisilakanthi was sent for grooming, her hair style changed and so did her appearance. It was then that Sisilakanthi requested us to call her Kanthi, as Vishnu had told that her name was too old fashioned.

Wedding

Their wedding ceremony was done by all the staff. They made all efforts to be at the wedding, as it was 'our Kanthi's' wedding and she deserved the best.

Marriage was not the best of events in Kanthi's life. Family and social pressure took a different form in Vishnu's life. Kanthi was cornered by Vishnu's family and she had to struggle through to stay in marriage and to secure her job to feed her own family.

Her mother was ailing and an elder sister by then was widowed.

The first few weeks of her marriage, Kanthi was seen crying in the office canteen in the presence of a few women. The elders in the office advised the younger ones to be more sensitive to the plight of Kanthi.

The circumstances that followed her non-compatible marriage compelled Kanthi to compromise on life and values. After some time the one-time lovable girl turned out to be selfish and cruel. She took revenge from all who were in a better stature than her. Kanthi lived with a constant phobia of being a loser.

The defence she built to combat her fear was to erect a superiority complex around her. Kanthi's sudden transformation was evident to those who knew of her initial struggles. She feared the academically qualified people.

Her newly adapted superiority complex could not be eased by anyone. She chose to forget her humble beginning and ill-treated those who were lowlier than. She was heartless in decision making, and thought only of her survival and her benefits. She left no stones unturned to seek the best interest for her.

She was loyal to those who worshipped her and to those who had a reign over her. Even her usual conversation turned out to be sentences of hate.

Mystery

Kanthi's climb to a managerial position is a mystery. Academic qualifications, experience or any other related company requirements to compete for such posts were not considered when it came to Kanthi's promotions. There were many ugly stories linked to her promotions. I had no proof to believe in the rumours. Yet, there was a tinge of doubt in me.

Kanthi, who left office as an ordinary employee on a Friday, would return on Monday with a new job title and a promotion. We were puzzled as to when, where and who made these decisions and approvals for Kanthi to have special favours. Her climb to the peak was sudden.

To Kanthi having people around her who knew her past became a threat. She found ways and means to get rid of the senior staff.

Nelson who bended rules to employ her, Lionel who brokered her marriage and Sharon who painstakingly trained her on the job and many others who brought light to the once darkened life of Kanthi suffered the same fate.

But the saddest event was the dismissal of Janaki who at one time had opened her doors to accommodate Kanthi at her home. Janaki was accused by Kanthi of a wrong she did not commit.

The case was opened and closed by Kanthi without a fair trial. It was a pure case of vengeance by Kanthi. The staff though knew it to be a framed-up case, maintained silence for fear of earning Kanthi's wrath. In Kanthi's presence hell's fury was of a lesser degree! Offending Kanthi was fatal in our establishment.

The ill-health of Janaki with cancer was a painful event we experienced. Janaki who by then was unemployed had only her aged mother. When we got the news about the plight of Janaki, we approached the management for a monetary contribution for her medication.

It was turned down by the management on debatable grounds. It was Joe who suggested that we approach Kanthi for some consolation as he felt that Kanthi at least on personal grounds might advocate for Janaki's plight.

But to our dismay or not so much to the dismay, Kanthi turned down the request. But she went an extra mile.... She acted in a manner that brought disgust to us. Kanthi in her capacity as a decision making official sent out a staff circular requesting contributions for Janaki's ill-health.

Her memorandum contained information about Janaki not in favour of her dire state but of a ridiculing manner. Janaki's family situation and her losing the employment in the establishment were detailed by Kanthi. It was a venomous attack on her rather than an appeal for assistance.

Kanthi by then was huge beyond measure. The humble lay- creatures like us were at her mercy.

Janaki died of the dreaded desease. Kanthi attended the funeral with the head of the establishment.

She stormed the funeral house in her usual "I am powerful. Take note of me" attitude. "Have you all applied for leave?" She queries in a demanding loud voice from the staff in the crowd. "Today is Sunday"said a newcomer who is yet to learn about Kanthi.

The staff took the liberty to laugh aloud despite it being a moment of solace. The crowds giggled. Reactions of the staff in this manner did not affect Kanthi in any way. She believes that she has shown her might to the onlookers and had convinced the crowds that she wields authority.

My interaction with Kanthi had not suffered much mainly due to my early resignation from employment, I presume. She did not have sufficient time to plan and get me sacked.

Despite the odds we still remain friends

My former colleagues wonder as to why I keep company with Kanthi who is a victim of circumstances. She is a girl who causes my heart to bleed. She is in a struggle to shun her identity and create an image for her. Her struggle is for survival in the elite society.

Sandwiched between a demanding marriage and a desperate economic struggle, Kanthi is in a unique battle. What pains me the most is the more she tries to hide her identity, the more she reveals her inadequacies.

It hurts me deeply to have lost the person in this once beautiful woman. Unknown to her she is on a slow spiritual death. I know how beautiful she is even now, asher real character rests secretly within her.

"Your blouse doesn't match the skirt" I hear Kanthi commenting aloud as we stroll past Latha. She flashes a lopsided smile as a gesture of greeting me. Kanthi walks through the narrow passage, her court shoes making a loud noise.

I stay back to speak to Latha. "Such a lovely girl she was..." Laments Latha. "See what power and money can do to a person." Latha who has been here since early years mourns.

I see Cheryl walking towards Kanthi. I hear Kanthi thundering a scathing remark on her. A giggle escapes my throat effortlessly.

She is our elevated one. Sisilakanthi is now an executive.

Names are fictitious

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