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Sunday, 11 January 2015

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 Short Story

The confession

Palitha looked at the letter. It was from Nimali.

“Why does she write? I met her only the day before,” he murmured as his deft fingers tore opened the cover. His face became pale and distorted with fury and rage as his eyes ran through its contents.

“Wants a richer and a better educated man! All nonsense!” he growled.

He crumpled the letter and dashed it on the ground. Undecided with what action to take he sat on the door step and looked about. The crumpled letter on the floor caught his eyes.

He picked it up, smoothened it with his palm and read it again. All the indecent words used to describe unfaithful, fickle women rang through his mind. Only his good moral behaviour prevented an outburst of those foul words. He folded the letter carefully and put it in his pocket.

Accident

Palitha was a young man, just 25 years. His parents died in an accident only two years ago. Being the only child it was a hard blow to bear. However, his mother’s sister took him under her care until the shock was over and made him face life as it comes.

He was back at home now with the elderly man Seeya who had been with them as long as he could remember. Seeya loved Palitha and looked after him well.

It was during the sober period that Palitha met Nimali, who sympathised with what had happened and became very friendly. His friends in round about ways informed Palitha that Nimali was not the girl she appeared to be, but Palitha turned a deaf ear to them disregarding their advice as “all nonsense.”

Only now did he realise her true colours. He was hoping to go to the Kelaniya temple with Nimali this Poya day. She had already given her consent to accompany him.

“What made this sudden change?” he queried himself. He tried to call her mobile. It was switched off. “Should I visit her? No. How can I?”

According to the letter, Nimali had already given her consent to another chosen by her parents. He slowly walked towards the Ehela tree and sat on the wooden bench under it.

The tree had no flowers, only the pale green leaves. He was reminded of his mother.

She loved to sit on this bench when the tree was in full bloom, cascading down with yellow flowers. The soft breeze wafted down the silky petals.

Mother loved to watch the soft petals that slowly floated down and settled themselves on the green grass carpet that covered the ground. Palitha, when he was a toddler jumped up to catch the falling petals and put them on his mother’s head, which was already covered with a few fallen petals.

Reverie

Punchi Mahatthaya, Seeya’s words brought back Palitha from his reverie.

“Do you want anything made special for lunch?” he asked handing him a glass of king coconut.

Palitha was feeling so lonely that he wanted to go on talking to Seeya. As if Seeya too realised what was in Palitha’s mind, settled himself on the grass for a long chat.

“You know Punchi Mahatthaya, I am from a small village in a remote area,” he started.

Palitha wanted to inquire about his family and why he left them, but felt that it was not a good habit to probe into somebody’s privacy. However, he was happy when Seeya started again.

“I was born in a very remote village in Polonnaruwa, bordering the jungle. At night we could hear the noises of the jungle animals. We were so used to those sounds that we felt lonely if those noises were not there.”

Elephants

“You were not afraid?”

“No. They did not harm us. Sometimes of course they destroyed our crops, especially the elephants. But that did not make us leave the village. We worked hard and were never hungry.”

Seeya stopped the narration and looked at the sky. “I don’t think it will rain tomorrow,” he said watching the clear blue sky with a few white clouds scattered here and there, floating slowly changing their shapes on their lazy ride.

Palitha watched the old man looking at the sky with a blank look.

“I was a fool,” Seeya said at last.

“Why?”

“Not a fool; a coward to leave the village,” he said still looking afar.Then he looked straight at Palitha as if waiting for his response. Palitha smiled.

“Don’t you think so, Punchi Mahatthaya?” he asked when Palitha did not answer.
Palitha smiled again. “How can I answer? I don’t know why you left your village.”
“I want neither to see my brother being hanged, nor be unfaithful to my best friend.”
“What?” Palitha straightened himself.

“Yes, I saw my brother killing my best friend. How can I send my brother to the gallows by revealing it? I saw my brother pushing Pala, my best friend into the water and holding his head down until he died. Pala struggled, but my brother was too strong for him.

I was too stunned to react. I don’t know what happened to me. Neither of them saw me sitting high up on the tree at the edge of the river.

I was shivering and thought I might fall. I saw the bubbles coming up as Pala’s body sank.

After my brother came out of the river and went away, I too got down from the tree. Pala’s body was found the next day and the verdict was death from drowning.”

Shock

He stopped for a few seconds and started again.

“Due to the shock, I started stammering. I couldn’t pronounce a single word properly for a few days. All thought that it was the shock of my friend’s death.

Only I knew the reason. My father was dead by that time and both of us were the only siblings.”

“Why did he kill your friend?”

“A girl! Don’t you know Punchi Mahatthaya that a woman is always at the bottom of any tragedy?”

Palitha could not help smiling at Seeya’s philosophy.

“No, Punchi Mahatthaya. Don’t laugh. It’s true. Do you know why we became motherless? It was because my mother left us for another man. What hardships and mental agony we experienced!”

Seeya held his head with his hands for a few seconds as if to collect his thoughts and then started again.

“My brother and Pala wanted to marry the same girl. She was giving hopes for both.
What happened at last? Pala lost his life. My brother too lost the girl.”
“Why?”

“She eloped with another.”
“What happened to your brother?”
“He vanished.”
“Vanished!”

“Yes. He told me one night that he might leave the village. The next day he was nowhere.

He had told one of our friends that he was disgusted of life and would become a Bhikkhu. But, Punchi Mahatthaya, can the yellow robe bury the drastic action you have committed?”

Conscience

He sighed deeply and started again. “However, I looked for him even at temples, but to no avail. I too did not want to stay there anymore. My conscience started pricking me as if I had killed both. I have been unfaithful to my friend and have lost my brother too. Every time I go to the river I could not help looking at the spot and dreaming of what happened. I collected all my belongings and came away.”

“You never returned to the village?”

“No, and never will. I am at the brink of the other world. Your parents have been very kind to me. I will look after you as long as I can.”

He looked at Palitha again and then slowly said, “I would never have come out with this unless I saw the pain and rage that covered your face today.”

“What!”

“Yes, Punchi Mahatthaya. I saw the cover and knew that it was from a woman. Fortunately, I saw you reading it and saw the change in your face.

I knew you were trying to calm yourself. I was reminded of what happened to my brother.

I was scared and after struggling myself whether to come out with it or not, I decided that it was my duty to save you.” Palitha was silent.

“Who am I to advise you, Punchi Mahatthaya? But please remember that there comes a day that you have to repay all what we do. Don’t be rash.

I am like a grandfather to you. If your father had lived, this would be the same advice you would get from him.”

“Thank you Seeya.”

Palitha folded the old man with his two arms affectionately. Tears were flowing down the cheeks of both.

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