A postmaster's saga

by Joseph Anthony

When I received the invitation for the third month's alms-giving of Postmaster Sirisena my thoughts flashed back to about half a century. Then Sirisena and I were in the same school, in the same class.

Attending the same school were three sisters. They were beautiful but the eldest Mallika was the most beautiful and attractive. They were descendants of a Nilame, who had served the last king of Kandy and being valawwa people, were respected by all. Attracted by Mallika's beauty several boys and even a few young teachers craved for her love but she dismissed them all with a friendly reproach.

Sirisena was from a village. Short, stout and with a pleasant face, he was a brilliant student. Sirisena had an eager eye on Mallika. All his approaches to woo her failed. She even threatened once to report him to the Principal.

One day after school Sirisena was travelling on the foot-board of a bus that was fully packed. When the bus negotiated a bend Sirisena lost his balance, slipped and fell injuring his ankle. He was in hospital for a few days but even after being cured he had a slight limp while walking.

Sirisena passed the Exam with good results. He got employment at the Postal Department as an Assistant Postmaster and was posted to a Post office in his home area. Due to his diligent service he was promoted as the Chief Postmaster and transferred to Kandy.

Servant

The house he lived in belonged to the postal department. He had a servant. Though he enjoyed all facilities he felt lonely. He used to sit and brood for a long time. Suddenly the vivacious figure of Mallika flashed across his mind. Where is she now? Is she married? Now he possessed all the qualifications to ask for her hand. But what use? He used to ponder.

One day Piyadasa, his classmate visited him. Sirisena was so happy to see him. He begged Piyadasa to spend the day with him as he was alone and lonely. At dinner, the two friends reminisced their school life and Piyadasa being the Secretary of the OBA of their former school knew most of the school mates' whereabouts.

"What about Mallika? Do you know where she is?" asked Sirisena inquisitively.

"Oh, she was your dream girl," said Piyadasa and said that he had come to see her, since she was in the Kandy Hospital being treated for an eye defect.

This information rekindled Sirisena's feelings and he immediately suggested that he too should accompany him the following evening.

Next evening Sirisena came a little early, had a quick shower, dressed himself impeccably and was ready to visit Mallika. He looked really smart and handsome.

They purchased fruits, biscuits and chocolates, hired a taxi and went to the hospital. They walked into the Women's eye ward and searched for Mallika. In a corner they saw the two sisters and their mother. When they approached them the two sisters recognized them.

"What a surprise! How did you know we were here?" asked the girls.

Sirisena looked at the slim figure lying on the bed. Her left eye was bandaged. She looked at Sirisena and Piyadasa with one eye and smiled. The expressions on her face were a mixture of joy and guilt, for she had despised him during her school days. The two younger sisters introduced the two classmates to their mother who greeted them affectionately.

Information

Sirisena said he was a postmaster in the Kandy post office and Piyadasa had come to see them and he had accompanied him. When asked about Mallika's family he heard that their father had died and none of the girls were married. This information aroused Sirisena's love towards Mallika.

Sirisena and Piyadasa visited them again the next day. On the following day she was to be discharged. The bandage would be removed only after a week. Sirisena hired a Van and took them to their house which was about a kilometre from the Kandy town. Now Sirisena knew Mallika's house and also got her telephone number. After a hurriedly prepared cup of tea he left them assuring that he would visit them now and then.

Sirisena went to see Mallika at least once in two days. He was well treated by them. Very soon he became one in their family. One day while Sirisena and Mallika were in the garden chatting under a mango tree, Sirisena proposed to her. She flushed and told him that she would talk to her mother. When Mallika told her mother about Sirisena's proposal, her mother was overwhelmed with joy. She told Mallika that they could never afford to turn down such a proposal from such a decent young man.

When Sirisena came to see Mallika the next day, her mother told him that she had no objection to their marriage since she found him the most suitable groom for her daughter.

On an auspicious day Sirisena went to Mallika's house with his parents and everything was settled and the date for the wedding was fixed. The wedding reception took place in a hotel and Piyadasa was his Best-man. Sirisena and Mallika started their new life happily. Mallika's mother was happier as there was now a male in the family.

Two years passed and Mallika gave birth to a baby girl. Her mother was happy to have a granddaughter in the family to continue the heritage of her ancestors.

Native

A year later Sirisena received a transfer to his native area but far away from his home. He had to find a suitable house. The problem was solved through his wife whose uncle was a top government servant working in Colombo.

He had a house close to where Sirisena's post office was. A Caretaker was in charge of the house and the estate. The uncle was kind enough to give his house to Sirisena free of rent until such time he retired from service. That would take another 10 years and Sirisena and his family could live without any problem.

Suddenly Sirisena's ankle started giving trouble. A wound erupted and began to fester. He tried western and native medicines but without success. Gangrene spread inside and the only option left was to amputate his leg below the knee.

The amputation was done successfully but Sirisena was confined to a wheel chair and when he was completely cured he walked about using crutches. All responsibilities fell on Mallika's shoulders. She had to look after the child, attend to her husband and do all the household chores. Sirisena was forced to retire on medical grounds.

Years went by. His daughter was a bright girl like the father. She successfully passed her A/L Exam and entered university.

Retired

One day Sirisena told Mallika that they had to find a place elsewhere as her uncle had retired and might claim the house at any time. Mallika told him that she had a plot of land close to Kaduwela and they could build a house on that land. This piece of information gave him great relief. But where could he get the money to build a house? He was worried. There was nobody to ask for help. He knew where money was concerned even blood relationship would be secondary... He was in a worried mood when Mallika, having realised his predicament, reminded him of his school mate Mendis now a retired English teacher, running his late father's shop.

Sirisena saw a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. He telephoned his friend and asked him whether he could meet him on an urgent matter and Mendis gladly invited Sirisena to come to his place the next day.

Sirisena, his wife and daughter were cordially entertained by Mendis and his wife. All had lunch together.

After lunch the wives went into the kitchen and the two friends went outside and sat under a tree. Mendis inquired about the problem and Sirisena explained his situation and asked for a loan of 100,000 rupees which he promised to repay in monthly instalments. Mendis, though a Shylock type where money was concerned, told his friend that he would give an interest-free loan but the instalments should be paid monthly, before the 25th.

Sirisena thanked Mendis and his wife for their hospitality and the timely financial assistance. Back home Sirisena entrusted the building work to a known contractor and Mallika's uncle granted permission to get the necessary timber from his property, also free.

This helped him save half the amount he got on loan. When the house was completed they moved into the new house.

In the meantime Mallika's daughter having graduated, found employment in the Postal Department, being selected on merit as her father had been serving the department loyally till his retirement.

Health

When Sirisena received his monthly pension he made it a point to send the due instalment to his friend as promised. But in the new environment he felt very lonely and depressed.

He remained locked up in his room for hours. Blood pressure and diabetes had taken control of his life, wrecking his health. He hadn't enough money to visit his doctors regularly or to buy the expensive drugs prescribed. So he failed to send Mendis the instalments due.

A few months passed and one morning Mallika handed over a registered letter to her husband. Later she went into his room with his sugarless cup of tea.

She let off a terrible shriek, for she found him dead in the chair with the letter dangling from his hand. It was just a small note.

"Since you have failed to keep your promise settle the balance 40,000/- with 20,000/- interest due, within 14 days or face legal action. - Mendis."