The atonement

by George Eddie

Asoka was buried. He was 46 years of age. From a very young age he wore spectacles. One eye worsened in spite of medical treatment. His parents were advised to teach him Braille. His was a suffering from a rare eye condition. Chances were that he might lose sight in both eyes in time to come. He was successful in his A-level examination. He opted to study law.

During his law-school career days he used to go past a young woman, who he thought was newly employed, walking in the opposite direction.

Due to his handicap his attitude when looking at someone or some object was unusual. She was a pleasant looking person with tan skin and average height and build. She covertly noticed him. His constant looks at her each morning began to irritate her.

Opposite

She was Anula. A maternal aunt who was a spinster lived with her family.

After Anula became a maiden Badra Nenda chaperoned her wherever she went. Badra instilled into Anula a dislike toward the opposite sex. Her influence grew. Anula began to confide in her. One day she told her aunt of this young man. Her aunt's advice was to snub him if he made advances.

It so happened that the next time they met face to face he made a request for her to stay. She frowned and quickened her footsteps. He stood looking after her. Asoka was successful at the law examination. He was also proficient in reading Braille. He was the only child of his parents.

They were people of moderate means. He soon secured employment in the Law College area with a firm of lawyers in the Lawyers' Complex building.

Asoka did not see Anula for some time. He thought it likely that she took a different route to avoid him.One day he saw her with a disgruntled looking elderly woman.

Information

Though he looked at Anula she ignored him. Her aunt, the elderly woman glared at Asoka and mumbled incoherently.

Another morning at the spot where they pass each other, an acquaintance stopped and spoke to Asoka. A while later Anula came by. His friend greeted her. She acknowledged and hurried away. Asoka became hopeful.

Before he could question his companion Basil, about the girl, Basil volunteered information. He said her name was Anula and that he was interested in her.

A few days later while crossing each other on the street, her irritation got the better of her and she jerked her opened umbrella towards him to show her disapproval. She knew she had struck him. She hastened away. She heard a cry of pain and a medley of voices of pedestrians. One man came after her and told her the result of what she had done.

Frightened now, she almost ran. That morning her Nenda had told her to hit him with her umbrella if he persisted to speak with her. Her inner self seemed to involuntarily obey her aunt's bidding and action followed without conscious thought. Later reason seemed to point an accusing finger at her. Her mind was in turmoil. She was unable to concentrate on her work. Basil noticed her looking distraught and inquired. She fearfully told what had happened. Now Anula left home earlier than usual to avoid meeting him. Badra, her aunt asked her about the man she complained of. She said, she had not seen him for a long time.

On her way to work she saw Basil walking in the opposite direction from their workplace. He was guiding a man across the pedestrian crossing.

The man was dressed in white shirt and trousers and was tapping the road with a white cane. It was Asoka. He was now completely blind. Sight to that eye also was irrecoverable. A wire rib of her umbrella had pierced that eye.

Anula noticed that for some time Basil and she had been drifting apart. Their association which had been getting closer took on a casual tone.

Different

Badra, Anula's aunt fell ill and died shortly after. Almost immediately Anula felt a release as though she had released her breath after holding it for a long time. The dark cloud was not there. She felt light-hearted and a little guilty for not feeling regret at her relative's death. She felt a different person altogether.

Cheerful, out-going and not the introvert she knew she was. Many a times she had seen Asoka being helped by many people. She felt a pang of guilt with a mixture of envy. She thought she had to do something about it.

One day while she was going home early from work she saw Asoka standing at the zebra crossing. She guessed he was listening to the movement of traffic and for an opportunity to cross the road. Time and again she had felt a heaviness of heart when she saw him with other people who assisted him. Now, she felt her entire being propelled towards him. She boldly took his elbow and said, "Let's go".

He had never heard her voice before. How could he have? There had been no communication of all. Asoka stood still. She asked him why. He thought for a while and said that he thought she was someone that he had wanted to be friendly with before he lost his sight. It was Anula's turn to be stunned. She thought how deeply ingrained she had been in his mind. She did not beat about the bush. She told him it was she. She walked with him for about half a kilometre to the Railway Station. On leaving him there she promised to see him soon. Two minds, one jubilant the other relieved of a monstrous guilt and a load of tension.

Nevertheless she still suffered the mental agony of her rash action which deprived a man of his sight.When they were alone she confessed to him of her disdainful attitude and asked for forgiveness in sobs and tears.

Forgiveness

She vowed to take care of him as long as she lived. She begged his parents for forgiveness when her parents met them to arrange their marriage. Anula's anxiety to make amends prompted a simple and early marriage.

It took place about three months after Anula first spoke to him at the Zebra Crossing.

Anula was happy and content because she had the opportunity to make amends. They had four children and none of them inherited their father's fate.

At Asoka's funeral oration Basil harped on it. His speech brought tears to their eyes - not for the dead Asoka but for the faithfulness and integrity of Anula. Few knew the story of Asoka's total blindness.

Anula's atonement for her rash action was complete.