The Vesak lantern

by Rajendra Peeris

This is an incident which took place in the city of Colombo, about fifty years ago. Nirmala was born to staunch catholic parents, being the only child in the family. She was sixteen. She had a round, pretty face, elongated eyes with thick black eyelashes and bobbed hair. She attended a reputed Convent in the city.

Sugath was a tall, handsome young man born to a Buddhist family and an only child, as well. He was twenty three, studious and a third year medical student, when the incident happened.

Sugath and Nirmala were neighbours. When Nirmala was in difficulty in solving Algebra or Geometry problems, she would rush to Sugath for help. If it was Algebra she would be armed with the text book, Hall’s Algebra. For Geometry she did not fail to carry the text book, Bernard & Child.

“Sugath Aiya, I am stuck with a simultaneous equation.”

Sugath would then put away the medical journal he was reading, to accommodate her. He was cordial, always with a smile on his face.

“What’s it Nirmala, this must be the same type of sum that I explained to you the other day.”

“Had I gone to our Math’s teacher, Sister Lucy, she would only explain it once and no repetitions. If we pleaded for a second explanation she would scribble on a piece of paper addressed to Mother Superior, indicating that we failed to attend to our homework.”

In jest, Sugath would ask her, “then, Nirmala do you wish to brand me as your saviour?”

“Of course, Sugath Aiya you are my sole saviour.”

“By the way, how does Mother Superior react?”

“Oh! Mother Superior is a graceful lady, like my mother. She would throw away the piece of paper into the dust-bin and say: “Don’t worry children.”

Nirmala’s parents were very broad-minded. If there was any intimacy between Nirmala and Sugath, they did not show any objection, perhaps because the two families were cordial to each other, and were close neighbours. Nirmala’s mother would always quote the Bible ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself.’

Narrative

At times when Nirmala quoted this biblical narrative to Sugath, he would simply smile, and pretend he was unaware of such Latin Phrases. As a medical student he had the makings of a psychiatrist.

A couple of days prior to Christmas, Nirmala requested Sugath to accompany her to church. He simply smiled, but did not turn down her request. In the church, Nirmala drew Sugath’s attention to the statue of Virgin Mary carrying the little baby boy, Jesus Christ.

Sugath said, “Oh! The Holy Mother Virgin Mary portraying her tender care on her loving baby boy, Jesus Christ”.

Nirmala was enthralled at his prompt comment.

A couple of months passed by. One day Nirmala requested Sugath to take her to the nearest Buddhist Temple.

“All right Nirmala, both of us should be clad in white.”

On their way to the temple, Sugath bought a few lotus blooms and a packet of joss sticks. They piously offered the lotus blooms on a reserved marble stand and lit the joss sticks, planted in a sand pot.

Sugath drew the attention of Nirmala to a large, solemn Buddha statue. All of a sudden she commented: “How solemn it is! The eyes seem to communicate with one’s heart and mind, so compassionate!”

Sugath was amazed at her comment. He had a subtle feeling , that they could see eye to eye with compassion.

Aunty Dawn came to reside in Nirmala’s home for a couple of months. She was her mother’s elder sister.

“Nirmala, come here child. I wish to tell you something important. It is a serious matter, to which your parents seem to show a blind eye. What type of intimacy do you have with that youth?”

“Aunty, he is the one who helps me in my Algebra and Geometry lessons.”

“Does he observe any type of religion? Be mindful that your parents belong to a staunch Catholic family. For God’s sake put an end to any intimacy you entertain with such a rascal.”

Charming

“Aunty Dawn, please don’t call him a rascal. He is such a charming youth. I feel very hurt when you refer to him so. I am really offended at using that type of language.”

“Well, I know where you are. Your parents’ sole wish is to palm you off to a future doctor without any dowry. Perhaps his parents may not be that foolish.

Your parents should think of the religion first. Even a pauper who is a staunch Catholic, would be better.”

In order to annoy her, Nirmala said: “Aunty, after all we are close neighbours and Amma always says ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself.”

“My foot!”

The full moon was about to dawn in the month of May. Everyone eagerly looked forward to the Vesak festival. Sugath was concentrating on his medical studies. Nirmala barged into his chamber, one day.

“Sugath Aiya you must do me a favour.”

“What’s it Nirmala?”

“We must put up a nice octagonal Vesak lantern.”

He did not have the heart to turn down her request. Soon he rushed to the bazaar and bought a long bamboo reed, flour for the paste, white tissue paper, a ball of twine and a small bottle lamp. Both youngsters got together and made the skeletal structure for an octagonal vesak lantern.

Nirmala delicately ‘cut and pasted’ the tissue paper. Just a couple of days was left for Vesak. The young couple was able to put up an attractive white octagonal lantern on Vesak day.

The whole area was lit in colourful lanterns tied on to small branches, in the vicinity. The young couple’s white octagonal lantern glimmered in a golden light, and caught the eye of everyone. It was tied to the spreading branch of a large mango tree. The neighbours appreciated the creative work of the couple.

Doomsday

The second day was doomsday. The lantern glistened in the sky for less than an hour. Gusts of wind started blowing across with a smattering of large raindrops, which turned into a heavy shower.

The lantern was caught up in fire before it got drenched in the rain water and a good portion of it exposed to the elements. In a moment, the well lit colourful lanterns were washed away.

Nirmala was dumb-founded. Sugath was aware of the consequences.

“Sugath Aiya, please hold me, I am about to faint. Keep me by your side, I am so scared.”

“Nirmala, keep your mind and consciousness together. Nature is so uncertain, and could change every moment. We have to face reality and that is t he Truth.”

(The names are fictitious)