Her Agony

by Yasmin Jaldin

She was the only girl with two elder brothers. Their parents placed entire confidence in the teenagers giving them much freedom to engage in extra-curricular activities after school..

Even though Meda was dark in complexion she had striking features with long hair and a birth-mark on her chin which enhanced her beauty. A dancing belle, she was often cast in many ballets and the following week-end was the year-end concert. Requiring a few more accessories for her ensemble, she visited the shop in the town.

The handsome salesman was all eager to help the attractive girl and was extra nice to her with his pleasant sales talk. Enticing the young girl by presenting tokens of little trinkets, she became a regular visitor to the shop. She met him after class hours and a clandestine affair blossomed. The ignorant girl failed to even inquire of the man’s background.

On days she did not arrive home at the usual time, when questioned, she blurted out lies to her mother saying that the tuition master had taken up extra time to finish the class. In fact, she had used the time to be with her boy-friend. ‘It is a sin, I should not lie to mother, but when she thought of Sumith a sigh escaped her.

She vowed not to see him but his repeated messages and calls aroused her feelings and she met him again. Their meetings were so secretive that none could guess her involvement, not even her good friend nor her brothers. They carried on their tryst with no interference when one day, she had fallen ill. Unable to tell her parents she decided to tell Sumith, what he said made her quiver. “I am very sorry to hear this, but I must tell you now that I am already married and a father of two children’. ‘You are a cheat and a liar, how can I face the future, I have betrayed my family by trusting you’ she wailed. ‘Don’t make this a big issue, let’s meet tomorrow, I have a solution’ said he. ‘How could I tell mother of my plight, how would father bear this and her brothers, their friends would humiliate them, Oh! what have I done’ , these notions were bothering her day and night. Sumith has the answer let me wait till tomorrow’ she kept on repeating to herself. ‘Take four of these tablets tonight after your meals, your headaches will disappear’ he had said. That was the last she had seen or heard of her boy friend, the crafty man fled the area and went into hiding.

Nick of time

Following his instructions she had taken the pills after dinner. Ten minutes later, the girl screamed and fell unconscious. The desperate parents rushed her to hospital. She was saved in the nick of time, but what the doctor had to say to them was the most distressing news. ‘

She is in the family way, she has tried to commit suicide by consuming a deadly drug, what is the problem’ the doctor had asked. ‘Young people are very disobedient, for misunderstandings with their husbands this is the way of revenge’ the father replied covering up the shame. ‘Oh! how could we face the world this girl has ruined us’ thundered her father blaming his wife for not being vigilant of the children.

After much thought her parents decided to send Meda to a distant relative residing in the upcountry.

It was just a week more for her confinement. Her family had visited her two days earlier and their second visit so soon perturbed her. ‘Father and I had a long discussion last night and it is decided that you should give away the baby, you know very well that you can never marry the man of your choice, besides your life will be useless saddled with an illegitimate child; father has found a childless couple from overseas to adopt your child’ said her mother.

Meda just stared at her parents with shock, tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘Mother please don’t do this how could I bear, its my baby’, she wailed. ‘Foolish child, look here you have caused us many heart-aches, stop your tantrums, the couple will be here next week, and all arrangements have been made, so don’t make a fuss’, butted in her father in a threatening tone.

A week later she gave birth to a bonny little baby girl, all features inherited from her mother and the birth mark too. With a heavy heart she finally kissed the infant before handing over.

Calamity

The parental home was taboo for Meda, she never returned to her village. Once again she was whisked off to her aunt. Lamenting for sometime at her loss she gradually returned to her former self. Having found employment she was occupied. After sometime she married and had a small family. Twenty-five years later, one day while shopping in town she met a group of tourists. Among them were Sri Lankans on vacation. They entered the same shop she was. A dark complexioned young girl hand in hand with her husband looked her way and smiled. Striking a chord she looked at the girl intently.

Returning her gaze with a ‘Hello”, do you live here’ asked she. Speechless, Meda just nodded. Could this be my child she looked familiar?. Yes, she had some resemblance with that birth-mark on her chin and the braided long hair. Did she not tie her hair this way during her young days? Everyone admired her long plait.

The girl looked very happy sharing a joke with her husband and then once again both glanced her way to wave at her. If she inquired after her there would be a calamity, re-kindling past memories would spoil her happiness and mine, let ‘ by-gones be by-gones’ thought Meda going her way, wiping away a silent tear.