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| Sunday, 8 September 2002 |
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by Leela Jayaratne
Did they care because they loved him. I knew why they rushed. Their father knew too. Don't inform them he had told me. But it is my duty. On the other hand, even if I didn't, they may have got to know from other sources, and then, they would have blamed me. Called me names and accused me of cheating them of their father's fortune. Mistress You see I am not their own mother. A mistress in their eyes. An ill-bred woman who had, by evil charms, trapped a lonely man into her clutches. It was a dark and stormy night that I first met David. It was raining very heavily with thunder and lightening deafening the ears. Calm I was vainly trying to calm my two kids, aged seven and five who were scared of thunder. It was then, I heard the faint knock on the door. A stranger stood outside when I opened the door. The blowing was so fierce that he was practically blown into my sitting room. He was drenched and the water from his body flowed down making a miniature pool on the floor. I couldn't ask him to leave no person with a conscience could do that, specially in that foul weather. So he stayed till the rain stopped. Sipping the hot cup of coffee, he told me that he was looking for a room to rent. He told me about himself. He was a retired government pensioner, had two sons and two daughters. They were all married and settled in different parts of the country. Burden He preferred to lead his own life. He did not want to be a burden to his children he told me. I being a lonely widow with two kids to support welcomed this chance to make a little extra money, offered to rent out a room in my home and provide his meals if he so wished. He was delighted. He moved in the next day. He was very helpful to us in many ways. He brought home delicacies which I could never dream of buying. He cared for my kids who in their turn loved him calling him Uncle David. Caring In short we became a family. David caring for us and helping us in more ways than one. The children's education and well-being were looked after by David and I was grateful to him for his generosity. In return we tried to keep him happy and comfortable. Years passed. Occasionally he would go on a visit to his children, but always came back in a depressed mood. I guessed that they pestered him for money - more money or perhaps they disapproved of his liaison with me, who was not of their social standing. Love and affection Anyhow what David needed was love and affection from his children which I believed was not forthcoming and he was a disappointed man. He never discussed his children with me except say that they were an ungrateful lot. Just before he had his first stroke, he had sold my small house and bought us a larger one, furnished it and fitted it with modern electrical equipment. When he was struck down the first time, I informed his children, who were too busy to come. They told me to let them know if he became worse. But he survived and lived for another whole year to see my son through university and my daughter enter Medical College. Arrived Now they have all arrived not through love or affection but probably to take whatever their father had left behind. After the funeral was over, which was undertaken by a reputed firm of takers care of whose expenses were pre-paid by David - the foursome sat in the hall to discuss matters. "Daddy promised to give me financial assistance to run my business. So whatever he has in his savings account will be mine?" said the eldest. "You take the money - but the house and what it contains is mine, as I have no home of my own" said the second daughter. "Then what about me?" asked the youngest. I am also entitled to his fortune am I not?" "sure sure" said the eldest. "I know father had some share in a tea estate in Matugama. It shall be yours" said the eldest who was playing the role of the administrator. "You seem to have forgotten me" accused the eldest daughter. I shall certainly want half of father's savings. I know he is a good saver. None of them seemed to have a thought for me and my children who had looked after him all those years, with love and affection providing him with a comfortable home care for him when he fell ill. Legal wife David knew this would happen. After his first stroke, David made me his legal wife and my children his adopted children and made his last will leaving all he possessed, the house, the money in the savings deposit and other possessions to us. Unaware of this, the children who had come with the sole intention of grabbing whatever they could, argued and counter argued till late in the night while I sat away from them clutching the copy of the last will and my Marriage Certificate thanking silently David for his fore-thought in providing me and my children a stable future. |
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They all came. They came in answer to my telephone call. Their father
had passed away that morning. They the two sons and two daughters, with
their spouses came from distant places to attend the last rites of their
father and to help in his burial.
