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| Sunday, 1 December 2002 |
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Short Story Sleeping justice
Wanitha was a young nurse married to an executive. Prabuddha was handsome and sporty. Wanitha was pretty and innocent. They were staunch Catholic. Wanitha had studied in her village school and Fr. Nirosh, had been her classmate and her best friend. "Wanitha what brought you this way?" the priest disturbed her. "After a long time! So what's the news?" "I came to meet you Father." Wanitha wanted to pour out her grieving heart, and father suggested, "Let's go to the grotto." School days Wanitha kept her pace while walking. The priest recalled his school days and the bright poor girl Wanitha who had used his books, worn his sister's clothes and shared his tiffin with him. They had always competed for first place during tests. Neither of them could beat the other. They had the same average and had almost always been first in the class. He recounted the day Wanitha had lost her father. Throughout their walk towards the grotto, Wanitha did not break her silence. She was deep in thought. Father Nirosh continued his recollection. "Wanitha do you remember the day I left school for the seminary? How you cried! How you accompanied me up to the school gate with our classmates?" Now they were near the grotto. Father sat near the statue of Saint Bernadette, and Wanitha sat under the statue of Many Immaculate. "So Wanitha, what can I do for you?" "Only you could help me, Father. I'm not in my village., I'm with my in-laws. My husband and his relations harass me, for I'm childless. They can't call me by my name. They call me 'Wanda Ekei" (which means the one who is barren) I am fed up with the cruel beating." "How long have you been married?" "Five years Father." It was Father Nirosh who had officiated at their marriage. Then he was a newly ordained priest, and it had been his first marriage ceremony. "Five years is a long time. "Father muttered to himself. "I can feel my husband's pain of not having a child of his own. What can I do, Father? Is it God's will for me to be childless? I can't go against His Divine wishes. "Yes we couldn't go against the Divine will of God. As the sky is above the earth, His ways are above ours." "But Father....." "Yes Wanitha,all are not fortunate enough to understand this. That's where you and your husband clash. He is unable to understand God's Will." "I don't know, Father. You could explain and I could understand, but it is impossible to bear the pain." "That's where Wanitha you need humility and faith. Faith is a gift from God. It helps you face life. Humility helps you face life when you are humiliated. "You help ease my pain, but if you could talk to Prabuddha personally...." "Yes Wanitha I'll try." Permission It was dusk when Wanitha reached home. Prabuddha had just reached home after work. Wanitha knew that he had had a couple of drinks by his smile. Prabuddha and his mother were furious that Wanitha had gone out without permission. The show started immediately. Mother-in-law gave all the necessary support to her son. He did not stop with his words, but used his hands and legs. Wanitha did not utter a word. The only thing she could have done was to cry, but her mother-in-law was after her, scolding and insisting she should not cry aloud. Wanitha went to bed without taking her supper, but Prabuddha had a grand portion, and his mother waited on him. She sat with him and served him. She had a long chat with him. She gave Prabuddha all the necessary advice for taking a divorce. Bad Omen Wanitha heard all that her mother-in-law said. According to her mother-in-law a barren woman was a bad omen and a coin of no value. When she woke up the following day, everyone else in the house was fast asleep. She got ready to go to work. Her face was swollen and her eyes were red. She had spent a long restless night with all its pain, physical and mental. Her friend Wathsala noticed the difference in Wanitha when she came to the ward. She confided to Wathsala. Chided Wanitha started her rounds and during her rounds some pregnant women chided her for being barren. They asked her to leave them. Wanitha was shocked to hear that "How did the outside world know?" She questioned herself. Now she had to face problems even at her workplace. No this was not a problem but an insult. Wanitha met her friend during lunch. "You need a lot of courage, Wanitha," Wathsala said after listening to her friend. "But how has this come all the way to the ward, yes, that is a big issue which we have to consider. This is the only place I live in peace. I always looked forward to being with patients, and now I have lost that consolation too." "We'll see how this has come over here. Let me go to the ward and see, said Wathsala angrily. Humiliation They finished their lunch Wanitha went to the rest room while Wathsala went to the ward. Wanitha felt sorry for herself because of the humiliation she had suffered in the morning. Wathala went straight away to the ward and confronted the two mothers. In no time she came to know that one of them was related to Prabuddha. Then the story was clear. It was Prabuddha's mother who had provoked the patients during her visit last evening. Wanitha could not help crying when she came to know the story. She was frustrated and depressed. She took half-a-day's leave and went home. Prabuddha had gone to work, and his mother was having her siesta. Wanitha went into the room, looked around it and sat at the writing table. She had come to a final decision. "Now's the time for it", she thought she took a sheet of paper and a pen. Dear Father Nirosh At the beginning of this letter I apologise to you for taking your time and also for not abiding by Christian law. I have taken a very drastic decision so that I may find consolation. True, I know that this is not going to be a consolation which will last forever, yet I find no other alternative. As a young student, I was bright. We were very close friends in school. Though we were of two different social stations, we were thick pals. My mother was your domestic servant. She used to accompany me to your place. However, my mother tried to keep me in the kitchen, neither you nor your mother allowed me to be so. She always asked me to study with you. She treated me like one of her own children. Then I never felt the difference of your social class. My mind is not clear to pen this letter. I feel sick and frustrated. I feel that I am a burden to my husband and in-laws. I am a curse on my parents and my family. All of them are unhappy because I am childless. God could give a son to Sarah in her old age, and that gave great joy to Abraham and his wife. Once again God gave a son to Elizabeth and took her shame away from her. I prayed to the same God. I know that He is powerful. I know with him everything is possible. Faith can move mountains. One must have patience to have faith. God gives things to the correct person at the correct time. I know that one must submit one's decision to the Holy Will of God...resignation to the Divine Will will bring every blessing. Yet I find it too hard to fight with faith. Patachara lamented when she lost her two children. The queen of King Vessanthara wept when her husband gave away their two children. Even our Blessed Mother cried at the death of her beloved son. The difference between Mother Mary and Patachara is that Mother Mary fought with faith at her time of sorrow and loss. Our Blessed Mother has taught a lesson to all mankind, yet now I can't stand this agony I have decided to put an end to my life. This morning I took some sleeping tablets from the hospital I have them with me now, and soon after I finish this letter, I'll taste them and rest. My last wish on earth is for you. May God bless you! Please safeguard my husband from all accusation of my death and do strengthen my mother after my death. I hope that the Merciful Father will grant me eternal rest. Asleep When Prabuddha came in the evening he found Wanitha fast asleep. He undressed without even looking at her. He had a body wash as usual. Wanitha's mother-in-law was furious to find her daughter-in-law sleeping during dusk. Prabuddha went back to the room and pulled Wanitha's legs to stop his mother's accusation. "Her legs were ice cold," he said to himself and touched her face, neck and hands. Every part was cold "She is dead!" Prabuddha screamed in a loud voice. Now he felt sorry for his wife. The love which was buried in him sprang out. Prabuddha got into the bed, embraced the body and cried. He didn't want to pretend or show off. His heart was troubling him for the way he treated his wife and how she had treated him in return. Prabuddha was frightened when he thought of answering Wanitha's family. He thought that they would think that she was poisoned. The only defence he had was the letter. He found it on the table. The postmortem was held. The coroner gave a suicide verdict. Prabuddha was safe, but every member of his family was guilty. The report revealed that Wanitha had been pregnant. No one could console Prabuddha. Now he knew that his wife was not barren. He knew she was an innocent,holy devoted wife and a good daughter-in-law even though she was ill-treated. Lost Everyone who had known Wanitha felt sorry for her Wathsala who knew everything was very sad she had lost a good understanding companion. When Father Nirosh came to know the same news, he went to Wanitha's place with a grieving heart. He didn't cry out but he couldn't control his mind and heart, they started recalling the past when father Nirosh and Wanitha were living as brother and sister. Father couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Wanitha lying still. He felt as if he was weakening Prabuddha gave him Wanitha's letter. Father Nirosh, who didn't know anything about this, accepted it and opened it and Prabuddha couldn't control himself. He knelt before the father and started crying out 'Wanitha' like a mad man. by Ajith Perera, |
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| Produced by Lake House |
The
choir was practising for the coming church feast. In this calm and holy
atmosphere, Wanitha lost herself in her own thoughts. She had come to
church to meet the assistant priest, father Nirosh.
