 Survival
by Chintha Hewage
“Lina……..” Melina spun on the
spot to face supper elated Nimasha. “Masha……..” She cried and hugged her
best friend under the jam fruit tree where they had shared many secrets,
detailed descriptions of each other’s love lives, and sorrows many years
ago. The jam fruit tree watched them silently as it always had done.
Lina felt elegant and beautiful in her new green halter frock, matching
footwear and earrings. “You look fabulous” Masha confirmed it as she
always did.
After two years she visited her country promising herself not to
leave again but to find her life in her motherland. She couldn’t believe
she was breathing the sweet air of Masha’s garden and standing under the
lovely adorable jam fruit tree. “Lina…have a drink. I need to go
inside.” Masha uttered in an apologetic tone and hurried into the house.
 The visitors were ambling earnestly admiring one other and
introducing their little ones. The white marquee and the flower
arrangements added a soothing party atmosphere to the garden to
celebrate Masha’s daughter’s first year’s birthday. Lina spent a few
minutes absorbing this beauty.
And then… “Melina?” The voice she adored and craved to hear for two
years spoke in its low, lovely tone pronouncing every syllable of her
name lovingly. Melina froze embracing his voice before turning to face
him.
“Kyle…”
She managed to whisper not believing that she was standing and not
dreaming. The very reason for her to run away to Canada was standing in
front of her. He looked the same. Dressed well, smart, neat, clean and
emitting the fragrance of the after shave she had given him two years
ago.
“You are beautiful!” he admired meeting her gaze but not looking at
her frock, as he always had done. “How come you are here? Where is she?”
“Oh! She knows Nimasha” He continued his gaze.
A woman strolled towards them dressed in a plain elegant white frock,
with light make up; looking innocent yet pretty. “This is my wife!” The
two women shook hands with an artificial grin on their faces. “Why don’t
you go sit?” He told his wife. It was a kind request for anyone who
didn’t know him. But Lina heard the kind manipulation in his unique soft
tone. Unlike Lina, the woman obeyed.
She would have objected point blank clinging to his arm but his wife
played the wife’s role pretty well. She departed to sit under the
marquee and gaze into infinity with her unchanged expression. Lina
shuddered from inwardly. She felt her trained tolerance. He broke the
silence again.
“You are living alone?” “Why do you ask?” “Tell me! Are you?” The
sweet demand again. After two years he is knocking at her door again.
She stared at his stern piercing gaze for a few seconds brainstorming to
find a loop hole. Kyle provided for his family for allowing him to
belong in a social alliance; for providing a slot in the society to
belong in. His wife masters the tolerance to live comfortably enjoying
the civil rights of the marriage. They were fine. Lina? Lina was the
missing factor. The adventure, the enthusiasm, drama and the life and
soul of this stagnated boring day to day life of attempting success.
The spare wheel, she felt a chill wrapping her head and trickling
through her spine to the toes. “I’ll get back to you!” she excused him
pretending to make a phone call and hurried
back to Masha to grant her apology for the abrupt departure she was
about to make. However for some unknown reason she spotted the calm
woman sitting under the marquee sipping lemon juice and found herself
being drawn towards her.
“Hi, I’m Lina…” “I know! Kyle’s friend.” She smiled placing her left
hand on the table. Lina wasn’t sure whether she had seen a faint sarcasm
behind her innocent smile. She gazed at his wife for a few seconds. Then
she read the subtext of the smile in detail. ‘Whoever you are, I’m still
the lawful wedded wife…and…you are just his…’ Lina smiled serenely. She
patted the hand placed on the table with a gold wedding band glowing on
the finger.
Then she walked past the jam fruit tree towards Kyle and smiled
broadly with him. “Err……. Kyle,’ He smiled joyously. “So so tell me! Are
you living alone? Where?” “Yes! No 15 Lime Terrace! Why?” “I’ll come to
see you!”
Unlike his wife, Melina successfully hid her sarcastic smile. She
nodded curtly and sat near the jam fruit tree with her mind as calm as
the deep blue sea. She had to stay. She had to stay where she belonged.
Then again, she had to break away, break free and not run away. Not this
time.
“We’ll see!” She mused sardonically.
The jam fruit tree listened quietly and watched the dignified, stern,
well focused and clear gaze of a lioness ready for her hunt; for her
survival. |
