Itipahan (Burly Lamp) Chapter - 27

By Sumithra RAHUBADDE

(Translated by Ranga Chandrarathne and edited by Indeewara Thilakarathne)

“I am a lamp burning on both ends

Known well that I cannot pass the night

Yet

See my friends

Foes

How powerful light

Burnt

To dispel the darkness”

Soome waited a while at the huge gate in the midst of weeping trees. She thought that there was a mystic gathering in the world beyond the gate. She had to meet a woman, by opening the doors to that mystic world and whose contribution should be solicited to build the future. Soome knew history had testified that temples had the ability to change at the right moment by responding to the suffering of the masses. Daisy thought that it was because of this that on every occasion in the history the members of the Buddhist order came forward ignoring brick bats from all directions. Leader Comrade said that they should enlist the support of not only the temple but also the Church and the Hindu Kovil.

They could not afford another defeat. Soome always thought that there should be a right plan, if they had to turn the crushing defeat into a resounding victory. Soome who walked through the flower beds on the sides of the gate sat on a seat in front of the hall. A huge image of Jesus Christ hung in the upper end of the hall. Soome thought that the beautiful foliaged trees planted on pots at intervals in the hall marked the isolated abundance. The surroundings were saturated with the air of abandoned dignity.

Soome thought that the woman with a charming smile and controlled disposition was walking up to her. She must be the person she was waiting for. Soome thought that her smiling face and thin body acted as if she were in a trance. "I am Bernadette," Sister Bernadette said as she took Soome's hand. "Sister, I thought it must be as you walked in." Both sat in and Soome began to speak. Soome was nearly mesmerised by the concerted manner in which Sister Bernadette listened to her. Throughout her stay, there was a faint serene smile on her face. "Comrade Daisy, we pray for the masses who are suffering. Everything belongs to God and He blesses everyone equally," Sister Bernadette said in a most tranquil manner with a delicate tone.

"Sister, God would have blessed those who are suffering. Sister has to believe God. But God could not build social equality. Therefore, we shall help him to do that. If we wait till God deliver everything to our footstep, this problem would turn worse." "Sister," Soome spoke with a degree of calmness which she was not used to. Sister Bernadette thought that her throat had been badly affected. "Let us drink something," said the Sister and before Soome responded, she went into an inner room. Sister Bernadette returned quickly. In a few second, another Sister came into the hall with a glass of cool drink on a tray. Soome who took the glass, emptied it at once. "Sister, is it right for us to take something which belongs to God? Comrade Lionel also described a bit on this issue. But Sister,

I still try to think whether it is correct for us to take something belonging to God! "she drew a cross as if to take head and heart together. "I teach others to obey God," said the Sister who drew the cross with a smile that marked with sadness. Though Soome was a bit jittery, she tried to suppress that impulse. "Let us help God. If justice, righteousness and equality are his mottos, he would not be against our attempt to uplift them," Soome said a little louder. Sister Bernadette was a bit scared whether that high pitched tone would be heard by the two elder Sisters who passed them. After they disappeared, she spoke again. "But revolution is something not fit with God. God is against such acts." "Was there anything to that affect in the Bible?" asked Soome with a slightly cast down head. "There was no direct reference not to carry out a revolution. But nowhere in the Bible such things are encouraged," said Sister placing her hand on Soome's shoulders. "Daisy let me think for a while. Don't think I am against it. Convey my regards to comrade Lionel," Sister Bernadette said rising up as if she wanted to take leave from Daisy.

It was through Comrade Lionel she came to know that Sister Bernadette was a girl with a soft heart. Soome thought that she could influence a lot by attracting a girl like Sister Bernadette who had a tender heart and was sensitive to the sufferings of the masses. "We should get Sister Bernadette to join the Cultural Section. She has a good voice," Comrade Lionel said. 'Comrade, it wouldn't be easy to cut off the ropes that bound Sister Bernadette to religious teaching, God and conventional thinking," said Daisy wiping off sweat on the forehead with her hand. "Daisy, despite all these bonds, it won't be a difficult task to get Sister Bernadette to our side. Even if it is difficult, we should, somehow, do it," comrade Lionel said.

Soome was happy about the renewal of the party's Cultural Program. She thought art as a striking factor which could keep the doors of the heart to be unlocked. It was not through lamentations and sufferings that one could reach the heart. It was to be close to the heart to feel that there was suffering and injustice. Daisy was extremely happy that leadership had understood that they could reach out to the hearts through poet's poetry, painters' paintings, photographers pictures and singers songs. "Comrade Gamanayake informed that he wanted to meet me," said Niyathapala who was stroking Soome's protruding belly.

"Then?" Soome turned to Niyathapala. "I met the Comrade. We should not suffer in this manner if others had a fraction of feelings for the suffering of masses as the comrades have. I think you are correct. Someone should do it. Have we got a decent salary even to properly feed us? But we protect those who shake us by The ear," said Niyathapala taking off the hand from Soome's belly. Duleena's lullaby to calm down the elder son pervaded the deserted and dark surroundings. "At last, you also have opened up the eyes. We cannot wait to fulfil our obligations. Things to be done today should be done today. You waited till comrade Gamanayake said the same to you, said Soome getting closer to Niyathapala's solid body. Niyathapala sighed placing his hand on her body. "I did not wait till Comrade Gamanayake said it.

On that day I accompanied you to the village after being released from the prison, I thought I should not allow you to get involved with that nonsense again. But I could not change you. Then, little by little, I tried to convince myself to lead a life the way you wanted. Thereafter, I begun to realise what you say is right," said Niyathapala emptying a jug of water near the bed, into the mouth still in the upright position. Soome breathed slowly. In a very calm manner, she listened to Niyathapala's words. Soome thought that night was cooler than the other days. Soome thought whether there was a part of her life that should be concealed from Niyathapala and hereafter that can be discovered. But she thought she should not express her feelings at once. Niyathapala, who had been talking for a long time, suddenly, fell asleep. Though his snoring created an ugly noise, it could not be stopped. Lying on the bed, her thoughts drifted. At the same time, she heard the sound of elder son crying and mother trying to calm him down with "Doi...Doi".

"From tomorrow on wards I will go to Nanawathi Hamine's house with this child. If I waited till you stay at home, I always have to be at home," Duleena said when Soome was dressing up on the following morning. Duleena understood that Soome who got dressed up was not going out for a job. Duleena thought that Soome as well as son-in-law had fallen into the same pot of pickle. Both had no concern for, let alone the child who was born but even for the child in the belly. Though the son-in-law wanted to have sumptuous food, he could not afford it. She could not go to Nanawathi Hamine carrying the child though Nanawathi Hamine had assigned her work on several occasions. "I don't know whether you could look after the child and attend to the work there. Can you do both? Asked Soome.

"I will, somehow, do it. You are not concerned about the child," said Duleena coming up to her. "Puthe, have you forgotten what happened to you once, and you are trying to be involved in it again? Wait, at least, till you deliver the child," said Duleena and ran up to the mat hearing the child's cry. Soome thought it was better not to speak with mother.

It was of no use in talking on meaningless things. This strong impulse which pierced into the flesh and blood cannot be killed by any reasoning. It was in order to be triumphant that she had to be imprisoned. Her youth was destroyed at the hand of those who were in uniform and she always subjected to harassment throughout the life. Soome sat on the bed allowing the melancholic silence to be engulfed by her surroundings. "Mother, can't you look after the child?" After a while, Soome asked sadly. Duleena who held the child on her shoulders threw an empty glance at Soome.

"Puthe, why can't I? If you bear a dozen of children I will look after them until I inhale my last breath. But can you afford to go to prison again? To be beaten up heavily? I brought you up like Queen Elizabeth would bring up her daughter. But you endured unspeakable hardships because of our sins," said Duleena wiping her tears with her jacket's sleeve. Soome did not speak. Soome was admitted to the same hospital where she gave birth to her elder son. On this occasion she felt more tiresome. On the advice of doctors and nurses, Soome walked up and down in the ward in order to control the pain which was like a thunder strike that ran along the spine. Could she do anything else other than holding the spine and shouting out "Ammo"? No one could bear up that excruciating pain from time to time in both hips. Though she thought that the baby would see the light of the day, doctor said that there was still time for the delivery. Soome felt like crying out loud like a crazy person. She did not experience such an intense pain when she was hit on the head at the police station with batons. "I could not bear it up," Soome thought.

Soome walked up and down while rubbing the spine by throwing her hands through the hip. Moreover, Soome could not bear up the negligence on the part of nurses and attendants and their sarcastic remarks. "Trying to fondle as if giving birth to a child for the first time in life," remarked a fat female attendant when Soome was crying out with pain. Soome thought that attendant must be a she-devil. "Who the devil would come to you to fondle?" though Soome wanted to shout out, she had no strength to do so.

After a very painful delivery, a baby boy was born. Soome, who looked at the new born boy, smiled. Now, milk powder is needed for another child. "It is good if a baby girl was born," Niyathapala said seeing the boy. "Whoever is born it is the same", Soome said stroking the baby's head. "Soome, be careful of Thel Vala! It is a vulnerable area that should be looked after with care at least for a year," Duleena said thinking that Soome had rubbed too hard on the Thel Vala of the child. "Mother, there is another grandson to be looked after," said Soome sporting a smile.

Duleena laughed looking at the daughter and son-in-law. Duleena was, once again, happy on hearing the child crying when it was brought home. She thought that the sound of the child's cry which spread over the plot of rubber would dispel the isolation pervaded in the house and the surrounding area. She understood that after the child's birth, she could not tap rubber. "Hamine, it is better if you can have someone else to tap rubber for the time being. I have got a lot of work at home," Duleena told Nanawathi Hamine while helping out her to boil a pot of rice. Magilin had come to help Nanawathi Hamine. Duleena thought that Magilin was also aging like herself. Magilin was splitting a log of firewood. On hearing Duleena's voice, Magilin stopped her work and looked at Duleena with a dazzling smile. Duleena noticed that two teeth on the front raw were missing in Magilin's mouth. Duleena was happy, may be thanks to Triple Gems, so far, she had no ailment of any sort.

Then she could not have led this life. After a while, Nanawathi Hamine asked a question instead of responding to Duleena. "Why Duleena? Have you got babies?" asked Nanawathi Hamine and looked at Magilin. Magilin kept on splitting the firewood without looking at Duleena. She put a handful of coconut leaves to the fire to boil the pot of rice without responding to the question. "Our girl gave birth to another child. Who else would look after it other than me? I could not go out of the house until the child is at least three or four months old," Duleena said as if she did not understand Nanawathi Hamine's remarks.

"You could not get over it even after three or four months. It is said that Soome has once again joined that movement. Now, Niyathapala would also join. I would say as sure as a gecko would say that Soome is trying, again, to make a leap," said Nanawathi Hamine. "Magilin, it is enough splitting firewood, now get ready to cook," she said. When Nanawathi Hamine started making remarks, and she herself did not know how she would finish. Therefore, the best action is not to be engaged.

"It is okay for you not to tap rubber. But don't hide in at home in hunger. I am saying so because you are such a woman. When you don't have anything, come and feed yourself. I could not bear to see you in hunger, "said Nanawathi Hamine.

Duleena gazed as she sat near the fire. It was not an easy task not to visit the house which she frequented for a long time. Duleena thought that unlike other households and people in the village, Nanawathi Hamine was fond of her. "Hamine, then I am going. I will visit you whenever I could," said Duleena and stood up to leave. Nanawathi Hamine came up to Duleena as she was concerned about her. She thought that Duleena was innocent although rumours circulated about her in the village. "You should not be concerned about what I told you.

I am angry with Soome. You rotate like a bull yoked to an oil extractor. Could you be at peace, even at this age? Tell Soome, at least to stay at home to look after her two children," Nanawathi Hamine said placing her hands on Duleena's shoulders. "Take some rice and make a good meal for her. When rice is cooked, you can eat it even with Sambol. Sugathapala had plucked jak, you could take half of it. Jak would help generate milk," Nanawathi Hamine said with a kind tone. "Hamine, how can I take them without doing any work? I am not used to take things from you in that manner. It is a sin," Duleena said unable to agree with Hamine's words. Hamine looked at Duleena with pain in her heart and said: "Oh, poor woman!" "You are too good. Forget about those things and take rice and some spice," said Nanawathi Hamine and went inside. She took some time to return. Hamine who brought a bag containing rice, spices and coconut gave it to Duleena.

Footnote

"Ammo"- A Sinhalese phrase similar to that of "oh my god used to express unbearable pain or excitement.

Thel Vala - A vulnerable and extremely tender area on the head of a new born baby.

Sambol - A Sri Lankan dish made of scraped coconut, chilli, salt and lemon.

Doi ... Doi - A Sinhalese lullaby meaning "sleep, sleep".