Itipahan (Burly Lamp) Chapter - 35

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"

Subha Siriwardene could hardly gulp the mouthful of water. She thought that water would stick in her throat. Subha learnt that police had already taken a couple of sisters and comrades into custody. Subha thought that she should know the reasons behind the arrests. If she does not act quickly, the situation will get worse. No one knew why sisters and comrades were taken into custody. She thought if she went to the police through a powerful contact she would be able to find a clue.

"A woman has been killed on the road. When we saw the list of addresses which we retrieved from her hand bag, we thought she had certain political connections. That's why we had started investigations" a senior Police officer revealed. Subha was in shock without being able to guess who that woman was. Subha Siriwardena decided to tackle the issue in a serious manner and make arrangements to free those innocent people who had been arrested for no reason, though she wanted to know who the murdered woman was and where she was from.

"Who was the woman?" Subha asked in English.

"Daisy Suzan," the officer answered quickly. Subha felt the world around her revolving fast. Though she wanted to think who had killed Daisy Suzan Rathuvithana, without thinking about it, she put her head down on the table before the officer. To win over what, had the woman named Daisy Suzan been killed? To achieve what objective, had they killed her? What was the grave offence she had committed during her life-time or who had imposed the capital punishment on her on the spur of the moment ? But this was not the time to find answers to any of these questions. First, action should be taken to release all the girls and boys arrested by explaining the situation to police officers. Subha Siriwardena was able to get the arrested girls and boys released after making a statement to the police because of her powerful contact.

"Then, Inspector isn't there any clue to this murder? Do you forget to find that because you followed the addresses? " Subha asked the Inspector as she came out of the police.

"Police could not do their duty if we are to find out all the murders, Inspector said smiling.

Subha thought she should locate Praneeth Perera before visiting the mortuary. Subha who took a three wheeler went to several places in the city to find out Praneeth. As he was not in those places, at last, she thought of visiting his residence in Kiribathgoda where his wife and children lived. When the three-wheeler stopped before the house in the middle class housing scheme located on Makola road when travelling from Kiribathgoda junction, Praneeth's wife came in, realised who she was and smiled with Suba.

"Is Praneeth at home?" Subha asked in a calm voice. "Yes, Subha, he is here, from yesterday's noon, he has been listening to music, before Nalani finished, Praneeth came in.

"I heard Subha's voice. You also remember us, please come in, Praneeth invited Subha arranging her hair with hands. Subha could hear the music that Praneeth was listening to. Subha thought that the entire surrounding had a mystic beauty. Though Praneeth's marriage with Nalini was not successful, a melody emanated from the house. The surrounding outside the house had several flower beds.

"Subha, come in" Nalani also invited her.

"Thanks Nalini, I cannot stay long. I came in a hurry," said Subha, asking the three wheeler driver to stay till she returned.

"I came for an emergency. When did you see Daisy last?" Subha asked Praneeth after Nalini went off.

"Subha, have you come to cross examine me? I met her the day before yesterday. I am going to Daisy's tonight", Praneeth said curiously.

"Any way, Praneeth will have to come with me to go there. But before that you will have to accompany me to the mortuary" said Subha firmly grabbing Praneeth's hands. Praneeth felt the world around him revolving. How did the lovable woman who was close to his heart and was listening to his melancholic notes die? Praneeth closed his eyes without releasing Subha's hands. She was making notations to sing in her coarse world thought of Praneeth and got up with heavy eyes.

"Murder! But there wasn't murderer. Let's go to the mortuary", Subha said. Though Subha and Praneeth went to the mortuary on a three-wheeler, Praneeth did not ask further questions and Subha remained silence.

Praneeth thought there was a smile on her serene face. Praneeth heard his heart crying. Was that the justice she demanded from the world. Who wanted to rob Daisy Suzan's life? Who wanted to do it and had strength to do it? How did she face that cruel moment? Praneeth was afraid to speculate that moment thinking that he would faint.

"Praneeth you look after Daisy's mother and children. I will bring the body there tomorrow. We should act wisely in this hour," said Subha holding Praneeth who put his head against the wall and closing his eyes by shoulders.

"Can you go alone?" Subha asked Praneeth who was leaving. Praneeth stepped into Daisy's house by seven in the night. The bottle lamp was lit up. Two children were studying. Praneeth heard their voices together that echoed in the plot of rubber. Praneeth thought that the bottle lamp could not dispel the darkness of the house into the plot of rubber.

"Uncle Praneeth" younger son shouted. Elder son stopped studying and smiled with Praneeth. Duleena peeped in from the kitchen. Duleena came up seeing Praneeth Mahattaya at the doorstep.

"Why Mahattaya, staying there. Where's our girl?" Praneeth went into the house and sat.

"Mother, give me a glass of water" Praneeth said. Duleena brought water in the long jug that the girl drank water from. Duleena felt a change when watching Praneeth Mahattaya who emptied the glass of water hurriedly. Was that stubborn girl imprisoned again for engaging in a mischievous act? Praneeth was silent for a moment. Then he got up and came up to Duleena who was still looking at him and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Mother! We should make Daisy's funeral arrangements. They will bring her body tomorrow" Praneeth spoke with a clear but firm voice. Praneeth saw instead of the woman who looked like a sage a moment ago, a woman shouting and crying. Her eyes conveyed a feeling as if it to tell " was it so." She did not ask whether she was killed or had died. Praneeth thought that she had been stunned so that she could not shed a tear.

"Your mother has died," Praneeth told the children and they understood it. They stopped studying. Praneeth thought how nice it would be to flee away from this gloomy house. But he could not flee leaving these three innocent souls behind.

"Mother, is there anyone in the village who should be told about this?" Praneeth asked after a pause.

"Mahattaya, to whom I should tell? Tomorrow morning I will send a boy to Nanawathi Hamine to convey the message," Duleena took a deep breath which Praneeth felt as if hitting his chest.

"Now, mother, will you sleep. Puthala, will you also sleep? I will stay awake," Praneeth said.

"Mahattaya, I thought that I was not able to provide her with any comfort. This child had a strong will and courage, Duleena took a deep breath again. She bore with closed eyes, frames of all the events that occurred from Soome's birth and to the moment she heard her death. She could remember movements of the child in her womb like a little bird. Duleena recalled how she cried with an overwhelming happiness on the day she was born. Duleena recalled how she spent her childhood, like the toy doll at Mr. Paxton's bungalow. Later, she could not afford the same affection and luxuries she was bestowed with. She could remember how she convinced herself that Soome began to blame her because of the same reason. When the girl grew up, villagers wanted to seduce her. Soome had the will not to be seduced by villagers. Duleena knew Soome had a strong will power to endure numerous hardships including a term of punishment in prison.

The body was brought around 3.00 p.m on the following day. Nanawathi Hamine had come in the morning. Kandegedara Mahattaya, Kumatheris Aiyya and Niyathapala's brother, Karunapala had gathered in the courtyard. From a distance, villagers looked on. The group who brought the body included Subha Siriwardena.

Duleena looked at her when the body was placed in her room in the small hut at the far end of the plot of rubber where she had spent thirty one years of her life of thirty six years. Duleena saw a branch of red flowers on the body. The group including Subha lit a coconut lamp near the head of the body. Though the group including Subha expected Duleena to lament incessantly, she looked at the body quietly. Subha thought that she should not awaken her from her trance like state by trying to console her.

"Praneeth, what does Daisy's mother say? When does she want to have the funeral?" Subha asked calling Praneeth to a side.

"She wants to finish it as soon as possible. She is worried about not having money for the funeral," Praneeth said.

"Then we will tell mother and do the funeral tomorrow itself? Subha asked Praneeth. Praneeth looked with wet eyes, thinking how boys and girls from Colombo and other areas who were making final arrangements for Daisy's funeral. Praneeth felt that Daisy's memories imbedded in his mind like a stone weight which marked a landmark in a painful and difficult journey in her life. Praneeth with great difficulty avoided the impulse of kissing Daisy's lifeless face and cry bitterly embracing her body. Praneeth bore up her animated views, her views about the future of the nation, her views on art which fell on his ears and heard as the best melodies he had ever heard. Praneeth recollected with intense pain the efforts she made not to allow to destroy the vitality of her life which was subjected to insults, by giving meaning to it. Praneeth stood up to see her fallen companion again. The countenance among them was a memorabilia of her; She did not destroy her tenderness due to her uprightness and firm outlook.

"You don't take me for half a penny," Praneeth felt faintly hearing the utterances that she often came out with. Praneeth understood that she would not rise up again to listen to him appreciating and respecting her strength and courage. Praneeth thought of her attempts to support his views by arguing throughout the night.

Villagers looked at various men and women came to see her body. The flower wreaths which could not be put inside the hut were seen stacked outside the hut. From the hut to the cemetery, banners bearing different slogans were hung. Soome's picture was drawn in large on several banners. "Subha Nona, did these things well since we could not afford them. It is a meritorious deed," Niyathapala's elder brother Karunapala said going up to the group including Subha who had made the funeral arrangements.

"We will do what we can do. Don't worry about it," Subha consoled Karunapala.

"Nona, two children are now rendered destitute without either father or mother!" Karunapala spoke with intense pain. Subha didn't speak. Duleena sat a little away from the body. Nanawathi Hamine sat near the body.

"Hamine, is there a time to take the body out? I could no longer bear it, Duleena said getting closer to Nanawathi Hamine.

"Duleena, there is little time. Bear it up. Your heart is strong," Nanawathi Hamine said placing her hands on Duleena's shoulders. The two children sat on the floor near the body. Suddenly Duleena felt as if her beloved daughter by her. Duleena saw her silently sitting near her. She was in her usual black skirt and small jacket with patterns of flowers on it. Duleena, who happily looked at her and thought that she had died and her body was in a coffin and it would be taken out for cremation soon.

Until the coffin was lifted, Praneeth could not sense where he was. He felt his hands were planted on his knees. He thought his face was as pale as the body. He understood at last that he loved her dearly. The person who loved him and won his love, today had left her body. There was no one to pour his heart out. His eyes were filed with tears. His pale face, grown up beard would be normal in a couple of days. But, Praneeth doubted whether he could repair his broken heart. He thought that like two fountains that would never dry up, both of them had immense life and kindness for each other. The present with renew energy and life had destroyed at once. Praneeth heard the funeral drums played inside his heart. Everything had ended up. Now he would walk before the coffin bearing the body of that strange relation. Praneeth saw Nanawathi Hamine taking Duleena to pay her last respect."

Someone has done something that has to be done. Otherwise, noose would fall upon thirty or forty boys in the village," Praneeth heard someone murmuring to another in the funeral procession.

"I have never seen such a courageous woman who was genuinely concerned about the poor women and men," Praneeth heard a girl whom he had seen somewhere telling. Praneeth knew different people would hold different views on her death. Praneeth tried to find out Sirinatha who won her first love among the mass of people in the procession. But he could not single out such a person from the rest of the gathering. There was no reason for him, not to be present if he had come to know her death. Praneeth thought that he would definitely respect her as he did.

All of them gathered with wet eyes before the pyre. Two comrades who admired Daisy, set fire to the pyre since Daisy had not got sons-in-law. The Pyre was lighted.

Praneeth took away his eyes from the flames and looked at Duleena who stood before him. Praneeth saw Daisy or Soome's inspiring youthfulness in the pleasantness at old age in Duleena who was in white. Praneeth Perera cast down his tear-filled eyes before Duleena who was as serene and pleasant as a Buddhist nun.

The end

Footnotes

Puthala - sons

Mahattaya-Gentleman or Mister in Sinhala

Subha Nona - Madam or lady in Sinhala