SHORT STORY

Love’s labour lost

by Hector S. Yapa

Herath was walking along the hilly road to the Teachers’ College with his friend Cyril. He did not feel the weight of the baggage he carried as he was fully contented.

The cold breeze stimulated him to walk towards the college which was situated on the top of a hill. They were talking about the beauty of the Hantana Mountain and the River Mahaweli.

The Colombo bound train from Kandy was moving passing the Peradeniya Junction. They were highly impressed by the natural surroundings in the verdant hill country.

Herath and his friend were happy for getting the opportunity to enter the Peradeniya English Teachers’ College to follow their two year professional teacher training. This opportunity was a real experience for both of them who were from the down south Matara. The college management provided them hostel facilities considering the distance.

Herath, a handsome humble youth, started to follow his teacher training course in a very relaxed mind. He got on with his new friends very sincerely. His friendly behaviour made him popular in the college.

An attractive petite female trainee Kumuduni from the hill country was interested in him. She was a sister of an MP of the Uva Province. One day they met in the canteen while having tea.

“Herath.. I’ll pay your bill today”, Kumuduni said.

“No...No..don’t worry...I’ll settle it”, Herath said reaching the cashier. Kumuduni paid the bill without hesitation.

“Thank you Kumuduni...you have to spend a lot for us...”
“It is my pleasure...”
Beauty

Kumuduni and Herath were talking about their hometowns. Herath was eager to know the information about Badulla and Bandarawela. He had never been to these cold areas. Herath explained the beauty of the Nilwala River and the coastal belt of the South. Kumuduni was impatiently listening to the description of the southern sea.

Kumuduni liked Herath’s company because of his pleasant jovial behaviour. Once she invited him to go to Kandy.

“Herath do you like to join me to go to Kandy...” she asked.

“Oh... I have some urgent work to attend. Will you excuse me please...” he avoided her company on the first day.

The next day too Kumuduni invited him to go to Peradeniya. Herath could not avoid her this time. He was interested in the way Kumuduni spoke. Her voice was very pleasant to him. Kumuduni was shrewd to have his company in many walks to the Peradeniya Junction Railway Station, the university and other beautiful places. Their batch mates started gossiping about their behaviour.

One day Herath received a message from Kumuduni inviting him to have a visit in the Botanical Garden Peradeniya. Herath could not refuse her request. He asked Cyril too to accompany him. Cyril agreed to join the visit realising that his friend was in an unavoidable situation.

Kumuduni came with her friend Mala. She had prepared lunch for all. They enjoyed the walk in the garden. They passed the huge trees and the beautiful flowers blooming in the garden. They sat under a huge shady tree to have lunch. Herath and Kumuduni were sitting together. Cyril and Mala were seated a bit far from them. Kumudini unexpected held the hand of Herath and started crying. Herath was shocked to see tears rolling down on her cheeks.

“Why... Kumuduni... What has happened...”
“No Herath... Please do not misunderstand me...”
“No...I don’t...you tell me everything Kumuduni”

“Herath...this is very personal. My parents have proposed a lawyer in Badulla for me to marry.

“He is rich.. but old... I can’t marry him Herath...”
“Tell your parents you can’t marry him because of his age...”

I have told them several times but they don’t care for my words. My mother is pestering me to marry him. That’s why I don’t like to go home.

Herath...please try to understand me... “I like you...I love you Herath”.
Herath was jittery. His lips dried up. He started talking with difficulty.

Marriage

“How can I marry you Kumuduni. I come from a poor family. You belong to a rich family. Your brother is an MP. They will never allow us to marry. I am just a teacher... You can marry a wealthy man.”

“Herath you know love has no barrier... Yesterday we leant a love poem written by William Shakespeare. It says no one can harm the true love.”

“That is literature I am talking about the reality... Kumuduni”

The visit to the Botanical Garden with Kumuduni was a turning point in his life. Herath was always thinking of Kumuduni’s life. He became a sympathiser of her. The seed of love started growing in his heart.

Herath wanted to see Kumuduni everyday. It was difficult for him to spend at least a day without talking to her. He used to meet Kumuduni before lectures every day. She too realises that Herath had changed a lot.

She knew that he genuinely loved her. This love affair went to everybody’s ear in the Teachers’ College. Some of his friends were jealous of him. Kumuduni was advised by her friends not to continue the affair considering the status of her brother. They said it would be a black mark for her brother. Her mother was also informed of their affair.

It was the end of the first term. The Teachers’ College was closed for the New Year. Kumuduni invited Herath to accompany her to Badulla by night mail train. Herath was jubilant to go with her. He thought it was the happiest day in his life. They reached the Badulla railway station and departed promising to meet during the vacation.

Letter

Herath felt that he had lost the whole world. He wrote a letter of four pages explaining how he missed her. He did not receive any answer for his letter. He wrote another two letters to Kumuduni. She did not reply them either. He was confined to his room thinking of Kumuduni.

Once he tried to make a trunk call to Badulla from Matara through a friend of his working in the Department of Telecommunications. Kumuduni’s elder brother answered the call saying she was not at home.

“What has happened to you putha... you are always in the room without talking.. Is there anything wrong?” his mother asked.

“No... Amma... the exam at the Teachers’ College is very difficult. I am going through the papers”, Herath said.

Kumuduni’s life was confined to her house. She was not allowed to go out of the house by her mother and brothers. The telephone was beyond her reach.

“Give up your teacher training... Don’t go to the college again”, her mother advised her.

The Teachers’ College was reopened for the second term. Herath went to the college with full hopes of meeting Kumuduni. But she had not come. He was desperate. He was inquisitive to find information about Kumuduni. He felt that her friends had been avoiding him. Herath talked to Kumuduni’s best friend who was supposed to know about her.

“Mala please tell me what happened to Kumuduni” I am sorry Herath... I don’t want to disappoint you...” Mala said.

“No it is all right... You tell me everything... I’ll try to control myself...”

“OK...I’ll show you the letter Kumuduni has sent me. You should know all these things. You have to face the reality”, Mala said.

Herath started reading the letter with anxiety.

“My brother has brought a marriage proposal for me. He is an army officer working in Diyatalawa... A handsome young officer... He seems kind and honest... I am going to marry him next month.