Reminiscing the past

by A.F. Dawood

The house looked old and desolate; a riot of shrubs and plants have overgrown with dry leaves and twigs scattered all over; a heap of moss-ridden bricks lay in a corner of the garden, the barbed wire fence of which was damaged and hanging in some places; an old, rusted red bicycle was in another corner of the garden which was spacious enough to park ten vehicles.

At the entrance to the house was standing a rusted flag pole sans a flag. The master of the house, an octogenarian, was seated in a wooden bench gazing at the open space; his wife too was seated at the other end of the bench; both were seemingly immersed in thought.

Stint

In the past he had served as a government Minister and after his stint, he was posted as ambassador to a foreign country and during this period his wife had served him as secretary. Later he assumed office as a UN representative in Sri Lanka.

While holding these high positions in life, he has hobnobbed with people of high society. He was as busy as a bee, meeting and greeting people, shaking hands and bidding good-bye to his visitors. The garden of the house was filled with cars and people who had come to see the minister on various errands. The lobby and the lounge brimmed with people whose chatter and laughter pervaded the environment.

But now the whole environment is as silent as a grave and desolate except the occasional barking of a dog, mewing of a cat or the twittering of birds in the nearby trees.

The old couple hold the pessimistic view that Nature has isolated them.

"How many years have we been living like this, Sheela?"

Santiago asked his wife, coming out of his reverie. This question pierced Sheela's mind, who was swallowed in thought.

Retirement

"After your retirement," reminded Sheela. "That was about twenty years ago."

"What a vast change in our life, darling?" remarked Santiago. "How many parties we attended? How many foreigners came to our house to greet us!"

"That's life. Everything is subject to change; nothing is permanent, according to Buddha."

Santiago's eyes ran through the garden; his eyes fell on the rickety tricycle that lay in the garden.

"When I see that tricycle I remember my son; how as a boy of five he rode the tricycle all over the garden. Now he is not with us; he has migrated."

Santiago's eyes welled up in tears.

"You remember his playmate?" questioned Sheela.

"Who?"

"Jineris. He was of the same age as our son."

"Oh! yes, I remember Sena and Jineris were good playmates during that time."

Jineris was the son of Juwanis who was the domestic aide in the Santiago couple's house. He was a long serving servant who did the marketing, cooking and gardening. With the fux of time, Juwanis entrusted Jineris to the care of the Santiago couple. Santiago and his wife were instrumental in the boy's schooling; they admitted him to the village school and saw to his welfare. Jineris attended school for a few years and later he showed reluctance; so he attended school by fits and starts.

In the meantime his father Juwanis fell sick and this necessitated his leaving Santiago's household. He left for his village, entrusting Jineris, sixteen years at that time, to do all the household work.

That is how Jineris became a valet in Santiago's house.

Topics

Santiago and his wife were tittle-tattling on various topics of the past, when Jineris came there with refreshment and tea.

"Jineris, the garden is untidy. Why don't you tidy the place?"

"Madam, I'll do it today."

"When are you going to the market, Jineris?"

"I went yesterday, madam."

Jineris is as keen a worker as his father; he bade his time to talk to the master after he finishes his tea.

"Sir, I thought of going to my village."

"If you go, who will do all this work?"

"Madam, my father will stay here till I return."

"How is your father now, Jineris?" questioned Santiago.

"He is still under treatment but now he is better."

"Can he work?"

"Yes, sir. He is coming today."

Santiago and his wife continued their tittle-tattle. Sheela's eyes fell on the rusty flag pole.

"When I see this, rollicking memories come to my mind."

"It's the same with me, Sheela."

Applause

"Yes, how many times you've unfolded the lion flag in the midst of dignitaries and rousing applause."

"Not only the lion flag, Sheela. Even the flags of Britain, France, Canada and India were unfolded in this house," remarked Santiago with pride.

"These incidents are temporary but they live in our mind," Sheela replied.

Suddenly Santiago remembered Dr. Jibel. He was their immediate neighbour who was very helpful to others.

The doctors migrated to Australia on an overseas appointment; thereafter, his house was abandoned and not a single soul lived there.

"When did Dr. Jibel migrate, Sheela?"

"About ten years ago. He promised to return to Sri Lanka."

"He is a nice person, he taught our children English and Science. Do you remember that?"

"Yes, why not? We only got one telephone message after he left," Sheela reminded.

"The message was that he was not well, "remarked Santiago.

"Thereafter, no message about him".

Why not? His paternal uncle sent a message that he passed away. Don't you remember that?"

"Yes, yes, I remember that. What an impermanent world," remarked Santiago. When Jineris said that he wanted to go to his village, Sheela was a bit worried. "If he goes now, what's our position? Who will do all the household work" Sheela questioned her husband who was also not happy about it. "He said Juwanis will come, darling. But how far is it true?"

Medicine

"That's what I'm also thinking. What if he doesn't turn up for a week? Who will go to town and bring our medicine?"

"And marketing also", Santiago said.

"I'll tell you. The best thing is to ring up a Servant Service Office and book a temporary servant," Sheela suggested.

She had hardly said that when there was a knock on the gate and the couple heard a voice. "Nona, I've come."

"Oh! Juwanis has come." the couple said in unison and their faces wreathed in smile.