Silibiris mind raced around like hyped up monkey. He had eventually forgotten about Kusumalatha after she left the village presumably to get away from him. Her parents did not approve of him and the company he kept in Ambarawa. His friends had evaded the topic when he asked about her in the rare occasions he returned home from Colombo. What had changed with Kusumalatha? He couldn t even remember what had made her angry with him. He knew Kanthi was still in love with him in spite of avoiding him. But there was that small matter of Kolonnawe Vije now in between them. What the hec? He was curious to know if Kusumalatha had softened , if she is even prettier and her pleated hair still danced to the rhythm of her steps. Until night fall, Silibiris whiled away the time at home joking with his sisters, chatting with his mother about his job his friend Sivapalan and the big city. He answered Haramanis s probing questions about where he is living in Colombo. Haramanis had heard that Silibiris had left the Kolonnawe temple to live in a place not suitable for a young man. Silibiris retorted he needed his independence. Silibiris cycled to the temple on his beloved Roadmaster at the appointed time. He avoided seeing the Lokuhamuduruwo. Silibiris owed him a big explanation. Now is not the time. He sprinkled the bunch of Lotus flowers he was carrying using the water from a pot covered in a white cloth, while looking around anxiously to locate Geetha or hopefully Kusumalatha. No sign of them. His heart sank. This must be a dead rope given by Geetha for old times sake. Geetha too had a crush on Silibiris but in deference to her friend she remained silent. He walked up to the bo tree scanning the crowd, Then he spotted her. Kusumalatha was standing by the racks of clay lamps with their flames gently dancing lighting up her face prettier than ever before. Geetha had already seen Silibiris. She signalled to Silibiris to go to Kusumalatha and melted away into the crowd. Silibiris felt excited, awkward, and apprehensive all at the same time. He plucked up enough courage to go stand next to Kusumalatha in silence. Kusumalatha opened her eyes after completing reciting the gathas but she had already sensed something very familiar. Their eyes met. Kusumalatha was startled frantically looking around for Geetha. Silibiris managed a thin smile not knowing what to say. Kusumalatha felt like running away but she couldn t. Her feet had turned into clay. All she managed to do was to look down while digging sand under her clay feet with her toe. Tears welled up in her eyes. Silibiris extended his arm full of white lotus flowers to her. A symbolic peace offering. Kusumalatha took some flowers as if driven by some external force. Their fingers touched sending simultaneous lightning though their bodies. Without a word between them Silibiris and Kusumalatha walked up to the stand in front of the Bo Tree, bent down in unison offering flowers to the unseen Great Teacher while re-wakening their hearts to the same wish they had made at this very spot what seemed like eons ago. Kusumalatha hurriedly told Silibiris that her parents were forcing her to consent to marry a rich mudalali, 20 years older than her. She insisted she will jump into Ambarawa weva and kill herself rather than marry that potbellied ugly man. Silibiris wondered why her parents wanted her to marry off to someone so unsuitable when they objected to him. Kusumalatha insisted Silibiris took her away that night itself. Even to hell. Or else....... His head was pounding. His mind was racing. He could not comprehend what was happening. Why the rush? This is what he yearned for to marry Kusumalatha was his first dream. But elope? Tonight? How? Where? He asked her to be patient. He will talk to her parents. Kusumalatha did not want to hear such talks. It was tonight or never. What the hell? This is what he always wanted. To be with her forever. So why hesitate? Silibiris threw caution to the wind. Didn t consider how his family would react. All that mattered to him at that moment was to rescue Kusumalatha from the ogre who was coming tomorrow. He hatched a plan then and there. At the age of 21, the sum worth of Silibiris was his Raleigh bicycle given to him by Haramanis, the peon s job at Ceylon Agriculture Department arranged by Ambarawa Temple Lokuhamuduruwo and the 2 storey Kolonnawe Pelihouse bequeathed to him by Margret Nona on her death bed, and a bit of cash. He led a foot loose and fancy free life. Planning for future, saving for a rainy day, marriage has been far from his mind. And now, he is about to elope with the girl of his desire. Not that he had had planned to do so, not that he really wanted to but his fate was to do so. Well, he had a bit of cash on him. His monthly salary was due in a few days. Kusumalatha did say to him to take her away that night itself, even to Hell. He figured Kolonnawe Pelihouse was a cut above hell. She should not complain. Kusumalatha was in her white gown she always wore to the temple. Silibiris was wearing his white Sarong and white shirt. He did have all the cash he had in his shirt pocket. He had his trusted Raleigh bicycle. Near full moon shone bright over the Weva bathing Ambarawa with cool moon light. Kusumalatha s anxious face spoke a thousand silent words. Silibiris made up his mind. He embraced Kusumalatha in a gentle hug. An embrace that promised a life together until death do us apart. Silibiris mounted the bicycle. Kusumalatha hopped on to the cross bar and grabbed the middle of the handle. Silibiris sped along the Ambarawa tank bund unseen by any prying eyes. They made it to Madawachchiya station just before Colombo bound Yaal Devi arrived. Silibiris left the bicycle at a winkle for safe keeping. Silibiris and Kusumalatha boarded the train. The train chugged away from Medawachchiya. Kusumalatha and Silibiris silently watched the receding view of the jungle terrain. Tears ran down her cheeks. Silibiris took her hand reassuringly. They changed the seats. Sat looking forward to an uncertain future.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 13:52:33 +0000