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by Lankika de Livera

It was an innocent romance. He was a young brawny Farmer. Kind and gentle in his ways and his good looks attracted the loveliest damsels in the village of Kahataruppa in Badulla. She was a few years younger, quiet and a little backward although she was extremely sincere and intelligent.

In this rural farming community - everyone knew everyone. It was like a large family.

Amongst the family there were few squabbles as everyone was united and each wanted the best for everyone.

Amongst lush green acres of paddy land, the damsels danced their way, bringing food to the young farmers who were at work to lay the foundation of feeding the Nation. In the cool climes with the tangy air, all were at peace doing their own little act - like in any society. They studied in mixed school and school and after school games across the paddy lands was so much fun. The wind whispering through her long locks of smooth black hair, and him in his half sarong playing innocent games with the birds, butterflies and bees, amidst tranquillity surroundings of water ways, water falls and the misty crispy air - the pure, unpolluted air This is a description of the pure, untainted life of our majority rural country. In the real jungle, outside of the concrete ones.

Trees laden with fruit attracted many gossamer creatures like the dragonfly, the moths and of course the two rival lovers of nectar - the Butterflies and the Humming bird. Pollination took place and buds turned to bloom into flowers. It was a lovely hamlet towards dusk, the damsels and young planter boys got -together in singsongs with a log fire to boost their spirits and to give light in case of any wild intrusions of animals. Then came the call for patriotism to the Nation.

Tall and Lanky, Guneratne believed he had a calling - he gave up the peaceful farmer life and joined the Sri Lanka Army. For a moment he did not think of himself or his family. It was a call from his country - to help save a nation. The Battles were hard; brutal- they were the cannon fodder- marching forward to face the enemy by foot. He bore up with the leeches that sucked his blood when they crawled on their bellies through those marshes with other reptile dangers. They went through rigorous training in the jungles.

Some days, they starved without food, as supplies had not come. Wounds and gashes and no proper treatment.

Then came the ultimum - a sudden mortar attack by the enemy just blasted his legs below the knees. As the blood gushed out, making splinters with his skin, skinning into shreds, the flesh fell away while the very bone of the feet were pulp. Excruciating, agonizing pain and a black out was all that he remembered..............

Then on he received his Jaipur feet and got accustomed to using it. He went back to the village as a Hero after the lapse of some time, the hero was treated as a burden to society and all in the village started to pity him.

This was not what he had bargained for. As soldiers they had been trained to think only positively and never give up to the last moment - to never turn your back in the battle. Now it was the battle of surviving with the village community. No soldier begs. They have too much of pride and more than any thing else - they have this sense of self-worth - which is a resilient one. When the hero became a myter and then an invalid and a burden..... these are things he would much rather not talk about.

He dreams of the times he ran, swam, played in the Avurudhu "Kotta Pora" etc.

But the good news that came across all these battles was that the little shy girl who had admired him in his teen years - was still waiting there for him, whether he was able or disabled did not matter to him.

Now this amazing young Goddess who - opened her arms to him and accepted him just as he was - no strings attached. She just gave all of her mind, body and spirit to this broken man. The writer sees a heroine in her and a hero in him. The family of the Girl Ishanie, 21 years of age were vehemently against the marriage. Many bitter conversations have taken place and the home is a hostile environment

How does society view that now? Now that the war is over ?

People have become so uncaring that, even with crutches on - none give him a seat from Colombo to Badulla, when he reports to headquarters of the army and back.

There is an ernest plea through this story and that is to help our hero, to be able to sustain him and his wife without being dependents and being cornered and ridiculed.Now that the battle is over - let us join hand for both sides of the warring factions to be at peace. Guneratne at 26 years has a dream and the dream is to operate and hand maneuverable 'PUTPUT" you may call it a tri-shaw or threewheeler.

The address of this young war hero and his beautiful-minded lady is:

D.M. Guneratne, No. 12, Thalagahagedera, Kahatarupa, Badulla.

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