Short Story

The golden necklace

R. L. Lalprema

A young couple, Rani and her husband contented in their own way, loved each other passionately, although they were less fortunate to own modern conveniences enjoyed by many of their friends.

It is not that they did not have their passing fancies, but their meagre income induced them to adopt themselves to a restrained lifestyle, in a world where everybody is found running a rat race for more and more material comforts. Her husband did a petty job with little financial prospects having to struggle a lot to make ends meet.

However, a woman of understanding, Rani knew of her husband's aspiration to own a motorbike, a fashion among the youth, in addition to it being a facilitating conveyance to get to his workplace on time.

Following their marriage, in order to meet with basic necessities to settle down, he had no alternative but sell his bike he used to ride. She, since then, nurtured a guilty feeling because he had to make that sacrifice on behalf of her - to marry her.

She knew well he could never fulfil his only desire with his paltry wage. She too was a housewife with no any income. At times, she felt unhappy because all that she could do for him was to love him dearly but helpless in his need.

For a solution, at last, she determined to leave for the Middle East to employ herself as a housemaid. She kept it a secret from him till everything connected with the journey was complete. Later, all the arrangements finalised, Rani informed of her surreptitious mission to her husband who was taken by surprise.

Though the news of her sudden departure threw him into a state of shock and agony, he did not firmly oppose, perhaps, the prospects of her job might conjure up his longing for a bike, as a stronger impulse than his sorrow at her leaving.

It was with a heavy heart Rani left her husband, yet with dogged resolve to earn money needed to meet his ambition. Committed to the purpose, she worked hard under trying conditions and collected every cent carefully. On the other hand, he too at this end took care to live on less expenses.

More than one year passed before she returned with a feather in her cap. At the Abu Dhabi airport, with ample time for embarkation she aimlessly walked into the duty free shop following others. The illuminated atmosphere, she felt, as if transmitted a yellow haze, reflected from the glitter of gold. Rani was dazzled by the alluring arrays of jewellery that filled the length and breath of the shopping area.

It took her breath away for some time before she started feasting her eyes on various items. She felt sorry for herself and unhappy; she thought, "These are not for the likes of us." However, of all, a necklace caught her attention.

She could not resist her temptation to own it; she paid a sum equal to forty thousand Sri Lankan Rupees. Her husband eagerly awaited her at the Katunayaka Airport peering at every passenger coming towards the arrival gate. Finally, she showed up to quell his anxiety.

She wore a glowing smile, when his eyes ran over her shining necklace that appeared as a semicircle covering the upper line of her chest. Immediately, they threw themselves into each other's arms to let out their happy emotion of being reunited after a long separation.

Then he left her waiting, away from the crowd while he hurried to fetch a vehicle. A man stealthily approached her and straightaway offered to pay Rupees thirty thousand for her necklace. He said he was ready to buy any other goods that she had brought. Rani politely refused him and left for home with the husband.

Leisurely, in a couple of days, they went through their money in anticipation of achieving their heart's desire. Her husband was so hopeful that he had been in readiness with the knowledge of current prices of bikes.

Suddenly, they realised that the cash they had was less than enough for the purpose. Rani had hardly, known during her absence from the country, that the prices had gone up so much.

However, she never wanted to disappoint her husband and therefore, she boldly expressed her willingness to sell the necklace to meet the balance. Though not happy, he did not have the mind to say a firm "no" to it. Next day in her husband's absence from home, she was standing near the door contemplating the selling of her necklace when a man came and introduced himself as one in jewellery business.

He told her that he heard from someone at the airport about a necklace that she had to sell. Rani was glad to get a buyer; she therefore handed him the necklace, which he quietly examined and offered to buy it for fifty thousand Rupees.

When she agreed, he said he would close the deal the following day and immediately gave her an advance of ten thousand before he left. But he did not comeback as promised and however, they waited for him one week and finally decided to sell it. They went to a jewellery shop and handed the necklace expecting a good deal.

Immediately on taking the necklace into his hand, the jeweller gazed at it, before he turned to Rani in surprise, as if she had deliberately come to cheat him. Her husband too was in her company for reasons of security, because snatch thieves were not an uncommon feature around the place.

"Misee, this is an imitation necklace. Where did you get this?" the jeweller said with a snigger on his face, however, one could not say it completely lacked a touch of compassion. Rani got stunned for a moment. Her eyes were wide open with what she heard and so was her husband who was filled with anticipation.

"Mudalai, It can never be, for I bought this at Abu Dhabi; I have the receipt at home with me," countered, she, with confidence, disbelieving him.

"Misee, if you don't take my word you can go to the adjoining shop to make sure," he advised her and attended to his business. Rani lost no time, went to the next-door but only to have her disappointment confirmed.

"May be you bought it in Abu Dhabi, but this is certainly not what you are supposed to have bought," the jeweller said in a tone of authority.

In order to uphold her position she added, "The other day a casual buyer came to my house and paid me Rupees 10,000 as an advance also promising to buy this for 50,000." "Surely you could sell this to him, why didn't you do so?" came his reply and returned her the necklace showing an expression of sympathy for her.

"Mudalai, he didn't comeback and that is why we came here," she explained. "Do you know the man?" Mudalai asked grimly "No, I don't know," she said desperately. "Did he examine your necklace in your presence?"

"Yes, of course" came her reply.

"Were you in his presence throughout?" he questioned.

"Yes," "Are you sure or at any time did you leave him alone with the necklace?" She made a gesture as if to recollect the scene and she said she left him alone to fetch a glass of water."

Why did you go to bring water?"

"Because he asked me for some." "Was the necklace in his hand when you came back?"

"Yes" "Did he drink the water?" "He took just a sip and promptly gave me ten thousand putting back the necklace into the box. Then hurriedly, he handed me the box and went away."

"Misee, Can you see what has happened?

He asked for water to send you away in order to change the necklace.

He gave you ten thousand and offered to buy the necklace for fifty thousand to make you excited and not have any suspicion at the deal and leave the place quietly with the necklace.

This is an organised racket operated at the Airport premises in cheating poor women coming back to their motherland after toiling hard in the Middle East countries."