The Quarrel - Final part
Dr. Gunadasa AMARASEKERA Translated by Professor Kusuma Karunaratne
However much I looked round, there wasn't anything which came into my
view except the line of flies hanging from the gutter, between the
dining room and the bed room. All of a sudden the flies disappear. It is
amazing how they settle down one by one to form a dark line again. It
must be on a string used to tie up the gutter.
As I heard the sounding of a horn, I ran from where I was. I dashed
towards the gate and climbed up the bamboo railing. I felt that father
might be in it. As the bus passed I craned my neck and looked into it
carefully. There were only a few passengers and I could see that father
was not there.
I went back to the bedroom. Since it was already dusk, the bedroom,
with the narrow windows, was pretty dark. Father's linen was still lying
on the bed. I did not feel like arranging it on the bed rest. I sat on
the bed and wondered where father went. Did he go far? When will he be
back? Did he leave never to come back? As I speculated on these lines, I
was gripped with fear and sorrow. With shattered hopes, I gazed at the
ceiling. There was silence in the kitchen and in the room where mother
was. Everything around seemed to be miserable as though awaiting some
tragic news.
"Will father never come back, after this?" Since I found it difficult
to keep the tears back, I left the room.
I walked to and fro in the compound. Since it had rained a few days
back the sand had been washed away. Only the yellow soil could be seen.
The Vathusudda plants near the wall were devoid of flowers. I heard the
sounding of a horn again in the direction of Pelawatte, I ran towards
the gate. It was not even a car; it was the van that carries aerated
water.
I returned home, sat on the plinth and gazed at the road.
Since the night was fast approaching the rubber plantation was
getting darker and darker. The two magpies, perched on the orange tree
beside the huge kitul palm, were looking at the house and chirping as if
to compete with each other.
No sooner one stops chirping telling the tale of woe, the other
continues with it. Even last evening, when mother was gathering flowers,
they sang their tale of woe. "A disaster is quite near," said mother and
chased the birds away. I got up from the plinth and aimed some pebbles
at them. They left only after I pelted several pebbles at them. Having
left the orange tree, they perched themselves on the bread fruit tree
and once again started their tale of woe. I aimed a few more pebbles at
them.
It was quite late in the evening. Still the windows were open. Mother
was still lying as before. I went up to her bed and watched her.
Lily who was in the kitchen was pouring some oil into the lamp. The
big lamp which was normally lit by mother in the room was not lit. Lily
lit a small bottle lamp and left it on the table. Then she closed the
bedroom windows.
I got into bed. The dim light from the bottle lamp increased my fear
and sorrow. There was confusion in the room which was normally well
arranged in the afternoon. The room was in a state of complete disarray.
Father's linen was still lying on the bed. I waited there for a long
time.
Mother had come out of her room and I heard her blow her nose. Then I
heard the door of the toilet slam.
"Give whatever food that is cooked to the kid," mother said, peeped
into room where I was and closed the back door partly.
"Podde, don't sleep without having something for your dinner" said
mother, turning towards me. I saw her face swollen because of sobbing.
Then she went back, to the dining room.
After a while Lily brought me my dinner. I could eat only a few
mouthfuls.
As I lay on the bed stricken with grief, I fell asleep. I was all
alone that night in the bed where father sleeps usually.
I must have slept for a long time. As I felt the embrace of someone,
I opened my eyes wearily. Bewildered, I listened to that voice, the
voice of father. Wondering whether this is all a dream, I listened
carefully. It was father's voice. As if frightened in a dream, I
wondered for a while. Father has come back! For a moment I was ecstatic.
I listened very carefully. Father was talking to mother. They have got
friendly with each other!
"We must give a laxative to both kids day after tomorrow," said
father, caressing my head. "I hope to bring the little one when I go
there tomorrow, to leave Lily. She has a rash on her face. I think it
must be the worms."
I was overjoyed when I heard that little sister would be here day
after tomorrow. I also figured out that father had gone to see my
sister.
"As for me, a cup of tea is just fine." Father went on. I heard
mother open the kitchen door. But I could remember mother bringing the
tea only as in a dream.
On the following day father took Lily away to my Aunt's house and
brought their old maid to our place. It was very much later that I came
to know what it was all about. |
