The Trickster

Yasmin JALDIN

Jayanthi hailed from Wetara. It was not her parents' intention that she further her studies, instead since she had a penchant for needlecraft. She pursued to learn embroidery. Chamila from the same village also attended this class. The duo made a practice to have a soft drink before returning home after classes.

One day at their favourite joint, they observed a young man looking at them covertly. The next day too, Sarath was there and he smiled at Chamila but shy Jayanthi did not look his way. Sarath was attracted to tall and pretty Jayanthi. The following week they failed to see him, but on the third day of the week he was present.

When they got ready to go to the halt, he followed and introduced himself. Jayanthi was also attracted to the tall handsome man but she pretended not so and all introductions were done by talkative Chamila.

By and by the trio became good friends. Within two days Sarath had gathered necessary information about the two girls. He showed his deep interest in Jayanthi whom he knew inherited substantial wealth. However much they inquired about his family, he was evasive.

He said he was a merchandiser from Ratnapura; his visits to Colombo on a Wednesday was to place garment orders at the Horana garment factory. Anyhow, Jayanthi's mother noticed a change in her daughter's behaviour. In the evenings, she was in a pensive mood spending most of her time before the mirror beautifying herself.

She casually asked her daughter about the classes, and related episodes of village girls falling prey to city men, Jayanthi was disinterested in what her mother said, because she fell head over heels in love with Sarath.

When he was around, Janyanthi was in elated spirits. Sarath was quick to notice her blush and saw that the girl had swallowed his bait; this he chose to mark his time until she got caught in his snare. Chamila warned her friend of the unknown Sarath.

Jayanthi would not hear of anything her friend said, and because of this, their friendship was gradually splitting. On several occasions Chamila chose to go home alone. Sarath favoured the separation, since threesome spoilt his plans.

When Sarath met Jayanthi again, she noticed that he was very quiet and enquired about this. He explained his misfortune; and said his family had to attend a wedding and that his younger sister was pestering him to buy new clothes and did not have sufficient cash having spent his money on garments. Unsuspecting Jayanthi blurted that she had enough money in her savings book since her father deposited money for her monthly and that she could help him.

The next day for the first time in her life, she withdrew Rs. 75,000 and gave it to Sarath who thanked her profusely promising to settle the sum in two months. Innocent Jayanthi was unaware that the confidence trickster took this money to buy his wife and children, clothes and jewellery for his cousin's wedding. Sarath did not come for a week and Jayanthi missed him. When he came the following week, the trickster brought a few pieces of wedding cake.

One day on his visits to Colombo, Sarath suggested that she miss her class and they see a movie. Her good upbringing made her decline. Jayanthi pestered Sarath to meet her parents, but he was not in favour of this suggestion since he said it was too soon.

However, he handed her his visiting card which she showed her father. The Kachcheri Clerk thought that his daughter had met an educated man but on second thoughts he should make enquiries of this man before he met him.

The following Wednesday, Jayanthi was eagerly waiting for Sarath but he did not turn up. The week after too he did not come and her father noticed that Jayanthi was not her usual self.

Three weeks passed by and still he was not to be seen and there was only two weeks more to finalise her course. Some misfortune would have befallen him was her thought.

Mr. Perera was very unhappy to see his jovial daughter in a quiet mood and he decided to check on the visiting card. When he telephoned the number given in the card, the message he got was 'sorry the number you dialled is not in use'.

Perturbed, he decided to visit the place. When he reached the destination he was confronted with a tea kiosk. He was shocked and felt faint. The mudalai on seeing the gentleman standing before his boutique asked whether the mahattaya was sick. After perusing the visiting card, the mudalali said "Mahattaya you have been taken for a ride". Mr. Perera did not utter a word about his daughter, instead told the mudalali that a customer took away some of his coconut seedlings promising to settle the balance and since the person had not turned up for some time, he decided to check his whereabouts.

On his way home, Mr. Perera was in a bitter mood and thought more of his innocent daughter. He called his daughter, and said 'Duwa, do not hide anything from me, please tell me the truth, I want to know everything".

He told about the bogus address and name in the card and how he lied to the tea kiosk mudalali. Only then did Jayanthi blurt about the financial transaction. The parents were speechless and the father said, "We trusted you and had confidence, at least you should have told us before taking the pass book, why did you do such a thing ?". Jayanthi apologized to her parents and pleaded that she be forgiven.

It is useless lamenting now was Mr. Perera's advice, God protected you my child and averted serious harm that would have befallen you. You have learnt a bitter lesson and please stop your classes". Jayanthi agreed and heaved a sigh of relief thanking her lucky stars.

Please restrict short stories to 1,500 words

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