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Short story:
The Induction
Padmasiri de Silva
Jayapala checked the warmth of the water in the bath tub in his
luxury bathroom, before getting into it.. The temperature was just
right. He always enjoyed splashing in his spacious bath tub. When he and
his wife Sujatha planned to build the house, the plan included a
swimming pool.
It was mainly at the request of his son who is a good swimmer. When
his only child Sajeewa decided to go to the USA for studies and remained
in that country as a Green Card holder they shelved the idea of building
the swimming pool. Jayapala, a village lad anyway preferred to have bath
in the open sea or a river than in a swimming pool.
As he wallowed in the warm water Jayapala felt happy. He wanted to
smell good on this special day, when he will be inducted as the
president of the prestigious professional association to which he
belonged. He had planned it for a numbers of years and today is the day.
Being a poor boy from a rural hamlet he recalled his struggle to reach
the zenith of his profession.
His father was a drummer and a dancer performing exorcist ceremonies
in his village. His people were considered interior as the caste system
prevailed in the village. He and his father had to eat in the kitchen
when they had to perform exorcist function at high caste houses.
Jayapala recalled his student days in Colombo when he had to do a
labourer’s job to pay for this lodgings and tuition fees. He walked for
miles as he did not have the bus fare to get to his lodgings.
He recalled the first day he started his tuition class after passing
a part of his professional studies course. There were only two students.
After completing his studies his reputation spread as a good lecturer
and he was able to buy the building in which he started the tuition
class.
One of the first things he did after completing his studies was to
change his name. He recalled how he was taunted by his fellow students
on his name as it implied his caste. He gradually built up his
educational institute with branches in many parts of the country and
enjoyed the good things which followed his success.
He was appointed a director of a Government corporation by the
Minister who was from his village. He had invited the Minister to be the
chief guest at the induction ceremony.
Finishing his bath Jayapala looked at his watch. He had enough time
to get ready and to be at the venue. Earlier in the day he visited the
hotel where the function is scheduled and finalised all arrangements. A
meticulous planner Jayapala looked into all the details and delegated
various functions to his committee.
He wanted to be at the venue at least half an hour before the guests
arrived. He wanted to avoid the rush hour traffic and planned his route
so that he will not be flustered when he got there.
Although Jayapala could afford to have a driver he liked to drive his
own luxury car and he disliked young drivers who tend to drive fast.
When he had to go outstations for State functions he got down a driver
or a Government vehicle specifying that the driver should be experienced
and matured.
As he stepped out of the house with his wife Sujatha, he noticed that
she was wearing her traditional jewellery inherited from her mother, an
aristocratic woman. She was wearing an expensive saree he bought from
India when he went for a conference a few months back. Jayapala also
noted that she had lost weight, her face drawn and her gait unsteady.
Jayapala drove the car carefully listening to a song by Amaradeva his
favourite singer on his car stereo.
He stopped at an intersection leading to a main road when the red
light flashed. Never an amber gambler Jayapala waited till the green
light flashed to drive forward and steered his car carefully to the main
road.
It was then that he saw the big Montero jeep coming at a great speed,
ignoring the lights and applied the breaks to avoid a collision. He
heard his wife’s scream and the car toppling over with the impact as he
lost consciousness.
Jayapala sensed that he was in hospital as he opened his eyes. He saw
the anxious face of his wife with a bandage on her head and face of a
young lady doctor who was holding his hand.
“You will be able to go home in a few days when the bandages are
removed,” she said flashing a sweet smile. He looked around and realized
that his leg is in a plaster and his head bandaged. Suddenly the
realization dawned on him that he had missed the induction.
“What time is it?” he asked his wife. “Now it is nearly 11 O’clock in
the night,” she said. “What about the function?” he inquired. Don’t
worry it is going on and the Minister was here a short while ago. You
had to undergo an operation but you will be OK soon,” she replied.
”I will plan a better function next year and get myself inducted as
the president,” he told his wife.
He noted the sad look and the tears pouring down and knew the reason
as he gently touched her arm. His wife has been diagnosed with cancer
and had only a few months to live. |
