A foolish wish

A F Dawood

Chamila remembered the day she got married to Derrik and came with him to stay in the house with his parents. It was almost five years ago. It was a palatial, old style house with a large garden neatly trimmed by Abilash, the man who worked in the house as gardener cum servant.

He was a bachelor and he had come under Derrik household service, when Derrik was schooling. Having worked for a number of years, Abilash has become a part and parcel of the family.

Chamila who was orphaned when she was a little girl has experienced a life of austerity. She was enamoured by the posh life style in Derrik's house and the kindness showered on her by her in-laws. When Chamila lost her parents, she was exposed to the cruelty of the world, the hardship of living and were it not for the philanthropy of her parents’ acquaintance, she would have been thrown to slavery in the street. But destiny was kind to her. She was inducted in a Christian Missionary Orphanage where she was provided the basic necessities of life-food, clothing, shelter and education. Chamila's mind ran down memory lane and a flood of memories, some happy and some sad, rushed to her mind.

“Sister, I need some exercise books to do my school home work.”

“I'll talk to mother superior and get them for you.”

The sister assured Chamila, patting her head.

“When I finish my education, sister, I'll teach all the orphans enrolling here.”

“That's great, Chamila; may your wish be granted by God. Amen.”

When Chamila finished her secondary education, just as she desired, she volunteered to serve as a teacher in the Orphanage. She wanted to render her service free for what she has got from the orphanage.

“No Chamila, our institution will pay you a salary for your services.” The mother superior said.

“Worthy sister, I'm indebted to the orphanage; if not for the assistance given by the orphanage and the selfless service of the sisters here, I would have ended up as a vagabond.”

“But Chamila, you need money; your needs will be looked after till you marry.” Chamila blushed.

“I didn't think of marriage.”

“Why not? You're twenty one now; although you have not thought of marriage, there's someone who is interested in you.”

Chamila was overcame with embarrassment and nervousness. She bent down and kept on fiddling her fingers. She did not talk for sometime and the minutes fleeted by. Mother superior observed her for sometime and broke the ice.

“Why Chamila, you don't like to marry? You want to be single every day?”

“No, sister, I want to ......” She stopped half way.

“Yes, Chamila, go on. What do you want?”

“I want to know who is interested in me.”

“You're going to marry a rich man, who has seen you.”

“He has seen me?” Chamila was surprised.

“I have not gone out of the orphanage.”

“But he has come here, and he has made inquiries about you.”

Chamila was shaken from her reverie by Abilash's voice.

“Madam, your breakfast is ready.”

During the course of five years’ stay in Derrik's mansion, Chamila observed that Abilash was very faithful to Derrik's household members. She also observed that he was very kind and obedient to all her commands; in short he was at her beck and call.

“Abilash, you have finished the garden work?”

“No, madam, a little more.”

“You have to go to market, don't get late.”

“Alright, madam.”

“Abilash, I have to post some letters, can you go now?”

Yes, madam, I can.” He never failed and fobbed off his responsibility on Chamila's instructions. Once again Chamila's mind dropped into a whirlpool of thought. It was the first morning after her arrival at Derrik's house and Chamila was in the sitting room. She was gazing at the landscape through the French window of the sitting room.

“My dear daughter, you must give us a nice little baby.” That was the remark made by her mother-in-law.

“Yes, yes daughter,” cut in the father-in-law, “I'm very eager to become a grandfather.”

Derrik overheard this conversation from his bedroom and came to the sitting room.

“Did you hear what your mother said?”

“Yes.”

“So get ready to become a mother.” Derrik replied with a mischievous smile.

Chamila smiled. “What about you? You must get ready to become a father.”

“But you must help me to become a father, Chamila.”

Then they both laughed heartily. Chamila came out of her reverie when Abilash brought the tea.

“Madam, your tea.”

Even after five years Chamila has not borne an offspring to Derrik. However, Derrik continued to love her and this was not an issue to Derrik. It was almost five years after Chamila's marriage, when Derrik's parents migrated to Australia where his elder sister was domiciled. His sister's husband was suffering from heart ailment and his condition necessitated their migration. Thoughts of the past flashed back in her mind.

“Derrik, we don't know when we'll come back; you must look after Chamila well. His father told in tears. “Don't leave her, my son.”

“Yes, Derrik, our happiness is to see you live happily. You both must get on well. That's my prayer. Chamila, when we come back you will be a mother.”

Those were the parting words to Chamila and Derrik by his mother.

Derrik had imposed much confidence on Abilash; he even went outstation on official work and was away from home for two to three days.

A woman who was hired to cook meals, came to cook and left by one in the afternoon. Abilash took charge of the kitchen-swept, washed the utensils and even served the meals. Whenever Chamila took her meals, Abilash would hang about to attend to her petty errands. One day Chamila asked Abilash whether he was married. He smiled.

“Not yet, madam.”

“Why Abilash? You're about thirty five years, no?”

“Yes, madam, I'm Derrik Sir's age.”

“How did you come to work for Derrik Sir?”

“Madam, my father knew Derrik sir's father very well. My father brought me here when Derrik Sir was schooling.”

“So Abilash, that's quite a long time. So he will help you to find a partner for you.” Abilash grinned and looked at Chamila. “I have found a partner, I'll tell you later.”

With the efflux of time, Abilash proved himself a very good servant to Chamila. One day the cook woman did not turn up and the task of cooking fell on Abilash's shoulder. He did the marketing as usual after working in the garden and then prepared a delicious lunch. At lunch time, he served the lunch and pulled the trolley to Chamila's bedroom.

“Because Sir is not here I brought the meals here.” said Abilash pushing the trolley in to the room.

“You need not bring the meals here. You could have kept them on the dining table and called me.”

The trolley was pushed to the dining hall where she sat to take her lunch, while as usual Abilash was hanging around.

“Madam, when is loku mahattaya and loku nona coming from Australia?”

“Well, in another two years.” “Already two years gone and when they come back within the next two years, they want to see a change.”

“What do you mean, Abilash?”

“Why madam, still you haven't got a baby. So they will not be happy.” Abilash said smilingly.

Chamila was infuriated.

“Abilash, talk what's necessary. Don't talk rubbish.”

On the following day Chamila was in the sitting room, browsing through a magazine; the cook woman had come but there was no provision for cooking. Abilash came to the entrance of the sitting room and stood.

“Madam, I want to talk to you.”

“Yes, what's it about?”

“Madam, I'm sorry to have hurt you yesterday, if I've said something wrong please forgive me.”

“It's alright, don't worry about; now you have to go to market.” She told all this in one breath without taking her eyes off from the magazine.

“Market now? I can't go today.” “Why?”

She put the magazine aside and looked up.

“Tell the cook woman to go.”

“She has come to cook and not to do marketing. Are you going or not?”

“Madam, I want to tell something to you.”

“What's it about?”

“Alright, I'll tell you later.”

The sixth year of their marriage brought mishap to Derrik couple. While driving his car to office, he met with a ghastly accident; his car came in to head on collision with a goods truck. The car was reduced to total wreck and Derrik himself was greviously injured and was in a coma. He was hospitalised for three weeks and passed away without regaining consciousness. Chamila was sunk in sorrow and wept till her cheeks split. Abilash did his best to be in hospital since the time Derrik was admitted. After he passed away, Abilash consoled Chamila.

“Now there's no use of crying. What destiny decided had happened.”

“I don't want to live without him.” lamented Chamila.

“That's wrong, madam. You have to face the challenges of life.”

Time passed. The pangs of sorrow little by little diminished. Chamila adjusted to her new life. She invited the cook-woman to stay with her, giving her a salary, free food and accommodation. Abilash was less attentive in his work. In about six months time the garden was not as attractive as it used to be. Some plants perished due to lack of water and flowers never bloomed well.

“Abilash, what has happened to the garden? You're not watering the plants regularly?”

“I've worked so long and tired of life. I need a change.” Abilash replied indifferently.

“Don't worry, I'll not let you down. Derrik Sir wanted to spend for your wedding and write in your name a part of his estate.”

“I'm not worried about material things.”

“Then what do you want? You told me that you have found a partner.”

“Yes, madam, but ....” He stopped his reply half way.

“But what? You tell me, I'll try to help you.”

“No, no, sometimes you might get angry.”

“Why should I? I'll spend for your wedding.”

“When I told you, you have not got a baby you got angry.” Abilash told that and looked in to Chamila's face. This statement pierced her patience to reflect a pugnacious attitude in her countenance.

“What're you trying to tell me?”

“I mean you could not give a baby to Derrik Sir.”

“Why're you bothered about that?” Chamila raised her voice in a belligerent mood. “No, madam, I feel sorry for you because loku mahatttaya and loku nona will not be .....”

“So what're you going to tell me. Abilash?

“Alright, I'll tell you later and walked away.”

Chamila was wracking her head what he was trying to tell. And she was thinking why he was not addressing her ‘madam’ as in the past. Two days later Abilash suddenly appeared while she was at her breakfast.

“Finally, I decided to tell you, I hope you'll help me.”

“Yes, of course, I will.” Chamila assured.

“Promise me you'll not get angry.” So saying he pulled a chair and sat. He has never sat before Chamila. She was surprised over his attitude.

“Speak out your mind, Abilash. What's that you want to tell.

“I want to marry you.”

Chamila was non plussed. Her eyes goggled in surprise; she lost her power of speech for sometime and then she blurted out.

“Marry me? You said you want to marry me?”

“Yes, I want to marry you.”

“Are you mad, Abilash?”

“I'm not mad. I want to marry you.”

“It's a foolish wish.”