BEAUTY OF INNOCENCE

The villagers, who were going to lose their properties because of the proposed Mahaweli Project, started packing up their belongings to be taken to their new settlements in Ulhitiya. As the first step of their transition, they started removing the doors and windows along with the frames, leaving one or two rooms to eke out their temporary accommodation. In the meantime, most of the villagers started felling the coconut trees in their gardens to get timber for making door and window frames and rafters for the roofs of the new houses going to be built in the new land. Those who didn't have coconut trees, bought them at a cheaper rate from their neighbours. The owners of the saw mills had a competition in purchasing timber from the villagers. The village folk exploited every possible item from their land as they knew nothing would remain there except water in another couple of months.

Bernard exhibited his generosity by allowing Kapilasena to cut down some of the well grown Jak trees to make doors and windows for the new house. He was entrusted with the responsibility of removing all the trees of the estate as Bernard didn't have any interest in them. Despite one month elapsed, neither Sandra nor her mother showed any sign of their return, which made Bernard be more inclined towards drinking.

Koinmenika often contemplated the mental agony Bernard was experiencing in the absence of Sandra and on the other hand the problems related to lands and properties. She wholeheartedly advised Bernard to go to Australia and take his wife back home. Considering all those, Bernard took a sudden decision to leave for Australia, as he had no other means to clear Sandra's confused mind. After a week, he came back losing all hopes he had for his wife.

Sandra had decided to lead the rest of her life with Shamal. Bernard had even no chance of meeting his wife there. Not only had the deprivation of his properties, but his married life also been hostile towards him. His life resembled a derailed train. He had eventually no hope, no purpose or direction either. The only salvation he had to forget all the problems was getting closer and closer to the friend of drinking. He paid no attention to his meals or health or anything but drinking. Though Periyavar urged him to limit his drinking, he knew no limits and continued on his own way. Bernard spent a couple of days inside the third floor all alone and it was on the third day he came out.

"Hamu… shall I prepare lunch…?" Periyavar asked so enthusiastically and got ready to prepare lunch for his Master, when he saw him descending to the second floor.

"I'll go to the town and come back…" Without even casting a glance at Periyavar, he went out.

Periyavar entered Bernard's room on the third floor to clean it. Even when Bernard was a bachelor, he kept his room quite neatly. Yet, what Periyavar witnessed was entirely a different picture. The room was filled with the smell of stale food and liquor. The dinner arranged on the previous day remained untouched on the table. The ants had invaded the evening cup of tea and the butts of cigar were everywhere on the floor. He opened all the windows to let fresh air come in. There were a few empty bottles at the foot of the bed and among them, two bottles of whisky, which had been half emptied. Periyavar perceived that Bernard's behavior was not normal.

"Peryavar… Periyavar…" It was from Koinmenika, which relieved him to some extent.

"I just wanted to see where you are… You see… the dog is inside the kennel still… It seems it needs to go out, I suppose…" Koinmenika reminded him in a loud voice, seeing Periyavar coming down from the second floor.

"Oh… I totally forgot it…" Then only he could remember his duty for the pet at home.

Periyavar ran to the first floor to release the dog and Nandana Menike remained in the second floor with Koinmenika. Nandana Menike glanced at the large photo on the wall in which Bernard and Sandra were looking at each other with smiles. Nandana Menike knew that it was a dream to see again the couple cuddling up with such affection in reality. A tear filling her eyes as she couldn't imagine what was going to happen to the lives of those affluent people. In the absence of Sandra, the bungalow seemed to be a desert for Nandana Menike. She however, remained in the living room thinking of an incoming call from Sandra. To get rid of boredom, she started playing the piano. She tried her best to play it reading the notations and the lessons taught by Sandra. She was oblivious of the time factor and went on playing.

"Menike…!" Koinmenika entering the second floor called her niece. Bernard being in the corner of the main hall signaled her not to disturb her.

Nandana Menike barely overhearing the voice of her grandma turned her eyes towards the flights of steps. She noticed that Koinmenika's focus was on another direction. Nandana Menike slowly looked at that direction and got frightened as she saw Bernard was quietly looking at her. She quickly got up from the small bench and remained looking down as if she did a mistake. Bernard walked up to her.

"Don't stop…! Play it…. At least to get rid of this damn boredom… plays it…" A look of defeat was etched on his face.

His unshaven face with half grey beard had brought an older look to his face. Nandana Menike's fear towards him in a jiffy turned into a feeling of sympathy.

"Koinamme… I'm hungry…. What's there…?"

Koinmenika felt extremely happy after hearing those words from him. She went down to the first floor to prepare meals for him.

"Why… waiting…? Start playing it again…"

Obeying his words, which rather resembled a kind request, Nandana Menike started playing it again. Bernard closed his eyes and listened to it waking his past memories up.