BEAUTY OF INNOCENCE

Bernard felt relaxed both mentally and physically after some time. He sat on the settee and blew some smoke rings one after the other and looked at them. He observed the rings getting larger and fading away, which had a resemblance to his life as well. Except Sandra's vehicle, they didn't have anything else to take away. Bernard felt that the contributory factor for all his achievements at that juncture was nobody else but Nandana Menike.

"Nanda… Nanda…!"

For the first time, Bernard called out her by the first part of her name; 'Nanda'. Shortly afterwards she came to the living room with her grandma. Her eyes had turned reddish. Bernard guessed that she had been crying bitterly. Even the elderly woman looked rather tired and weak.

"Koinamma… be seated here…" Pointing at the small stool near the settee, Bernard said.

Koinmenika showed her unwillingness to sit close by him as a gesture of respect. She thought it was improper to sit in that way as well.

"Are you not in good terms with me for not allowing your niece to be taken away by Loku Hamu Nona…?"

She looked at Bernard in astonishment. She even never dreamt of handing over Nandana Menike to Victor's mother.

"Even if you tell… I will never send my child along with Loku Hamu Nona…" She told him so emphatically keeping her hands on her chest.

For Bernard, it was a pleasing news.

"They came here to take Sandra's dowry back…" There was a sarcastic smile on his face.

"We too could hear being down there…" Said Koinmenika instantly.

Their understanding and awareness of everything made Bernard happy.

"When I told them of the compensation given for Sandra's property would be transferred to Nandana Menike'a name, Victor's mother developed a keen interest in Nandana Menike…"

"We don't want anything Hamu… like my eyes, I have only this… If my child becomes independent, I can close my eyes peacefully…" With a frail voice she muttered.

"Are you also planning to settle down in Ulhitiya…?"

Bernard was expecting an answer from her. She was thinking of an answer to be given.

"Whatever you say Hamu…"

Bernard released a long sigh.

"Let Kapilasena stay at the new house in Ulhitiya… You stay with me here…"

She bent down and wiped out her tears from the edge of her cloth she was wearing.

"Victor will speak to Sandra and do something for Nandana Menike and her future… she does love Nandana Menike…" He articulated those words emotionally.

Nandana Menike was surprised to learn that Bernard was still showing his compassion towards Sandra without any hatred feelings.

"Nanda.. do you have any idea of learning something…?"

Nandana Menike looked at Koinmenika as if she was asking for permission for that. Through tears a mild smile drew in her face.

"Let's go to Kandy in another couple of days' time and see what, we can find for you to learn…"

Koinmenika, cuddling up Nandana Menike against her bosom, expressed her willingness nodding her head.

"Whole day… you know my ears are full hearing many things. Nanda… can't you play the piano for a while… to forget about all these rubbish…"

Like an obedient student obeying a teacher, Nandana Menike with no hesitation came forward to fulfill his kind request.

She started playing the piano and Bernard being seated on the settee enjoyed the soothing effect of the universal language with half-closed eyes. He listened to it for some time and slowly got up and ascended the flight of steps leading to the third floor. He went there to have a drink while listening to Nandana Menike's piano playing. She went on playing it until Periyavar had prepared dinner and accompanied Bernard for dinner. She did it with a willing heart. There was a distinct difference on Bernard's face. He enjoyed the dinner quite leisurely cracking some jokes at Periyavar. There were no signs of distress or desperation on his face.

"Hamu, is very happy today…! He had not taken that much liquors either…" Periyavar in a low voice passed that comment to Koinmenike.

With thundering and lightening, heavy rains fell. Nandana Menike went to her room and lay down. She contemplated as how the strong desire she had to see her father distanced from her heart after meeting him. She did think, Victor as her father, would come close to her and embrace her with overflowing paternal love and affection. That dream scattered in front of her own eyes. She lived in a world of desperation thinking of reasons as to why her father behaved in such a manner, while Bernard Hamu was showing his genuine qualities like a father towards his daughter. She was reminded of how he embraced her when she reached puberty. Even Sandra Hamu showed her love and affection with no pretense. Nandana Menike questioned herself whether such love she received from her mother who gave birth to her. If Nandana Menike had received a love which she could feel from the bottom of her heart; it was from nobody else but her dearest grandma. She often considered her to be not grandma but 'Great Amma".

"I thought you were asleep…"

She was taken away from her pensive mood when her grandmother came close to her.

"Aththamme…"

As the niece was trying to say something to her, grandma turned her head.

"My father doesn't love me… Does he…?"

Koinmenika, getting closer, gently stroke her head. Unknowingly she heaved a deep sigh.

"Even though he didn't utter a single word with me… anxiously I had been waiting to speak with him…"

Koinmenika remained silent, if he had any regard for his daughter, he should have come earlier. Koinmenika in fact wanted to tell that loudly enabling the entire world to hear. Yet she was too pent up to speak.

"They might have thought of me as a source if trouble…"

"Victor Hamu became so helpless in front of his mother…!" grandma tried to safeguard Victor's side. Koinmenika wanted not to arouse any hatred feelings towards her father.

"Why does he become so helpless…? Am I not his daughter…?"

"Today… if Raja Hamu had been…?"

"What can he do…?" Nandana Menike was enthused to know the steps taken by Raja Hamu, if he had been alive.

"He will blame Loku Nona Hamu… she is responsible for the present state of Bernard Hamu… she could have corrected Sandra when she made mistakes…"

Koinmenika thoroughly believed that if Loku Hamu Nona had admonished Sandra Hamu then and there, she would have come back without trying to live with another man, kicking out her marriage. Nandana Menike contemplated of what her grandma - Koinmenika tried to explain.

"When Victor was expelled from the estate after your mother being impregnated, Raja Hamu could have chased us away from the estate. Loku Hamu tried several occasions, but Raja Hamu never left any room for that… "

"But, Raja Hamu did no justice for my mother…."

Koinmenika heaved a long sigh. She knew what mattered was mainly her deformity.

"When Justine died, you were very small… it was Raja Hamu who allowed us to stay at the guardroom… he gave me a job to sort out tobacco from which we could earn something for living… In addition to the small salary, he helped us… He looked into every possible matter…"

"At that time… was Bernard Hamu's mother not there…?"

"Hamu's mother all of a sudden died of a heart attack… Then Bernard was just a young boy. During that period Raja Hamu's mother in law was also there at the bungalow…"

The respect Koinmenika had for Raja Hamu was indicated through her facial expressions. The heavy rain that fell with thundering and lightning seemed to continue. Nandana Menike got up and gave her grandma the tablets and capsules after a careful selection.

"Looks like a torrential rain… raining cats and dogs…" Koinmenika retired to the adjoining bed after taking medicine.