BEAUTY OF INNOCENCE
Stopping the cab in the close proximity of the huge tamarind tree, he got down from the cab.
"Can you remember the foot path leading to the water spout from that point…? From that point, you can't see it now… that area is still under water…"
There were no land marks as such to be traced. Nandana Menike glanced at the reservoir down the road.
"Your home area has not yet emerged… It will be visible if the water level goes down another two or three feet…"
She tried to unearth the memories though the ruins remaining at the boarder of the reservoir. She could remember the huge rock, which had slipped down the field because of the earth slip. Samantha stretched his hand and plucked a few ripe tamarinds from a branch that had lowered down.
"Can you remember how we ate tamarind on our way to school…?" Samantha asked that question while giving her some tamarind.
"My attainment of age also I got to know from this place… that's also before you…! I felt very shy that day…" She took the tamarind recalling the past memories.
Those nostalgic feelings and memories brought a sense of delight to Samantha's mind.
"Mmm… still I remember the sweet taste… I have never eaten such sweet tamarind… my mouth is still watering…"
Nandana Menike gave him a half eaten tamarind and Samantha tasted it nodding his head.
"Do you know…? When you got to know about the change in your body, You threw away the tamarind and ran away… After that I picked it up and ate… The same smell and taste I find with this as well…"
Nandana Menike knew pretty well that Samantha loved her from the bottom of his heart. Both of them, clinging on together, stepped downwards through the narrow path, which had been marked off by the constant tread of the people around.
"You see… you see that side… that side…! Your three tiered bungalow…!" Samantha pointed to the spot where the bungalow stood.
The three tiered bungalow was seen in the close distance, through the overgrown grass across the dried-up reservoir. Once, with a majestic look with its landscape, it stood so proudly, but today, all alone with no human voice, remained like an abandoned hospital. There were no doors or windows in the first floor. Overgrown grass had comfortably settled down in every possible inch of it.
"Samantha… Samantha… shall we go there…? Please Samantha…!" She made a kind request in a pleading voice.
He realized the great desire she had to revisit it.
"How can I take the cab through this reservoir…? I have to go back and take the cab through the other road next to that new temple…"
She thought for a moment of what he said.
"Ok, then, you better come from that side… I'd like to walk through the reservoir… There's only a little bud… no water… it is easy… don't worry…" said she looking around.
"To go alone…?" Samantha was scared to send her all alone.
"Oh… what's that…? How many times have I crossed this with my grandma…? Hmm… then you come with me… let's walk up to that together…"
Observing her playful nature, like a small girl, And her great desire to cross the reservoir made Samantha allow her to go alone.
"Go slowly and carefully… I'll come soon from that route…"
She gave him a warm kiss and like a bird released from the cage, started hurrying towards the bungalow. Samantha watched her movements until she reached the boundary of the bungalow. She turned back and saw Samantha's eyes were still on her. She put a wave and went out of his sight.
Nandana Menike walked up so enthusiastically and stepped into the garden with the help of a concrete post from the slope down the hedge. She felt no fatigue, though she came running all that way. There were no doors or windows in the first floor. Only a decayed door frame was remaining there. The square-shaped flat stone blocks, which had been strewed around the garden, had disappeared leaving only a few of them here and there in a haphazard manner.
Despite the deterioration that had caused, the majestic look of the bungalow remained more or less the same. She felt happy as she could witness the bungalow again as it was a treasured land mark in her life. She then entered the second floor through the external entrance. The door frame of it had been decayed considerably. A few overgrown grasses had occupied inside comfortably. She had no fear to go inside and explore, as it was very familiar for her. The walls had turned discolored and there were a lot of mud stains. A layer of mud had covered the second floor. As she was walking on it, her attention was drawn to some marks of footsteps of someone indicating the movements towards the third floor. The huge digital photo of Bernard and Sandra was there in pieces; faded and frameless.
The rails of the flight of steps leading to the third floor were in an unstable position. She very carefully and slowly walked up to the third floor. She looked around and sensed that someone was using the third floor. She went to Bernard's room and opened it slowly. Everything was there as hey had been five years ago. The bed, sheet, which needed a thorough wash, lay on the bed. Sandra's night dress was also there in the same manner at the same place. Beside it there was a broken doll. She gazed at it for a moment as it seemed to be very familiar. She recognized it instantly; the doll, which she caressed, petted, and loved so much when she was a small girl.
She couldn't believe how it came to the bungalow; to Bernard's room in particular. There was a mark drawn on the wall; about one foot above the floor, which indicated the highest point of the water level of the reservoir, once it would be fully filled.
The other huge photo of Bernard and Sandra, which was in Bernard's room also had turned discolored because of the dust. Nandana Menike looked at it for a moment and thought Bernard Hamu smiling at her.
There were a few pieces of bread on a plate. A stale smell blew from the curry dish that lay next to the plate. It was a convincing evidence to prove someone's presence there. She had a difficulty to figure out whether it was Periyavar or Bernard. Next, her hand reached to the diary lying on the table. She turned the pages and found instead of the records of daily affairs; some free verses scribbled here and there.
The memories that remained – of the past, dead and buried…
Like ruins, they have come up – in the reservoir that's dried up…
The beauty of innocence I witnessed – From nature's dowry given by god…
The four lines became mute – of the love song I did compose…!
The cool breeze that soothes me – brings me nothing but your fragrance
Our eyes, oh! Shall never meet – For, my life - with no move - remains stagnant…!
She guessed the handwritings to be Bernard's. Yet, she couldn't figure out for whom it had been written. It couldn't have been focused on Sandra, for; Sandra had no link with the reservoir for him to think in that way. She left nothing behind to bring meaning to the environment in which she lived. Finally, with all those interpretations and perceptions, Nandana Menike thought that she could be the only character who could have made an everlasting impact on his life in his world of crisis and the free verses could have been, therefore, composed thinking of her. She was so nervous until she traced someone's presence there. She walked up to the balcony thinking there would be the person she was looking for.
She overheard someone panting from the direction of the flight of steps. She turned instantly to see what it was. Wagging its tail, Rover approached towards her.
"Rover…!" She called it with no sense of fear.
Rover came groaning and moved around brushing its fur against her body exhibiting its loyalty and faithfulness. It tried to communicate something through an unusual manner, for which she paid her attention.
"Rover… what are you telling…? Tell me where Hamu is…? Where's Periyavar…? Tell me… Rover…!"
Rover tried to go out of the room and stayed at the door step looking at Nandana Menike. It wanted to take her in that direction. Understanding its signal, Nandana Menike followed it. She came down to the second floor and looked around to see whether Samantha had come. He was not to be seen. Rover proceeded through the old passage from which water flowed. Rover ran down and again paused for a moment as it couldn't see Nandana Menike. She knew it was waiting for her and she hurried her steps.
The culvert down the slope of the reservoir had slightly emerged from the water level as the water level of the reservoir had declined drastically. The figure seated on the culvert facing the reservoir was instantly recognized by her in the close distance. She paused for a moment. Rover went near him and informed him of the good news. It went on licking its master incessantly and he knew his pet was conveying something good. Bernard turned his head slowly and then got up in amazement. At the same time a smile brightened his face, which brought tears to Nandana Menike's eyes.
She went to him without wasting time.
"NANDA…!" He stretched out his hands as if to embrace her when she came to him.
She held his hands tightly and cuddled up against his bosom with an inexpressible feeling of delight. His eyes brightened with the expression of love and affection he had for her. The grey colour beard brought a unique look to his middle age appearance. A warm caress was the expectation of what her heart urged at that moment. Yet, she regretted as the reaction of Bernard did not fulfill that expectation.
"Hmmm… you are a big woman now…!" Bernard remained in the same posture, while being held by her clasp.
"Did you bring your kid…?"
She got a shock when he inquired about her child. She loosened her grip as a guilt feeling crept into her heart. She asked herself; being a mother of a kid how acceptable it was for her to be caressed by another, or to expect such caressing from someone other than her loving husband.
"Then… Samantha…?"
Bernard slowly mentioned Samantha's name to ensure how she came there. She realized that Bernard was well aware of all the details of her developments. She looked at his face with tearful eyes and then nodded her head.
"Let's go to the bungalow now…"
To go to the bungalow, there was no urgency for her. She had to discuss a lot of things with him. At once, she clung on to his shoulder and burst into tears, being unable to express the suppressed feelings that had been torturing her throughout.