Silibiris was a in a panic as the appointed day to report to
work at the Department of Irrigation got closer and closer. Not because he did
not want to leave Ambarawa, his family or his friends but he had no place to
stay in Colombo nor did he know anyone there.
Siriyalatha too was in a panic. Not because of his lack of
accommodation in Colombo but she knew she will lose her one and only son
forever. Haramanis was oblivious to both but he was very proud of his boy.
One evening, Haramanis was sitting on his bed in the veranda
listening to the incessant noise of the crickets, chewing beetle, gazing into
the moon lit night sky.
He was not in the habit of conversing with his children
without a reason. He finally noticed Silibiris sitting on the steps looking at
him, waiting for an opportune moment to start a rare conversation between
father and son .Their relationship had grown respectfully distant since the
days Haramanis used to beat up Silibiris virtually every evening for some
misdeed. Siriyalatha and the girls soon joined the men in the verandah.
It was Siriyalatha who spoke on behalf of Silibiris, as
usual.
Her general comments to no one in particular about rising
moon, impending Poya Day, ever present heat, possibility of rain veered towards
Silibiris departure.
She worried aloud about his needs for new clothes, spending
money and most of all accommodation.
Haramanis realized he had not even considered such practical
requirements of the boy. Haramanis quickly informed his audience that he had
wisely saved up money for such occasions. He would take Silibiris to town next
day to buy him clothes. He will also give enough spending money which of course
Silibiris will have to manage carefully.
However, he had no solution for accommodation. He knew no
one. The conversation lingered on this main issue. Siriyalatha decided to take
matters to her own hands and said she would go see Lokuhamuduruwo for advice.
Unlike Haramanis, Lokuhamuduruwo had anticipated this
problem in advance.
When Siriyalatha and Silibiris came to see him, he allayed
their fears instantly. He had already made arrangements with his teacher monk
at a temple in Colombo to let Silibiris stay there until Silibiris found a suitable place.
A stream of well- wishers came to see Silibiris prior to his
journey into the unkown. Haramanis happily
loosened his purse strings and instructed Siriyalatha to feed the visiting villagers
with Kiribath, Welithalapa, Aggala and tea.
More distinguished visitors were even offered cheese and
biscuits. Haramanis invited VIPs to the shed at the back of the house. They came
back surreptitiously wiping their mouths, talking a bit louder, and walking a
bit unsteadily.
Silibiris and the gang met at the Kumbuk tree bathing spot
for one last chat. Golden sun setting over the other side of the lake painted
the sky burning orange.
The water buffalos who had learnt English from Silibiris
some years gone by, passively looked on submerged in the weva. Flocks white
cranes flew past in formation as if it is an air display celebrating some
important event in the calender.Bunch of parrots speedily flew around as if
they were imitating Silibiris and the gang playing chasers when they were young
boys not so long ago.
The village lasses bathing in the weva showed him more
respect while accidently purposely displaying their inviting body parts. Even Danda
sauntered by and wished him luck for old time sake.
However, the person Silibiris most wanted to see was
missing. Kusumalatha was far away.
Early next morning, Silibiris journeyed to Colombo by bus
with Lokuhamuduruwo. They eventually arrived at their destination late in the
evening, at Kolonnawe temple.
