New dawn!
Signalled by a cacophony of birds singing crows crowing…. the darkness of the night sky dissipating…..- people in homes along the road stirring out of their sleep…..shop keepers opening the plank doors….. .the noise of a CTB bus doing the first run of the day, turned the spotlight on the hooded figure of Kanthi who had been walking somewhat aimlessly for a while.
A policeman on a bicycle noticed the suspicious hooded figure.
'Oi stop..who are you? Were are you going like a thief?' the policeman stopped the bicycle in front of Kanthi yelling at her.
Startled Kanthi slowly removed the sarong hood.
'Oh! a girl!'
'Nangi, what the hell are you doing on the road this early in the morning?'
'I know..... you are running away from home, right?'
'Where do you live? Who are your parents' the policeman took out his note book.
Kanthi looked around …..her mind racing…. ..for an answer.
Kanthi noticed a mother and daughter walking ahead carrying flowers ..towards…. a sign board indicating Thapowanaya 100M ahead..
'No no . to Thapowanaya'
'Thapowanya? What for?'
'For a bodhipoojawa ..for my sick mother..'
'hmmmm... ok ok .run along then' the policeman was still suspicious but decided against pressing her for more details.
After all, Kanthi grew up in Kolonnawe Pelihouses where all inhabitants knew how to lie to the policemen who regularly raided the place.
Kanthi hurried along, falling just behind the mother and daughter who turned into the road going up to a temple in the woods just in the outskirts of the city.
The girl walking alongside her mother noticed Kanthi and gave a friendly smile.
'Are you going to the temple too?' she asked from Kanthi.
'errrrr.... .yes '
'Ok. Come with us then. Why haven' t you brought any flowers?' the mother asked kindly.
Kanthi looked down without answering.
'That's ok..... .we can share'
They entered the temple together.
Kanthi mechanically joined in the rituals followed by the mother and daughter for a while.
Ding .Ding Ding .A gong sounded.
'It s time for monks heel daanay ..lets go over there' the mother led away. People were lined up along a path waiting expectantly
.
A few minutes passed.
Kanthi noticed a line of monks descending down a path carrying their bowls.
Male monks first… followed by female monks a short interval later.
Kanthi watched the Bikkhunis coming down the path. Older ones first, followed by a number of young ones . The monks walked past Kanthi, head bowed,eyes cast down.
The very last Bikkhuni, approaching Kanthi , slowly looked up as if compelled by some unseen force.
Her eyes met Kanthi s. In that split second the young Bikkhuni saw a girl around her age with eyes full of sorrow mixed with fear in a predicament similar to what she had been in not so long ago.
Kanthi too looked into the young bikkhuni’s eyes and recognised the serene world behind them.
Kanthi felt a feeling of calmness engulfing her. She wanted to seek the same serene world. Forever away from the poverty ridden, violent world of Kolonnawe Pelihouses.
The young Bikkhuni moved along quietly resolving to seek Kanthi out after the Daanaya.
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