Senehalatha had assessed Kanthi needed urgent medical attention.
“Namali, run and get Sunil’s taxi here”
“Kanthi….don’t be frightened duwa….you can tell me what
happened later but let’s get this wound attended to”
Dr. Jayasundara had just opened his dispensary for the day
when the three women arrived in a Taxi. Sunil dropped them off refusing to
accept the hiring fee and left. Sunil had known Senehelatha all his life. He
respected her like his own mother and considered Nirosha and Namali as his own
sisters. He didn't recognise the other girl. He thought of asking Namali later.
“Ok… who is the patient?” Dr Jayasundara queried.
Senehelatha pointed to Kanthi.
“Ok ..come sit next to me”
“Name”
“Kanthi”
“Age”
“hmmmm….twenty”
“Where are you from”
“…………..”
“Never mind. What seems to be the problem”
Senehelatha pointed to Kanthi’s head.
“Goodness me. What happened “ asked the doctor glancing at
Kanthi’s head.
“A man had hit her doctor” Senehelatha volunteered.
“Who? With what?”
“with the dora polla sir” Kanthi finally whispered.
“Dora Polla? Who is this animal?” the doctor demanded to
know while closely examining her.
Dr. Jayasundara had to cut some of Kanthi’s hair off to
clean up the wound. Kanthi grimaced in pain but did not shout or cry. Kolonnawe
Pelihouse people are made of sterner stuff. After carefully stitching up the
gash and dressing up the wound, the doctor asked Kanthi to return in 3 days.
“Child, you should go to the police and make an entry about
whoever hit you.” Dr. Jayasundara kindly advised.
Sunil’s Taxi had gone. Senehelatha decided to walk back home
as Kanthi’s head wound had stopped bleeding. Namali held on to Kanthi fearing
she might faint and the trio walked slowly along Buthagamuwa road heading to
Senehelatha’s home.
When they eventually
reached Kalu Mudalali’s grocery store where Sunil normally parked his Taxi
awaiting hires, Senehelatha noticed a commotion in front of the shop. A number
of local thugs were questioning the people at the shop about something. Her
motherly instincts immediately made her cross the road to the other side, with
the two girls.
The thugs were too busy to notice the trio walking by on the
other side of the road.
They were shouting at Sunil, questioning him about
something. Sunil had noticed Senhelatha and the girls coming their way and
deliberately backed away to a spot where the gang could not easily see them.
Senehelatha pushed the girls to hurry past the commotion. She recognised they
were Soththi Upali’s men. Senehelatha had always cautioned Nirosha and Namali
to avoid them as much as possible. They were a law unto themselves, ruling the
area with impunity doing as they please.
The locals knew to hide their
daughters from these animals. The trio managed to slip pass the thugs
unnoticed. Sunil backed away further in spite of being held by his throat by
one of the thugs.
“Ado ….you mother fucker…Kolonnawe Vije is our Boss’s best
friend. Vije is looking for his woman. If you know something and hide from us
you will end up floating face down in the Diyawanna river” Senehelatha over
heard one of the thugs shouting at Sunil.
They reached Senehelatha’s home safely. Senehelatha locked
the doors and windows as soon as they got in. She had no idea why but she knew
there was trouble ahead.
Kanthi sat on Nirosha’s bed trembling like a leaf.
“Duwa… is this Vije you mentioned earlier…..Kolonnawe Vije?”
Kanthi nodded affirmation.
Namali couldn’t understand what her mother was panicking
about.
“Why amma, why are you shutting doors and windows”
“Shhh…don’t talk too
loud. Let me think” Senehelatha admonished Namali in a low voice.
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