Life of Silibiris 23

Gune peddled his Raleigh weaving in and out of Colombo Traffic reaching Kolonnawa before sunset.
He showed Silibiris all possible bus routes from the city to Kolonnawa on the way.
Silibiris jumped off at the temple to have a quick change of clothes while Gune waited at the temple gate. Lokuhamuduruwo had already left for Ambarawa.
Silibiris nonchalantly informed the abiththiya that he is going to a friend’s house nearby.
Abiththiya became agitated.
“ Ane koluwo, umba yana dihaak hamuduruwanta kiyala palayan. Me palathay inne honda minissu neme.”
Silibiris promised to return before the monk would notice his absence. He was keen to find out who lives behind the temple parapet wall. He hopped back on Gune’s bicycle full of excitement just like those white people who visited Ambarawa wanting to explore the jungle.
Right behind the temple wall Silibiris found a different jungle.
Rows of houses built along narrow corridors with open drains, full of half-naked children running about, men squatting around in circles playing cards, women sitting on the front steps grooming themselves giving furtive looks at the men. Some were lining up to fill the pots at a gushing water tap, arguing laughing in a language Silibiris was not quite accustomed to.
Gune came to a stop at a thickest surrounded by Plantain Trees, like an oasis in the middle of the rows of Pelihouses.
“Malli menna spot eka. Dan ithin porondu ishta koranda”
“ Aaa hari hari Gune aye, karapu udauwata salakanna epaya”
Gune looked around, made sure the coast was clear, signalled Silibiris to follow him creeping through the thickest. A large woman in a low cut blouse showing ample cleavage and a long wrap around that covered the rest of her barrel shape greeted them.
“ Aaa Gune, umbata apiwa mathak unaada. Kawda may gataya”. She looked up and down Gune peddled his Raleigh weaving in and out of Colombo Traffic reaching Kolonnawa before sunset. He showed Silibiris all possible bus routes from the city to Kolonnawa on the way. Silibiris jumped off at the temple to have a quick change of clothes while Gune waited at the temple gate. Lokuhamuduruwo had already left for Ambarawa. Silibiris nonchalantly informed the abiththiya that he is going to a friend’s house nearby.
Abiththiya became agitated.
“ Ane koluwo, umba yana dihaak hamuduruwanta kiyala palayan. Me palathay inne Honda minissu neme.”
Silibiris promised to return before the monk would notice his absence. He was keen to find out who lives behind the temple parapet wall. He hopped back on Gune’s bicycle full of excitement just like those white people who visited Ambarawa wanting to explore the jungle.
Right behind the temple wall Silibiris found a different jungle. Rows of houses built along narrow corridors with open drains, full of half-naked children running about, men squatting around in circles playing cards, women sitting on the front steps grooming themselves giving furtive looks at the men or lining up to fill the pots at a gushing water tap arguing laughing in a language Silibiris was not quite accustomed to.
Gune came to a stop at a thickest surrounded by Plantain Trees, like an oasis in the middle of the rows of Pelihouses.
“Malli menna spot eka. Dan ithin porondu ishta koranda”
“ Hari Gune aye, karamu udauwata salakanna epaya”
Gune looked around, made sure the coat is clear, signalled Silibiris to follow him creeping through the thickest. A large woman in a low cut blouse showing ample cleavage and a long wrap around that covered the rest of the barrel shape greeted them.
“ Aaa Gune, umbata apiwa mathak unaada. Kawda may gataya”. She looked at Silibiris up and down and gave him a seductive smile.
“Meya may palathata amuththek wagei.”
“ Gamay kollek””
“Anay Honda…habai malli mama nayata badu denne naa harida”
“Naa naa akke, mata epa, Gune aiyata withrak denna” Silibiris stammered shyly.
Sumana poured the clear liquid emanating an aroma Silibiris was unfamiliar with into a small glass and handed it to Gune. She served a couple of isso wade on a tin plate.
Gune drank the content of the glass in one shot…. Cleared his throat… spat into the grass… gobbled up an isso wade ordering another dram.
Silibiris sat on the make shift bench nibbling an isso wade while Gune helped himself to three glasses of kasiya. Sumana demanded Rs1.65 for three shots and the wades. Silibiris realized that would be almost 10 times his bus fare.
Gune wanted to introduce Silibiris to his sister’s family.
“Sumana akke api giya ehenam”
Gune pushed the bicycle unsteadily along the narrow corridor between the Pelihouses. He stopped at a hut built using the temple parapet wall as the back wall.
A young girl was sitting on the steps reading Mihira cartoon paper.
“Aaa Gune maamay… mokada dope da adath?”
“Pala poddi pahichcha katha nathiwa. Ko thoge amma?”
“Amma uyanawa….kawda me handy Aiyya”
Gune introduced his niece Kanthi to Sillibirs.
Kanthi appeared to be about 16, short hair, fair face with a generous layer of Talcum Powder, wearing a tight floral gown that did not reach anywhere near her knees.
She gave Silibiris a sexy knowing smile that stirred up something in the nether region.