5 BEAUTY OF INNOCENCE

"Where is the necklace you were wearing…?" Samantha's eyes were on her bare neck.

"Grandma asked me not to wear it to school..."

"I think the Master is you're..." He stopped in mid-sentence unable to state what was in his mind because he saw her face shading over as Nanda immediately sensed what was coming.

"Hey...! What were you trying to say Samantha?"

He virtually squirmed embarrassment and unable to make amends. He was unaware she had come to a dead halt on her track as he took a few paces ahead. She called out to get his attention.

"Samantha!"

He turned back.

"So you think the Master is my father... Do you not?"

He could not think of a suitable response and hesitated when she blurted out again.

"Or do you think it is his late father…?"

Samantha began to fidget and kept looking about helplessly thinking that she would lose her temper at his remarks but saw instead that her eyes were beginning to tear with sadness.

"I should not have asked you a foolish question Nanda... I didn't mean to hurt you, forgive me."

"From the day I learnt the six letters called 'Father' I have been seeking answers to that question Samantha."

She was grateful that he opened a way to release the tension in her mind.

"What has your mother to say about that…?"

"The moment I mention the word she virtually screams blue murder…! Believe me it is true every time I pose the question."

"Really... I can't understand that attitude."

"Surely... Grandma should know?"

She only shook her head to indicate the negative.

"Did your mother speak to the Master when he visited your house?" She released a long sigh and indicated to him that that was so.

"I just can't understand the people in your home... I really can't fathom their thinking."

"My mother and grandma do not hold a grudge against the Master or his late father... Had I been one of their children that situation could not prevail for so long."

"That is precisely what perplexes me... Had there been no connection between them and you would he have presented you with such an expensive gift just like that?"

"I am confused Samantha...! I don't understand this predicament that is mine."

He placed his hand on her shoulder in genuine sympathy and concern but she removed her hand gently to indicate her disapproval.

The fact that Master Bernard had decided to build them a decent dwelling she divulged to her daughter who naturally was delighted after long years of suffering. When Kapilasena agreed to lodge in koinmenika's house they brought all his pottery equipment over with the master's help. Work commenced on the construction of the new house without further delay to everyone's satisfaction.

"I went to the astrologer cum Ayurveda physician when the girl attained puberty and he predicted from then on her life would change for the better beyond recognition."

This was a statement she had repeated to Yasawathi many times in the recent past.

Yasawathi who was hauling water from the bathing spout in a bucket stopped near her mother to catch her breath.

"Mother... Just now sister Sumana was near the spout and she uttered the most objectionable hint at me which really hurt."

"Never have a good word ever issued from that ill-boding mouth." Koinmenika quipped but she was yet inquisitive to know what actually had been said.

Yasawathi was hesitant and her mother insisted.

"What did she say?"

"She hinted that ere long Bernard's benevolence will morph into an earthquake."

When Koinmenika heard this she exploded like a volcano with her vituperative utterance against the gossiping Sumana.

"Oh...! She said that... Did she...? Gods forbid her tongue... The wretched gossip she is." Thereafter she spat on the earth to express her disgust.

"She is in no position to talk about others... Having married a impotent wretch of a man... All she does is make up stories about others... That tractor Ranjith's face is written all about her son's face... Ha! She little realizes that... Just you wait until I meet her and she will hear a few things."

Though Bernard had come to the worksite several times he never had tarried, to speak to or contact Nandana Menike. If any enquiries were made they were always addressed to the grandmother and it was always about her education and her future. Fuming with anger as she was, she turned to Yasawathi.

"So what did you tell her after she made that nasty remark?"

"I did not pause to file a counter argument Mother…"

When they saw Kapilasena looking at them from the worksite above Yasawathi lifted the bucket of water to be taken up. Her cleft lip handicap was a deterrent that prevented her from getting into arguments with any one. She knew too well that if she got involved in any argument with Sumana the only outcome would have been a horrendous collection of one sided gossip regarding the paternity of her child being released into the ether. As it is, most villagers were under the impression that the late Raja Weerasekara was the father of the child and some others suspected it was Bernard who was responsible. In any event most gossip mongers were inclined to believe such a union between either of the gentlemen were unlikely in view of the hideous appearance of the mother and looked for different explanations. There were some who totally had a different view that she was not the mother of the child because throughout the confinement Yasawathi never ventured out of the house and they held the view the child's mother was a total outsider.

Another rumor was that the child was a result of a misadventure of the old gentleman and that she had been given to the watcher Late Justin to be taken care of.

Day by day Nandana Menike blossomed in beauty and stature and began to be noticed and turned eyes wherever she went. Because most to the schoolmates were aware that Samantha was fond of her and now believed that she was his love and as the days went by on account of his popularity she was saved a lot of embarrassing taunts that used to be the order of the day in the early years of her schooling. On his part he was not averse to flaunting his relationship with her and she took care not to show any dissent. As the ordinary level examinations approached the extra lessons in the afternoons commenced. Samantha went further and began to attend the private tuition classes held in the city.

"Nanda...! Can you not ask your grandma and come for the city classes…?"

She pouched her mouth and shook her head indicating that it is impossible.

"The lessons given by these teachers are well oriented towards the exams... Last time all students in that teacher's class obtained A and B grades..." He was trying hard to lasso her into the class.

"From where will we get money for that Samantha…?"

"Come on girl... That is not true... We are the ones who don't have the wherewithal."

"What makes you think we have the money Samantha?"

"You built a brand new house to stay in... surely, Nanda?"

"It is not ours... The Master got it built."

That fact was well known to the boy.

"If you decide to come to classes The Master is sure to help..."

Nandana Menike shook her head in the negative indicating that nothing of the kind was likely to happen.

"Why would he not help…?"

"If we were to ask he will probably oblige... But grandma is not in favor of doing that…"

"Does he not make any enquiries about what you need…?"

Once again she shook her head in the negative.

"I am so surprised to say the least Nanda..."

"There is nothing to be surprised about that... When the house was being built he did not visit the site more than a few times... Even then he never spoke a word to me... The folk in that bungalow are all very proud... Think no end of them... As for his wife I don't even know whether she is fair or dark... I have never seen her."

He could not fathom the relationship between the employer and his servants from what she said.

"I know for sure you will get through your exam in the first attempt."

She observed with the intention of changing the embarrassing subject.

"You do your revision well Nanda... If there is anything difficult feel free to seek my help... I will most certainly help... You know that without my having to tell you."

Her eyes reflected her gratitude no sooner he said that. He noticed how pretty she was when she flicked away the curl of hair that had fallen across her eye.

"Nanda... Will you give me a straight answer if I were to ask you a personal question?" He said this somewhat bashfully. He had this need to ask her for a fairly long time but could not pluck up enough courage to pop the typical teenage question. He felt this was the moment.

She suspected what was coming and gave him a direct look that indicated a very disinterested neutral attitude which Samantha misread. He got cold feet and went back into his romantic shell. Silence reigned between them for a while. She knew too well the words that he swallowed up and broke the silence to relieve his discomfort and obvious heartache.

"Samantha... You get through your exam first and then we will think about what happens next..."

Those words were enough to bring the color and the smile back to his handsome face and he held her hand almost instinctively as lovers do. She pushed his hand away and looked around her to make sure that no one had seen them.

"We are no longer young kids... This is the time when people come to the spout Samantha..."

At the end of the footpath near the spout they normally walk past it separately. They stopped for a while and she bid adieu to him and went forward alone. Having passed the spout she turned back. She saw the boy looking on with his bundle of books cuddled against his chest. She turned towards the steep climb to her home with a heart bursting with love for him.

* * *

Kapilasena was standing on the yard a little distance away from the door of the bungalow kitchen. He had with him a couple of sacs full of baked earthenware kitchen utensils. He was waiting to attract someone's attention to hand over the ordered pottery he had made. He regretted his decision not to have come up with Koinmenika as she came on duty that morning when he got tired standing there for a considerable period of time with a heavy load. Sandra walked down to the garage in the base floor to gather Rover for his walk. The moment the kennel door was opened Rover made a dash towards the kitchen.

"Come here baby!" Sandra addressed the dog.

He obeyed under protest, came to her and looked out at the door and saw a strange man burdened under a heavy load of earthenware utensils. His instant reaction was to growl at the strange apparition and in an instant made up his mind to attack before Sandra could issue a word of restraint to her pet. He launched into the man who toppled to the ground with the load of pots crashing in a heap on top of him.

When Periyavar who heard the scuffle and growling rushed up with a cane the damage had already been done. When Koinmenika heard the mistress screaming she rushed in after Periyavar and approached the fallen terrified man. The dog had gone for the unfortunate man's elbow and torn several deep gashes with his razor sharp teeth. By the time Periyavar was able to pull the dog off his victim Kapilasena was in pain from his deep injuries. Bernard who was about to leave for his field rounds arrived at the scene and realized the man had had a narrow shave as it was.

"The teeth have gone in deep... He is in pain because the elbow is in a mess Lady."

Koinmenika was holding her nephew up and addressed the Mistress.

Bernard bent down to examine the elbow of the man barely able to sit up from his prone position and when he realized the extent of the damage he looks at Sandra standing nearby and gave her an accusing look. He was annoyed to say the least as he addressed his wife with a stern command.

"Don't stand there like a statue... Go inside and help Periyavar to cage that beast before he attacks him as well…" He said this as he heard the big commotion inside as the dog protested being restrained from going back to the attack.

Kapilasena brought a sample of his pots to the Three-Tiered-Bungalow at an auspicious time to be given to his master and to have faced a tragedy such as happened devastated him. It was Koinmenika who advised him to present a sample from his first batch of production and the resulting debacle shook the innocent village woman to the core.

"Come on... Let us go and get your wounds treated first." It was Bernard who reacted first.

"No Master... I will go and get myself attended to…" His forlorn look was on the wrecked utensils lying on the floor.

"No way Kapilasena... Your injuries are deep... You will need injections to avoid severe infection... You are coming with me... Koinamma... In the meantime you work out the value of the articles and tell me."

It was after Bernard left with the injured man that Sandra ventured to speak to Koinmenika.

"Honestly… Koinamma... I was not aware that this man was standing out there... Before I could slip the chain on, the creature escaped."

"What could you have done Lady? It is his bad time..."

She sighed deeply and turned her tear filled eyes towards her mistress.

"I will pay for all the utensils... Don't get angry with me Koinamma…!"

She was aware that Kapilasena was her nephew.

"Had it not been for Periyavar's intervention Rover would definitely have gone for his neck." The poor woman when she uttered this was as yet shaking with fear.

Yasawathi was reluctant to use the kitchen of the new house which consisted of two bedrooms and a verandah. She used the kitchen of the old house to dine as usual. Bernard explained to Koinmenika that the room with the attached bath room was apt for the daughter's use that was just after her puberty, as it guaranteed the protection. The daughter returning home from after school classes at dusk, and going for a body wash to the water spout were done along with Yasawathi.

Yasawathi was appalled whenever the young girl's beautiful figure with all features of attraction, being met by the prying eyes of men walking on the foot path. Bernard decided to provide a new house for Koinmenika's use as he felt that it was a responsibility of his family. Even not expressed in public, Bernard admitted Nandana Menike as a member of the inheritance of his clan. Therefore, he regarded that assurance of her protection was his duty. Koinmenika was averse to demolish the old house, for which Bernard shoed no objection. The house which provided shade for ages, turned out to be of immense benefit. Kapilasena settled down in the old house. Beside the old house, a temporary hut was put up to keep the pottery's wheel and other equipment. Water to the Koinmenika's new house was supplied from the same pipeline used to supply water to the laborers' quarters down the garden. Yasawathi, getting ready to prepare jak, brought by Kapilasena, for lunch halved it with the help of a catty (chopper). Overhearing someone's voice from the direction of the compound, she kept the catty aside and stepped towards that adjusting the cloth she was wearing. She noticed the Village Officer was with an unknown person. The unknown person had a bucket of paint and a brush.

"Yasawathi, after a long time… actually, when did you build this house…?" He raised his voice with a look of inquiry towards the new house without throwing away the betel chew in his mouth.

"How can we build… it is from the bungalow…"

Yasawathi looked attentively at the Village Officer who was winking at the other wiping out the reddish saliva, dripping from the side of his mouth, by the back side of his palm.

"That is it… that is the duty of your lord… where's your mother…? She must be the chief occupant…"

"Mother's gone to work…" Yasawathi's face was etched with an annoying look.

"You are looking at me as if I were a devil…"

Due to the deformity, her nature with anger turned out to be worse, which made the Village Officer displeased?

With a resentful look at her, he started checking a file that he had with him.

"Now there are only three at your house… Isn't that so..."

"Kapilasena brother is also there…" Yasawathi promptly declared that Kapilasena's stay was with them and considered informing of it as a responsibility.

"Who is that? Did you find a man then...?

With much difficulty, Yasawathi tolerated the derisive look of the Village Officer. Since there was no answer, the Village Officer again opened his mouth and told her of the necessity of informing him in advance when keeping an outsider in the house. He took no notice of who Kapilasena was.

"Do you know that these houses, land property go underwater near future...?"

"Go underwater...?" Yasawathi looked around being unable to understand what the Village Officer mentioned.

"Do you all get informed of what is happening in and around the world…? A newspaper, a TV, ever watching…? A dam is going to be constructed in the Hakuruthale region across the Mahaweli River..."

"How do these go underwater… if the dam is constructed over there...? Even the water spout overflows due to heavy rain, no floods affect us." It was unbelievable news for her to learn that her house going underwater due to the construction of a dam down the river.

"I have no time to explain all these to you… Get to know these from the people around who know about this." He paid attention to the list with a view to checking the registration of Koinmenika.

"Ok…, here it is…"

When the number, in front of the Koinmenika's Householder Index was shown to the unknown person, he wrote it on the wall with the paint and brush he had in his possession. Yasawathi was looking at this with a shock and questioned.

"What are you doing…?"

"Near future, the officials will come to assess these houses… Depending on the valuation done on this number you will be getting the compensation and a new plot of land for settlement…"

"These are not ours... Bungalow's…" With a timid glance, Yasawathi convinced them that she couldn't take a decision regarding the house.

"Right, we know those… Compensations will be given to the lord's properties separately… Justice will be done to you as well…" The Village Officer signaled the other one to leave the place.

Yasawathi realized that it was her past that the Village Officer had been revealing with a low voice on his way back when the other one, who was with him, turned back and stared at Yasawathi with a surprise look. She sat down on the door step opposite the house being unable to comprehend the impending circumstances.

* * *

Periyavar fixed the gas cylinder to the oven keeping the empty gas cylinder beside the door with the idea of getting down a new one, when Mr. Bernard went out. Koinmenika lit the oven, placed the ready-to -cook curry on the oven and sat down on the chair in the kitchen.

"How is that man Koinamme…?" Periyavar was inquiring about Kapilasena.

"Still can't do any work properly... it's the elbow… just keep on looking with that couchant arm..." With a sigh, Koinamma expressed her pain over Kapilasena, of his injuries caused by the Rover's attack.

"He was lucky… If I hadn't been, the whole of the throat would have been bitten… The mistress told… those dogs are of that nature… bred in different countries…" telling all these facts to her to prove his interference in rescuing Kapilasena's life.

"I'm also scared at the sight of it..." Koinmenika expressed her fear keeping her hands on her chest.

"Right from its small age, it knows Koinamma… doesn't' attack people known to them..."

"Oh! I have never seen such a big ferocious dog… my god…"

After that incident, Periyavar knew that Koinmenika did not show any regard towards Rover.

"Is it true Koinamme that the story of all these houses…, lands would be going underwater near future…?" Periyavar tried to figure out the true nature of the news of what he overheard from the elderly woman.

She paid her attention to him after a brief silence. Koinmenika, nodding her head, hinted that the news was true.

"You see Koinamma, where the river is… even there was a torrential rain, was this area ever affected except the either side of the stream down there… So, how can this area go underwater…?"

Periyavar could not believe the of story of the land and properties belonged to the three tiered building going underwater as the stream was flowing through a low land one mile away from the bungalow.

"I too didn't believe at the beginning… but all are talking about it…" She said quietly.

"How can these be submerged…? Will the lord keep quiet…? Periyavar believed that his lord would stand against it.

"He is aware…"

"Aware…! Then those things would just be a dream… would never be realized…"

Periyavar unfolded the betel satchel for a quid. Periyavar thought that Bernard's power would overstep above all.