Chapter 01- Shocked!

Sunlight was extended through the sky already. A cart was travelling through the south direction calm manner. In the cart apart from driver there was two persons, one middle age man and small little baby girl. While driving driver of the cart showed exhausted expression.

"Hey friend, we came to the ferry." Driver said while was showing river port near to them. In his tone there was slightly impatience tone. Other man looked at the river with calm manner while was observing face of driver. 'It is no wonder to become impatience. I and this little girl halted him time than normal on the way.' That man thought. After went out from the capital in rainy environment they had to hold their cart in many place to protect from heavy rainstorm fallen in previous day abruptly. Whether cart had roof it was not enough to protect people from wetting in rain. Especially with this small girl they had to concern more than normal in this situation and they had to find well-covered places to prevent rainfall into the body of this baby. As seemed to be understanding the situation this baby also made trouble on the way.

After parted with her birth father she started to cry non stopping on the way. So, he had to spend a large amount of time making baby fallen to asleep. Even though she started to cry several times on the way and he had to feed milk in bottle gourds that he prepared beforehand. What was unfortunate that even all the bottle gourds that were prepared before were not enough to quench the hungry in this girl. So he had to stop the journey several times on the way to find milk from near houses on the way in this rainy night. With all this trouble their journey was lengthened than the time he expected. With this, all trouble driver also became impatience due to these reasons.

After getting out of the cart he gave two more half silver Massa to the driver as appreciation and the driver happily accepted the wage and left the place slowly. After that middle aged man looked at baby girl in his hands who was sleeping quietly and said "You girl, you made so much trouble. Now you sleep as nothing matters you. It seems to be you are really hungry girl" with happy expression. After that he walked to ferry with slow manner while was carrying little girl on his hands.

Gona river was flowing down to the direction of wet calmly. The float which travel through river in both end was floated to other end already. People were gathered in this end already was waiting the float and some looked at the person who was coming toward them.

"Heh! Isn't that master Migara?"

"Indeed. Master Migara, are you going home today?"

Several people who identified him greeted him excitedly. As being an architecture Migara had a great popularity among people in the area around Gona river. Not only that with his friendly personality he had good reputation. Watching at the people who were greeted Migara was greeted them humbly.

"Oh! Yes. "Migara replied.

"Is masters' work in capital over?" another one asked.

"Yes. It is over. So there will be no need to go there for some time."

"Master, are you came from capital? Do you hear recent news?"

"What news? Sorry, I was got some shelter from a village in yesterday night. What happened?"

"King Subha is dead."

"What king Subha is dead?" Migara asked with socked expression and disbelief. He felt some uncomfortable in his heart.

"Yes. We heard there was fierce battle happened near the outer south gate of capital between king and Vasambha. It was extended to till dawn. It was heard king Subha killed by Vasambha. Even his uncle general Sankha also killed by him. Now whole country rule by Vasambha."

"At last prophecy became true. "

"Indeed. I heard king Vasambha ordered to hold final rites for king Subha honorly."

"King Vasambha is taking the path of great king Dutugamunu."

"Yes. I heard he named her former aunt Poththa as Miththa and made her as queen"

"It seems to be scandalous, but it shows benevolence and gratitude of king."

"At last throne fallen to Lambhakanna family. If king Ilanganaga saw this today, he surely suicide on Thissa tank."

"What a joke, ha…ha… It is indeed fate."

One after another people started to talk things happened in capital. After hearing that he understood that his best friend will be no more in this world. After that he looked at baby girl in his hands, "Mantha, your father is no more in world. Don't worry. I will take care of you. "said while was kissing on chin of baby girl. As if heard this news girl was awakened abruptly and started to cry.

After was hearing crying sound of child people in port started to find source of it and found that sound came from hands of master Migara.

"Master, is that child?"

"Master, is that child yours?"

People started to question him. As being a popular person in Gona river area he had great reputation for being faithful for his wife. Even after long time of the death of his wife he never made slightest indignation to remarry. So he had good name in front of females and even males were respected him as a great man. But after was seeing little baby in hands of Migara they were wondered and started to doubt about him. With that questioning of people were increased and with that disturbance child started to cry non stopping.

After looking at the situation of little girl, Migara said," Yes. This child is mine "with taking a large breath.

"What?" people were shocked.

Massa – Ancient money unit used in Sri Lanka and India.

Gona river- Current Kala oya called as this in ancient time.