Wanderers in Eternity – Chapter 2 (Page 1)
2
LIONEL AND AJITH
1960 – 1964
“Where did mother go, brother?” Lionel could not find an answer to his sister’s naïve question right away.
At ten years old, he could understand certain facts of life. But to six year old Suneetha everything was a mystery. Lionel could vaguely remember the time when mother went to the hospital to deliver Suneetha. Mother came back carrying the little baby sister. From that day onwards he felt as if his mother had distanced herself from him. Now he felt that he yelled at the servant girl Lizzy and disobeyed mother because he did not get enough love and attention from them.
“This boy is so stubborn.” This was a saying of mother every so often. “you will end up in a jail cell somewhere.”
Lionel got more furious on hearing such words and he took this out on poor Lizzy by pulling her hair and pinching her. In the end Lizzy could take no more and she went back to her village.
Aggie Nona who came to work afterwards was a much older woman and Lionel left her alone. Also father had beaten him up, blaming him for Lizzy’s departure. Lionel would never forget those thrashings he received from his father. More than a respect, what he had towards his father was a hatred and a fear. How could he believe that a man who hit him so hard really had any love towards him? He imagined that the love he received from his mother was also minimal. After the younger sister was born, mother’s love was more towards the infant. Mother dressed up the little girl like a doll.
Those days Lionel felt a hatred towards his sister as well. But as she grew older and started jabbering cute nonsense, this animosity turned to love. Recognizing this change, mother also fed the situation with encouraging words.
“Oh, yes, little fair sister has her brother. Good brother will take good care of little sister. Yes, son, hold little sister’s hand and go. Now it is you who have to take care of little sister. My good boy.” Bathed in such words Lionel’s heart mellowed. A compassion was born within. But when mother got pregnant again, he feared that the love he shared with his sister had to be shared with another stranger. He subdued his unpleasant thoughts by getting closer to his sister.
He knew why mother went in the hospital. The reply he should have given to his sister spurted out of his lips.
“Sister, mother went to bring us another brother or a sister.”
“What for?”
“Then we will have another baby to play with.”
“I want a baby brother,” Suneetha said cutely.
“I also would like a baby brother.” This conversation was carried on while they were sitting on the front porch step and was heard by Aggie Nona.
“Mother will come home in a couple of days with the baby. If you two babies are good only, that you will get a baby brother.”
“Or else?”
“Or else she will bring a baby girl.”
That evening father came home with burdening thoughts. Sister hugged father and asked when mother was coming home.
“Day after tomorrow, my sweetie.” Lionel saw how his father hugged little sister and stroked her hair.
He entered the front room. Lionel had no habit of hugging his father. What would happen when mother brought another baby? As he turned the pages of one of his school books, involuntary tears welled in his eyes. It was no secret that when mother got back home that his life would be changed.