Wanderers in Eternity – Chapter 9 (Page 2)
Though Ajith revealed this to his parents both of them were doubtful about this revelation. His father, Victor Henegama’s comment was “Let bygones be bygones.” “My son has to be in heaven,” Mallika added. “That Tamil boy musthave agreed to all this nonsense to get out of prison.”
Ajith’s sister, Suneetha also listened to him with doubt. But today they had come to Bisowewa to take a look at Vasantharaja who was coming here after being released from prison. But so far, there was no sing of Vasantharaja or reverend Subuthi.
Ajith was restless though he was trying to listen to the speakers. After the brigadier’s speech, a young man who had come to serve the South and Buddhist spoke. After this were heard the sorrowful tales of the families misplaced during the war. One of the woman had hid in the forest when the Tigers attacked her village during a heavy downpour. Since she could not carry her little baby in the rain she had him somewhere near the hut. The Tigers who had come to attack had rotis that she had been preparing and then had put the baby in the frying pan to burn. Another boy had found out that all his family had been massacred while he was in school. He had returned home to find his whole family dead and soaked in blood.
Ajith had heard several stories like this before. But every time he heard more, they always created a painful curiosity within him. These incidences would always bring back memories of the painful experiences in his previous life. He sat in his chair and listened on. He there were a woman and a girl on stage. The woman who was nearing middle age stood close to the girl and stared her story.
“I came to live in Bodhiipura with my husband and my daughter. We came like that because my husband was a man who was unafraid and was willing to work hard and make a living as a farmer. Our village was destroyed by the terrorists. When we heard that the terrorists were coming we went and hid in the jungle. My daughter and I were in one spot, while my husband was in a nearby place with our son.” Although her eyes were filling with tears she spoke on with courage. “Then the Tigers came and started to burn down our houses. And they were killing anyone they happened to see. We were still hiding, Shivering with fear. I saw one of them coming towards us. I prayed to the gods hugged my daughter. That man came and shot my husband point blank. Then he took my son and…and….” She could not continue with her tragedy anymore.
The daughter started to speak at this time.
“For some strange reason or because of our luck, that man did not shoot us even though he saw us clearly. He just kept staring at us. That was he got shot by the army.”
The crowd was heard sighing. All at once a drizzle started to fall. It was as if the clouds that were gathering in the sky showing their sorrow this way.
“Dear friends, that was Anula of Bodhipura who just spoke to us. For a while she had been an undergraduate at the University in Kandy. She left all that and came to be a farmer…. This is her daughter Visaka” while the brigadier was introducing them, the rain started to fall steadily.
Everyone began to disperse and they all started to run to wherever there was a shade. Though some opened up their umbrella, and some others went under the trees, as the downpour got heavier, they also gave up the meeting and ran of find cover under the roofs of the houses. Ajith along with his parents and his sister and brother-in-law ran for cover like everyone else. Where they ended up was the porch of a new house.
“It is raining to wash off everything to give it all a fresh start,” Mallika Henagam said.
“A new beginning,” Suneetha said for Ajith to hear. “Would you like to live in a place like this, brother?”