ON A RAINY DAY

The torrential rain continued nonstop for two days. That was the rainy season and is nothing new to Nuwara Eliya town in the upcountry of Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya means City of Lights among the Singhalese. The legend says that when Hanuman burnt the area where Asoka Trees grew the light from the fire fell on the town. The area was named Asokavanam in Ramayana. It is supposed to be located near Haggala botanical gardens. It was the holiday resort for the colonial rulers of Sri Lanka. The reason is that the town had similar climatic conditions to England. Even horse racing took place during British rule It was once called little England. The town is surrounded by tea plantations. Hence a large number of Indian Tea estate Tamil workers who were brought to the island from south India through Kangani system live in this area.

The cold breeze was blowing. It was a gloomy day as such that there was not much of a crowd at the bus stand. Many were confined to their homes. Jayanthi was waiting for the express bus to Badulla scheduled to arrive at 4.30 pm from Kandy. It takes two hours to reach 32 km distance to Badulla from N’Eliya on a winding road with a stop at Welimada.

An old man was standing at the bus shelter staring at Jayanthy, who was standing in the shelter with her nine-month-old baby in one hand and a suitcase in the other hand. As the bus was getting late, she was keen to know the time. The old man was wearing a wristwatch and was looking at the time to check the arrival time of the bus.

The old man wore a sarong, a sweater to keep him warm and a comb in his head like many Singhalese do. There was a brown muffler around his neck, typical dress of the Upcountry old people. He had a leather case in his armpit, the symbol of a businessman. Jayanthy wanted to know the time from the old man. She guessed that he is a Singhalese from upcountry.

“Aiyah. Could you please let me know the time of your wristwatch? It looks as if the bus is getting late.” She politely asked the old man in Singhalese.

“Like me, Nona, are you too waiting for the Badulla bus?” The old man queried in Singhalese.

“ Yes, Aiyah. That is why I want to know the time. It is getting late.”

He looked at his wristwatch and replied. “Nona it is almost 5. pm. The bus from Kandy should have been here at least by 4.30. I checked at the office. They say that it should arrive half an hour late. It is raining that is why it is getting delayed.” The conversation between them was in Singhalese. Jayanthy, a Tamil lady, spoke like a typical Singhalese.

“Thank you Aaliyah for letting me for telling me the time. Do you frequently travel to Badulla? Are you from N’Eliya?

“No. I am from Welimada. I have a Bakery business there. Normally I come to Nuwara Eliya on Business. But today I came to meet my friend to finalize a marriage proposal for my only son who is a Captain in the Army”. The old man explained the reason for his visit to N’Eliya. He was proud to announce that his son is in the army as a Captain.

When Jayanthy heard from the old man that his son is a captain in the Army she was upset but did not want to express her feelings.

“Did you say that your son is a Captain in the army? Is he working in the headquarters in Colombo”? Jayanthy was keen to know more information about his son.

“Yes, nona. My son Somasiri got quick promotion for his excellent service on the war front in Jaffna. Soldiers respected him and called him Captain Soma. He is a good character man and discipline is important for him. He can speak English fluently. Very soon he is due for promotion as Major.”

Jayanthi was shocked to hear the name Somasiri.

“ Aiyah, have you been to Jaffna?”

“Why not? I did have a business in Jaffna before the war. Jaffna people are educated, people. There are good colleges in the Jaffna. I owned a restaurant and a bakery near Windsor Theater. Many students from Central college come to my restaurant to eat the Seeni sambol bun and roast Beef curry”.

“If you would have liked Jaffna, then why did you leave the place?”

“ I liked Jaffna because I had a good business. People were friendly. I delivered bread to many houses. I learned to speak Tamil. But when the war started, Muslims were forced to leave the town as they were treated as informers. I thought that it was not safe for a Singhalese to continue business in Jaffna. By the way, my name is Basnayake. Everyone knew “Basnayake Bakery” in Jaffna. By the way, what is your name lady? Are you an upcountry Tamil?

Jayanthi hesitated for a while and did not want to come out with her full name. When the old man said that he loved the Jaffna people, she wanted to speak about her Chundikuli area in Jaffna.

“No, I am not an upcountry Tamil. I am a Jaffna Tamil. “

“Oh! That is good. But you speak good Sinhalese What is your father’s name? I may know your father as I supplied bread to many houses in Jaffna. I had many Tamil government servants from Jaffna as friends. Mr Sundarampillai from the Chundikuli area was working in Jaffna kachcheri as Chief clerk was a good friend of mine. I have visited his house twice. Do you know him?” The old man became very inquisitive and changed the conversation to Tamil.

Jayanthi was surprised to hear his mother’s uncle’s name. She wanted to be careful in giving information about her. She did not want to come out with her profile. After the rainy-day incident that affected her future, she did not want to stay in Jaffna. She knew about the attitude of the Jaffna people. They are good at gossiping and building unwanted stories.

Jayanthi’s child helped to divert the subject of discussion by crying. She took out chocolate from her handbag and gave it to the baby to stop the crying.

The bus entered the stand stop with a big roar.

Basnayake changed the topic. “OK, nona the Badulla bus has come. Better you get in with the child. First, I will help you to carry your suitcase.”

“Thanks, Aiyah for your help.” She got on the bus with her child, followed by Basnayake. Only five people loaded the bus from Nuwara Eliya The bus was not crowded. She managed to get a comfortable corner seat in the fourth row and placed the suitcase on the upper shelf. The old man Basnayake sat in the vacant seat behind her. He picked up that seat so that he could continue the conversation with her.

After ten minutes, the bus started moving. Along with Jayanthi, her baby and Basnayake, there were only ten people on the bus. Five passengers got in from the Nuwara Eliya.

“You must feel hungry,” Basnayake took out an apple from his leather case and gave it to her. It is one way to start the conversation.

Jayanthi could not refuse the offer from an old man who continued the conversation

“Although I call you Nona, you did not come out with your name. Is there is any reason for not telling me your name?” Basnayake started the conversation.

“I have no special reason, Aiyah. My friend Premalatha calls me Jaya. You can also call me by that name. My father passed away a long time ago. ”

“I am sorry to hear that. Are you going to Badulla to see your relations?

“Oh no. I am going to meet my friend Premalatha. She is like my sister. She will come to the Bustard to meet Malini and me.”

“Who is Malini? Is that the name of your daughter? Looks like a Singhalese name”.

“ Even there are Tamil women with that name” Jayanthi replied to him.

The child turned back to the old man and smiled when she heard her name was mentioned. Basnayake was taken up by the smile of the child. He stretched his hands towards the child. The child showed interest to go to him.

“Malini, do not trouble people. If you feel sleepy stretch your legs and sleep on my lap”. Malini resented.

“OK nona, let the child come to me. I will look after her. I love kids. I have no grandchildren. Somasiri is my only son. My family wishes that after his marriage he will be blessed with a child. My wife and I are eagerly waiting to have a grandchild”.

The bus was passing Haggala botanical gardens. She remembered coming to Sita Eliya temple with her parents and visiting the gardens.

“Jaya, my wife and I had come several times to this garden with my son when he was a little boy. He was a sportsman. He studied at Trinity College Kandy. He captained the Rugger team, and his good physique helped him to get into the army.” Basnayake boasted about his son.

Jayanthi was quiet. The rain turned into a downpour. The driver found it difficult to drive. The lightning and the sound of thunder took her memory of the incident that changed her life on a rainy day.

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It was the day she was returning home after school walking alone. Jayanthi was an English trained teacher in a school in Jaffna. Before asking for a transfer to Jaffna after her father’s death, she was teaching in Badulla. She met Premalatha who was teaching with her in the same school in Badulla and became friendly with her family and bordered in their house in Badulla. Premalatha’s mother who is also a widow treated Jayanthi as her second daughter. When the heard the news about her father’s sudden death due to a heart attack she was shocked. She managed to get a transfer and move to Jaffna to support the mother.

Jaffna was facing problems at the peak of the war. It was not safe for women to work. The army had check posts in many junctions, and the soldiers were aiming at school girls and pretty women. Unfortunately, Jayanthi was an attractive looking lady. Whenever she crossed the check posts, there were nasty remarks from soldiers. She did not notice that an officer like a hawk was watching her and waiting for an opportunity.

It was on a rainy day. She was returning home after school. The road was deserted. She never expected an army Jeep following her from school. Her sari was soaked in the rain. The jacket was wet, and her brazier was partially transparent and could be seen through the wet jacket. She could not hold the umbrella in the heavy blowing. She decided to take cover in a partially damaged building due to the bombing until the rain stops. A house of her relation was not too far from the damaged building. That was a wrong decision she took without thinking that the check post was not too far from that damaged house. Jayanthi wiped the water from her face and prayed to God to protect her. There was sudden lightning followed by the big noise of Thunder. She saw an army Jeep standing in front of the house. It was driven by a single, physically built man. She was shocked to see an officer getting from the Jeep and walking toward her. She did not know what to do. She could shout for help

“Oh pretty lady, what are doing alone in this house where no people are living. It is not safe here” the officer questioned her in English as he moved toward her.

“Sir, I am taking temporary cover under the rain. Once the rain stops I will leave the place.”

“Oh, your sari is soaked in the rain. As an army officer, I must protect a civilian. Come I will take you safely in my Jeep. I will take you home.”

“No, sir. Thank you. I can find my way.”

“Don’t be scared about me. I am not going to hurt or kill you. I have sisters like you.” He grabbed her hand and used force to pull her. She could not overcome his animalistic strength. Jayanthi knew that it is the end of her chastity. The officer grabbed her Sari and made her half-naked. Her jacket was torn, and her brazier was exposed. In shock, she dropped her books and the umbrella and fell to the ground. That animal kissed her on the lips and embraced her. She could recognize his face clearly in the lightning. There was a scar on his cheek. That was the opportunity he was waiting for a chance to rape her whenever she passed the check post. She could not overcome the officer’s arrogance to rape her. She felt her sari being gradually removed followed by the jacket. It is like deer caught by a Tiger.

The rain stopped when she got up from the ground. She did not know what the officer did for her other than the stain of blood on her sari. The jeep disappeared from the parking place. That was the end of her purity as a virgin. She never told any of the details of what happened to her on a rainy day. Her friend was shocked to hear about the incident.

“Jaya, I am ashamed to hear that an army officer raped you and that too he is a Singhalese. Now that she has enjoyed you he will wait for another chance. Better you come to Badulla. I will get you a transfer to my school as I know the principal well and the school is looking for an English teacher. You can stay with me. We will send a complaint about your case to a Human rights Organization.”

Jayanthy decided that is the best option to move out rather than stay in Jaffna. If the media comes to know about it, publicity may be given and will affect her future, mother, and relations.

The bus reached Welimada. The bus conductor made an announcement saying that the Bus will not continue its journey to Badulla as the road is blocked beyond Badulla due to earth slip. Jayanthi was upset when she heard the announcement. Basnayake advised Jayanthi not to worry about the overnight stay. She could easily stay in their house, and he will ensure that message is passed on to her friend Premalatha. Since he and his wife are the only occupants of the house, there is no problem for Jayanthi to stay overnight. She could proceed to Badulla the next day morning once the road is cleared. She could not refuse his advice, if not she may have to stay that night in a lodge, which may not be safe.

When they reached Basnayake’s home, they heard the people crying, and a crowd gathered in the house. Piyasena’s wife handed over a telegram to the husband and started crying at the top of her voice. “Captain Somasiri was killed at the Elephant pass battlefront. Please contact HQ immediately” Contact telephone number was also given in the telegram. Basnayake could not speak as he was in shock.

“Aiyah, what is the problem?” Jayanthi asked the old man. He gave the telegram to her. “Please read it. I have lost my son.” Basnayake cried like a child.

She read the telegram to find out the reason why Piyasena was crying.

Piyasena pointed at the enlarged photograph of an Army officer in Uniform hanging on the wall.

“Jaya, he is my only son, Somasiri. He has left me and my wife for good. The telegram from Headquarters says he is killed in the Elephant pass battlefront. See, I have returned after finalizing next month a marriage for him before that he has left us.” He could not stop crying.

In the commotion, Malini too started crying without knowing the problem. Jayanthi was quick to identify the army officer in the photo. A scar on the neck in his photo was visible. Oh god, it is that rascal who raped me and made me pregnant on a rainy day and ruined my future. It looks like a god’s punishment for him. What Premalatha’s mother mentioned has come true? He has paid for his sins. Like me who knows how many women he would have raped when he was in charge in Jaffna. Their curses too would have been impacted. “For a good-hearted person like Basanauke Aiyah, God has given a bad characters rascal as a son. It is fate that has brought me to this house to confirm who the culprit is. I should leave the house as soon as possible, she thought to herself.

“Aiyah. I am sorry to see you in this situation. It is not good for me to stay any longer in your house. You will be busy with his funeral arrangements. Premalatha’s aunty, a teacher at Welimada Maha Vidyalaya, lives in Welimada. I will go to her house with Malini and stay overnight. I will inquire and find the location.

Basnayake could not give a reply to her request. He only shook his head indicating that it is OK. Jayanthi walked out of the house with the baby and suitcase. Before leaving the house, she turned back and had a hard look at the Soma Siri’s’ photo on the wall. She was hesitating to say, “May your soul rest in peace.” She thought that how can Soma Siri’s soul be at peace when so many souls he ruined are living not in peace. He is not a true Buddhist.”

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