At Five thirty in the morning, the abode of healing was preparing for another day of prayers, anxiety, sighs, hopes, smiles and tears.Yes! A hospital never sleeps. “Archchie, today its Children’s Day, can you remember last year's Children’s Day? I got the best results of the year. I was there with all my poems, stories, medals and cups.
I knew that seeya and you were also very happy standing behind me. Seeya and Anula nandhi walked in. Archchie went out and broke into tears in the corridor. The medical staff outside consoled her.
She walked back with a smile. Damayanthie was in a lovely new dress brought by nandhi. Archchie combed her hair. “Archchie can you remember the day I combed your hair and did a ‘Damayanthie facial? You said you are like what little girls are made of ‘sugar and spice’. Then I gave you a hug and said. So are all Archchies." How we laughed, looking at the mirror.
A few teachers and the principal of Damayanthie’s school entered and wished her. The TV was on all the news was about killings. Thousands of tiny hungry children, ribs protruding, pus oozing from open sores, fleshless, skull like faces, flies swarming all over and eyes showing utter hopelessness. Many dead with open eyes and mouths in the arms of their haggard mothers.
“Thilaka Miss can you remember the song I wrote and sang on last year's Children’s Day?" "Yes Damayanthi, please can you sing it for us. I want to tape it”. Thilaka requested that a mike be fixed to Damayanthie’s dress. She agreed with a smile. Little did she know that her voice was going to be heard in all the corridors and recreation rooms in the hospital. She sang, most of her own compositions. Also “Mata mathakai, mata mathakai punchi babeak mung.”
Aney! The whole world is thinking of children today. All our uncles and aunts must be thinking of their childhood. How they played hop-scotch, hide and seek, climbed trees and of the beautiful times they had enjoyed with their parents.
"Aney ‘big teacher’ how many little nangies, akkas, mallies and aiyas will go hungry today. How many will die due to hunger and war? World leaders made this day for all children. Some may be watching what we saw on TV. Just now seated laughing and eating."
A bevy of Damayanthie's classmates marched in. Each carrying a small spring of flowers and ‘get well’ cards and wished her. They placed the flowers on her bed. "Archchie look, it is lovely, just like the flowers that were round Amma and Thaththa”. Archchie nodded, biting her lips. “Why are you all covering your faces with your hankies?" Even my good friend Surangie is doing the same.
Two reverends walked in, prayed and blessed Damayanthie. She smiled and wanted to bring her hands together in salutation. Others held her gentle hands. The room was packed with specialists and the consultant. The hospital was still. Even the car park.
I forgot, today is Elders’ Day too, I want to kiss Archchie and Seeya I want to take a big chocolate cake to school on Teachers' Day. Also pol toffees for my friends. Please make them for me nandhi.
Nandhi rushed out. Everyone knew why. Not Damayanthie. Her little friends were requested to go to the corridor.
"Thank you all. Please tell all those who rule the world to make every day a Children’s Day. There should be no hungry and unhappy children when we celebrate next year’s Children’s Day.
Tears were glistening in the eyes of all at her request to the world. The room was over flowing to all the corners of the hospital, the country and air around with lots of fragrance from the flowers and love that was the wafting from that room.
Damayanthie looked at the doctors. “Look doctor uncles, some meritorious persons blood is flowing into my body, Thank you that somebody. Just like how my sweet amma gave her blood to me. How true "le kiri karala." Thank you my beloved amma”.
Who was this little angel the country wondered via the media. “Archchie lets sing my amma’s favourite song” They sang CT’s immortal song”. "Ma Bala Kaale Ammage Ukule”.
The world stood still, 12-year-old Damayanthie, the many faceted little girl had gone be cuddled in the arms of her mother and father.
Epilogue
A lovable child of the world lost her adorable parents, her two legs and sustained irreparable damage to her vital organs due to an accident. She was destined to live to show mankind that this world belongs to children. That the child is the father of man.
Damayanthie’s immortal words were translated to more than one-thousand languages. Classrooms around the globe are adorned with a smiling portrait of Damayanthie.