Father
What type of a room would you prefer, Sir?,” the receptionist asked him, showing politeness.
“I want the best room available here”, he added while having a look at his father who is confined to a comfortable chair in the portico and he was going through a novel as usual. His luggage was right next to him.
“What about meals?”
“Breakfast, lunch and dinner would be available. Evening tea will also be given”
“Great”
His phone kept on ringing. At last he had to answer it and it was his wife.
“What’s going on there? Have you got the place, darling? Try to accommodate him in a faraway place so that he can’t visit us at often.”
He said nothing.
“When can we visit him?”
“As you wish, Sir”
Now that he had to sign an important document, he had to wait for the Master’s presence. At last, the Master came out of the boardroom after thirty minutes.
His father was thrilled to see the Master. The Master was so surprised to see his father that he rushed to him with happiness. He hugged his father. So did his father. They had a friendly chat for around forty five minutes leisurely.
Again his phone began to ring, but he did not answer it.
His father came to him with the Master and he was introduced. He was overjoyed. He looked at him from my heels to head carefully.
“He’s an engineer. He’s blessed with a fine family. He’s doing great,” his father went on adding with pride.
“It sounds great”, the Master replied while shaking his hands. He was asked to come to his office room to get the particular document signed.
“It seems you’re good friends, Master”
“Of course, we’re”
“Had you been schooling together or?”
“It’s a long story, Son. I don’t know whether to tell the story or not”, he said while having a glance at him. He was looking for his permission.
“Sure, I love to hear it”
“Thirty years back. Your father visited our boys’ home which was over there. He was looking for a cute boy, because he didn’t have children at all. Finally, a cute little boy was legally handed-over to him. Of course, there’s one condition. I asked him to take care of the boy with great sense of love and care and he did that. ……… He’s none other than you, son”
He could not bear the pain. He felt like being hit by lightening. He felt as if he is being burnt. His eyes were reddish. He could not talk at all. He could not take his eyes away from the Master.
“It’s alright. We’ll take care of him as he took care of you. Bye”, he left the place while patting on his shoulders. He was benumbed. He looked outside through the window with eyes full of tears. [email protected]
Words - Saumya Aloysius
****
Neither out nor in
Every January first
My father gingerly lifts and puts
The new orange-brown clay pot,
On the make-shift stove,
Made up of three solid clay bricks,
Interspersed with asymmetrical
Shades of orange, brown, and black
On a grassless patch in the garden
Near the wooden malpela
Reposing on the fork of the old Guava tree
Where at 9 o’clock at night
Every kemmura day,
My father lights an oil lamp
With the regularity of a clock
For a deity or deities unbeknownst to me,
Supposedly ruling our world
From the celestial kingdoms above.
Like many I know I too fear them
But without quite believing in them.
The new pot is filled somewhat below the brim,
With coconut milk,
And a fistful or two of kekulu rice.
Squatting on his haunches before it,
He bends above stoking up the fire,
And blows gently to kindle the embers
Feeding the fire with faggots
And long narrow strips torn from a hanassa
Lying scattered on the ground near him.
Milk begins to boil and spill over,
With bubbly foams and snowy froth.
The foamy, frothy, snowy, bubbly milk,
Boiling and spilling over the brim of the now sooty clay pot,
Renews the promise of a cornucopia of wealth
Without failing.
Meanwhile, between momentary delights and long-living troubles,
From this January first to the next
And from next January first to the next and so on
We both know our eternal struggle continues.
My father still keeps up the tradition
Both in hard and harder times
With equal poise.
I watch him at it from a distance
Every January first
Neither out nor in.
Words - Jayashantha Jayawardhana
****
Reason or fate?
A reason?
A reason, is there, for everything?
Everything ?
For what you feel, a reason?
From this world, to escape, for a reason?
Or take everything from you, for a reason?
Is there a reason to live?
Fate?
Something happened, without a reason?
Without?
Decide your life, fate?
For you, a choice-marker?
Whatever happens to you,
Without a reason?
Reason or Fate,
It’s happening to you,
Make your choice.
Words - Kalanavi Perera