Selfish Impulse
By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando
Koralawella on the Southern coastal
border, adjacent to Moratuwa town, is regarded mainly as a fishing village.
While Moratuwa is reputed for its traditional furniture trade, a substantial
amount of the Koralawella folk depended on the fishing trade.
Nonchi Nona was a middle-aged
woman, dark in complexion and short, around four feet tall. She earned her
living by marriage brokering. Dressed in a cloth and a long sleeve jacket,
known as a the ‘Kakuruththuwa’ often she
was seen on the roads, walking with a folded umbrella in one hand, and a small
paper shopping bag in the other, containing several copies of horoscopes of young
eligible men and women, to try and fix lifetime partners for them.
Although old traditions of arranged
marriages are seemingly diminishing with the present trend in the microchip
society, yet marriages are not made in
heaven any more, but inside computers
and ‘msn’ or ‘buddy’ chat lines etc., There is still a certain percentage of
parents who belong to the old school and believe in marriage brokers’ assistance,
like Nonchi Nona to find suitable partners for their sons or daughters.
Likewise, irrespective of their education or family background, many seem
to strongly believe in the theory of the evil eye and the evil mouth still.
Nonchi
Nona, in some quarters, was regarded as a ‘precarious’ type in that respect, as
many avoided her like the plague. Many in the Koralawella town used to think
what comes out Nonchi Nona’s mouth, appreciating any thing with good or bad
intensions, such emitting was sure to bring about bad effects of the evil eye
or mouth!
“Aiyo, that woman killed our passion fruit plant no meya!”
Asilin was relating her experience to Missilin one day.
“How can she kill your plants men? Nonsense,” Missilin retorted.
“How....? Do you want to see for
yourself......? Then show her something beautiful and see what happens next. Her
problem is she is unable to control her gab, become inquisitive and interferes
with everything all of the time. Haven’t you heard that people who have ‘foul mouths’ can ruin anything with a word
or two....? That is called the evil mouth my dear.... Evil mouth!!”
“That’s nonsense, then how can she arrange marriages and make a living
out of it? According to your theory Asilin, when she goes on fixing
marriages and describes how beautiful the proposed girl is , or how rich and
prosperous the prospective family is, then, they all should get ruined no?”
“Missilin, have you not heard about what happened to Mrs. Perera’s
daughter, little Lilamanie?”
“No!” tell me.
“When the poor girl attained age, Nonchi Nona,
who went there to help Mrs. Perera to
bathe the girl has uttered, ‘Oh! Look, you look like a Princess......! My dear
little Princess, you are so beautiful!’ The following day the girl fell
seriously ill”.
“I don’t believe a word what you saying to me
Missilin.”
That girl
Lilamanie had been suffering from nephritis for a long time and was confined to bed most
of the time when she was very young. Do you know, it was due to her illness, she
could not continue her studies? But it did not bother her parents, as they
particularly did not want her to become a working girl or a professional. She
was pretty and she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But this
must be due to some karma in her past life.”
Once Chandrani suggested to her husband Eugene
that their daughter had reached the age of marriage and it was their
responsibility to settle her down in life. Eugene was not very keen on the
idea as the doctors had advised them that there might be some health
complications following their daughter’s earlier illness.
“She will have to be very careful as there is
a murmur in her chest. If she ever gets married there might be complications
during her child birth.” Their family practitioner’s words reverberated in
Eugene’s ears all the while.
“I don’t think it is a wise idea to hurry her
into marriage Chandrani, because Dr. Keethisinghe’s statement still bugs me.
Why don’t we have a full medical check up on her before we decide on any
marriage? I am particularly worried about her constantly complaining about
being tired. A woman should not have such complaints, Christine, try to
understand what I say..”
“OK then, let’s get a full medical report
before we jump the gun, as you say”,”
agreed Chandrani. Subsequently, a comprehensive
medical check on Lilamanie bewildered Chandrani and Eugene as they found out
their daughter was suffering from very early stages of breast cancer at such a
tender age.
“I
don’t think you need to worry. A simple biopsy can rectify it. Thank God, she
is lucky that you got a full medical check up done at such an early stage,”
Dr. Keerthisinghe pacified the parents.
“How serious will the surgery be Doctor? And
does she have to go through chemotherapy etc.? I have heard that it is a very
painful process, and some even call it ‘ carpet bombing’ as it is believed to
kill all the cells and her body
resistance bring to a nil. The poor thing could lose all her hair to”, lamented
Chandrani.
“No Mrs. Perera, it is not that complicated.
We have found only a slight shadow at present in our tests, so all we need to do is to remove some nodes from her
lymphatic glands under her armpit, which have direct connections to the
affected area, and by removing those, we can nip it in the bud.”
“But Doctor, I have heard and seen some women
with swollen arms as a result of going through such surgery; I don’t want my
little girl to have an arm like an elephant’s leg.” Mrs. Perera sounded worried.
“Mrs. Perera, there is some truth in what you
say. The arm might become swollen after surgery, but it is when the surgeon
removes quite a few nodes. In your daughter’s case, Mrs. Perera, I don’t think
it would be more than one or two the most. Yes, you are correct in a way,
because if a surgeon has to remove about 30 nodes, then surely the arm will get
affected as you just said.”
With Dr. Keethisinghe’s referral Lilamanie underwent
surgery under one of the best surgeons in the country. She had no complications after that, but the
patient was referred to medical follow-ups on a monthly basis.
One day,
after a long time, Nonchi Nona, while passing Perera’s house, dropped in,
during her usual trips of match making.
Seeing Lilamanie seated in the verandah,
Nonchi Nona exclaimed,“Ah! Princess, you are a big woman no now! It’s after
such a long time that I saw you. I promise you, I will find a very good husband
for you.”
Lilamanie gave a shy smile.
“Nonchi... where have you been all these
years? Nice to see you again. Sit down.... sit down”. Mrs. Perera
addressed Nonchi Nona, coming out of her room towards the sitting area.
“Madam, how about getting our Princess a nice
gentleman? I have some copies of
horoscopes from a few affluent families. Boys are real gentlemen madam, and
they are loaded with money and are landed proprietors too” !
“Yes Nonchi.... true, true….. we can’t keep this child every
day like this with us, otherwise she
will end up as an old spinster. She also must have a life of her own no? I will
give a copy of her horoscope to you, because I have implicit faith in you that you will find a
suitable partner for my daughter. Take this Rs. 200 for your expenses. Bring us
some good news”
!
Few days later Nonchi Nona arrived again to
see Mrs. Perera.
“How… Nonchi.... any good news?”
“Yes..... and no...... Madam!”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a nice affluent family with only one child. He has
just returned from England after studying law, and is now working as a top
legal executive in a private firm. The two horoscopes match like a glove madam-
nineteen ‘porondams’ out of twenty-one.
Do you know madam, I have not come across such compatible horoscopes, so far
now that I have been in this game for some time.”
“So what’s the problem? Are they not
satisfied with what we offer and the handsome dowry? Didn’t you tell them that
she is the only child in our family, and she will inherit all our wealth and
properties, one day when we are dead and gone?”
“That’s correct madam. The boys parents are quite
willing. In fact the young man has taken a liking to Princess, the moment I
showed her photograph to them. But when I referred Princess’ horoscope to our
astrologer, who analysed the match, he said there are few ‘paapa grahayas’ in Princess’ horoscope madam! That means there will
be misfortunes in store for the couple in the coming years, if they get
married.”
“What nonsense Nonchi! Do you believe in such
old rubbish? What I believe in is one’s destiny
that brings two partners together, as husband
and wife. Haven’t you hear that as Buddhists, we believe that all these come
from our previous births. That is why some say “ he or she is my ‘soul mate’. Never
you mind, Nonchi, you do not have to listen to these ‘Gurunnanses’ bunkum, but go ahead with
the proposal and fix a date for the wedding. Otherwise this child will grow old
here and we get the blame ultimately.”
Nonchi Nona’s countenance changed with
happiness. For whatever the impending
circumstances in their horoscopes, and the young couple may have to face later,
she was sure of a good broker fee, and in this instance, a handsome one too.
“Do you
know what paapa grahayo in a woman’s horoscope means? It means it can affect
her husband very badly in many ways, and even the poor child could get affected.”
Eugene commented having heard the news.
“What Eugene! you are also still in this hanamiti yuge no men! Do you want this
child to grow old as a spinster in this house? Not in my life time, Eugene.”
“Do you not realise that she was seriously
ill once? Have some consideration for her for God’s sake Lila, ” Eugene retorted.
“Well, if you want to be hundred percent
certain, go ahead and speak to Dr. Keerthi and get a full medical feed back on
Lilamanie . I hate to see you being negative all the time, Eugene. You never
think positively in anything do you? Always negative! Negative and Negative!!!.”
“I am only talking about realities Chandrani.
One must think ahead sensibly before doing anything. Haven’t you heard of the
Sinhala saying, “Ikman kotawenawa”?
Eugene arranged to get a comprehensive medical
report on Lilamanie through a referral from Dr. Keerthisinghe. One day the doctor summoned
Mr. and Mrs. Perera to his surgery.
“Is everything all right now Doctor?” Mrs.
Perera put forward the question to Dr. Keerthisinghe.
“I am sorry to say, there is some bad news….”
“What....?”
Lilamanie sounded a worried.
“Yes, the hospital has found some cancer cells
in her spinal column too, I am afraid. Do you know what that means Chandrani?
It is quite serious my dear, and we don’t know how far it has spread so far. I
am sorry to bring such bad news, but it is my duty, as you can understand.”
“Oh my God! Doctor, we have already
arranged a partner for her already, and have to fix a date for the wedding only remains.”
Lilamanie explained.
“I don’t think it’s a wise idea Chandrani,
take my advice. It would not be fair by the future husband, unless you inform
him about the seriousness of her illness.”
“
Keerthi, you have been our family friend, more
than our family doctor, for years. I have not asked any favours from you ever,
have I? The only favour I am going to ask from you now, is not to let the cat out
of the bag to anyone, because I am
determined to give her in marriage, and I have in my mind already finalised the dates too, and I do not care what the
horoscopes or what medical reports
reveal”.
“My dear Chandrani, I cannot hide facts from
medical records, you know that very well, don’t you? It is officially unethical
for a start, but morally, I cannot agree to your idea, knowing full well that
someone is going to suffer.”
“Are you are going crazy Chandrani? Why don’t
you listen to Keerthi”, Eugene roared, breaking the silence.
“Please Keerthi, just for my sake; please
promise me that you will not utter a word about this to anyone?”
“My dear Chandrani, whether you like it or
not, as a doctor, I told you once that I cannot divulge any confidential
medical notes to a third party. That’s not the problem, but my conscience does
not allow me to advise you to go ahead with this wedding. I feel very sorry
about this poor girl. It’s not fair Chandrani. It’s not fair by the girl or the
prospective husband, to go ahead with the marriage.”
“Keerthi, all you need to do is to keep
mum about it, and no one will come to question you. Just leave the rest to me, and I will handle the
situation.”
“Well, this is my final decision, Chandrani.
My advice, as your GP and friend, is against your decision to give your
daughter in marriage, purely based on her catastrophic health condition. Please
remember that whatever decisions you take, and whatever you do, from this
moment onwards, are entirely yours. It’s up to you and your conscience alone.
So please leave me out of it, and do not make me a partner to it.”
The moment Chandrani returned home from the
surgery, she summoned Nonchi Nona and expedited the wedding of her daughter to
take place, within two weeks. It was one of the grandest weddings the Koralawella
village had seen for decades. Lilamanie looked a picture, dressed in a
white bridal sari, and her new lawyer husband proudly stood next to his new
bride during the Poruwa ceremony, and
the registration of marriage was done at home. Finally the couple left
home on their honeymoon to a five star hotel in Kalutara.
The
wedding celebrations at Perera’s house went on till dawn, while some were getting
drunk and others were dancing.
During early hours of the following morning,
Pereras received a phone call from their new son-in-law to say that Lilamanie
had taken ill during the night and had to be rushed to hospital.
Anxious
Chandrani and fuming Eugene Perera rushed to the hospital to be advised that several tests had
already done, including a MRI which
categorically indicated that cancer cells in her body had spread tremendously, and affected the lumbar region of her spinal
column causing one vertebra to collapse.
She had to leave the hospital on a wheel
chair, and it became obvious that just being married, her whole future life had to be confined to a wheel chair.
Being
an active young woman and having being confined to a wheel chair with the
feeling that she is suffering from a cancer in the spinal cord, with no more
hope for her to walk during her lifetime, made her depressed immensely. Her
husband, Luxman, despite such an unexpected shock, looked after her dedicatedly
with love and made certain that she was comfortable 24/7 by employing
additional carers round the clock.
One bright and sunny morning, before Luxman
left home for work, he went to Lilamanie, as usual, to kiss her on the forehead
and bid goodbye. On this particular morning she grabbed hold his hands, and held it tight to her chest unusually.
Luxman noticed it was strange and the grip was so hard that she wanted to say
something to him. He got closer to her and tried gently to remove the hand, but
was shocked to find out during that split second, while she grabbed and held
his hand to his heart, she had breathed
her last, bidding goodbye to him and life on this earth.
At her funeral, Dr. Keerthisinghe kept
on staring solemnly at the pyre in the cemetery where Lilamanie’s remains were burning
into ash. He became emotional and could feel as if the thick white smoke that emanated
from the burning remains of Lilamanie was going to choke him with guilt.
As
the family physician and a medical man, he felt guilty having failed to
overrule Chandrani Perera’s selfish notion, which did bring untold misery to a
young man and an innocent husband, who could not even consummate the marriage.
Sri Express -2013