Mid-2010, on a certain Monday... around 3:30 in the morning...
"Sweetie, I have to leave you, darling... It's an unavoidable meeting today. I'll be back soon, okay?"
The child, asleep in the crib, smiled sleepily and waved at her.
Dressed in a Western-style office outfit, she kissed the child's forehead and quietly left the room.
"Honey, I'm leaving... If anything happens, give me a call... You're home today anyway... Take care of Ayan, okay?"
Saying this, she got into the back of the modern car sent by the office, which was parked outside.
As the car gradually sped away and disappeared from sight, Mohan, the child's father, and her husband, stood watching and waving, holding the child.
..................
2023 - Present
That was the last time I saw my mother. I have only a faint, dreamlike memory of her...
She had a beautiful smile. It was the most beautiful smile I've ever seen...
My father told me that my mother had left this world... But my heart tells me that she is still somewhere, remembering me and my father...
I was only about 4 years old when she left... Since then, my father has been everything to me...
Yes, only my father... Because she married my father, his parents never accepted them. So my father packed everything and, taking my mother, left everyone behind. Now we don't know where they are... My father once went to see my grandparents' house. But both my grandmother and grandfather were gone... My father's family had sold their house and left the village...
My father met my mother when he went to a children's home for a donation in his youth. He says that he saw my mother, got to know her, and then they became friends... When he says that, my father's face is so happy... it reminds me of a smiling version of Michelangelo's David...
Somehow, my father's and my life went on... My father worked for a Canadian company... He worked for them here from his laptop. Sometimes he would work late into the night... At that time, I was the one who cooked food for him. Even so, my father never let me lack anything. He was there for me in everything. Even at school parents' meetings, sports meets, price-giving ceremonies, or anything else, he was there to support me.
I wasn't a very talented child, but I wasn't bad either... A middle-of-the-pack player on the team...
So I was able to get selected for the biology stream* in school...
My two best friends were Dhanuwa and Thariya... Dhanuwa's real name is Dhanindu, and the other one is Tharinda...
There were small crushes and love interests in my mind at that time, but I didn't have time to pursue them later. My father didn't mind our love interests anyway. He fell in love with my mother when he was in school...
I didn't have any great expectations for the A/L exams*. But I was able to pass... Two S's and one C...
Since I couldn't go to university, I wanted to get a job so as not to be a burden to my father. But who would give a job without experience?
After making a CV, I first applied for bank training*. Since that wasn't certain, I also applied for pharmacy jobs. It's worth a shot, I guess... These days, I'm focused on applying for courses and looking for a job....
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TRINGGGG TRINGGGG TRINGGG...
The mobile phone on the table rang incessantly.
"What donkey is calling this early in the morning?" I thought, grabbing the phone to check the time. 5:20 a.m. Four missed calls from Dhanuwa.
The phone rang again.
"Hello? Why are you bothering me so early?"
(Sorry, man. Were you asleep? I'm calling because it's urgent. Thariya's grandmother passed away. I found out just now and wanted to let you know. I'm about to head over there. Are you coming?)
Dhanuwa spoke so quickly that I barely had time to process what had happened.
"What? Thariya's who? Where is he now?"
(Thariya's grandmother, man. He went to his grandmother's village last month. She was sick, admitted to the hospital, and then brought home about a week ago. She passed away around 3 this morning. I don't have all the details, man. We're about to leave. There's room in the car if you want to come.)
"......... o_O"
"Okay, hold on. I'll ask my father."
.........................................
I cut the line and went to my father's room, wearing a partially worn sarong*. He was already up and working on his office stuff.
I needed his permission, so I embellished the story a bit.
All my father said was, "Go and come back safely," almost as if he'd been expecting it.
I wasn't sure what he knew – whether it was my little white lie or the news about Thariya's grandmother.
"Hey, man, pick me up. I'm ready. My father gave me permission."
(Okay, brother, we're on the way.)
"Who's going from your place?"
(All three of us – Mom, Dad, and me. My sister and her husband are working.)
"Alright, drive carefully and hurry. I'll wait by the road." I cut the line and got ready to leave.
I don't need many clothes for a trip. Just a couple of simple changes of clothes will do.
I suddenly remembered my bracelet*. My father gave it to me for my 17th birthday this year. It was my mother's, the only thing I had left of her, the mother I had no photos of. It had an unusual design and wasn't gold, but it was incredibly strong. Once, I slipped while cleaning the roof. It got caught on a rafter, and I hung on to it for dear life until my father came to rescue me. It's like my lucky charm now. I take it everywhere.
Dhanuwa and the others arrived about ten minutes later. I got in the car and put my bag in the back. Dhanuwa and I sat in the back; his parents were in the front.
Dhanindu's mother, Priyani Aunty, sometimes seems to love me more than him. She's always praising Dhanuwa's good qualities to me (sarcastically, of course, often scolding him in front of me).
"Son, you haven't eaten yet, have you? If you're sleepy, you can take a nap. We'll stop somewhere to eat on the way."
"No, Aunty, I'm not hungry. Anyway, these days I don't wake up until after 9. There's not much to do."
"Yes, yes, our boy is the same. It's so hard to even wake him up. He's thinking of doing his A/Ls again, you know. Don't you like to try again?" she asked, directing the last part to Dhanuwa.
"I can't, Aunty. These results are enough for me. And I can't trouble my father anymore. I'm thinking of doing a course now."
"Hmm, it's up to you, son. Your father is doing well, isn't he?" she asked with a slight hint of reproach as if urging me to reconsider.
"Oh, yes, Aunty, he's the same as always," I said with a smile, pretending not to notice.
Dhanuwa was already yawning, hugging a pillow. Even though the soft music playing in the car was refreshing, I couldn't help but yawn, probably because I was thinking about the 300km journey ahead.
Author's Note:
The Biology Stream: In Sri Lanka, the Advanced Level (A/L) exams are the equivalent of final high school exams. Students choose a stream of study, and the Biology stream focuses on science subjects like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. It's a common path for students hoping to enter fields like medicine, dentistry, or other science-related professions. Getting into the Biology stream is often competitive, as there are limited spots available.
The A/L Exams: The Advanced Level exams are crucial because they determine a student's eligibility for university admission. The results of these exams are the primary factor universities consider when accepting students. Students typically take the A/L exams after completing their secondary education (roughly equivalent to 12th grade). The grading system uses letter grades, with S being a passing grade.
Bank training: Kind a like an Internship program.
Sarong: A sarong is a garment worn by men and women in many parts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. It's essentially a large piece of fabric that is wrapped around the waist and sometimes the upper body. Sarongs come in various designs, colors, and materials. The one the father was wearing was likely a simple cotton sarong, commonly worn at home.
Bracelet: The bracelet is a significant object for the narrator. It serves as a tangible connection to his deceased mother and represents a moment of vulnerability and rescue in his life. The fact that it's not gold but "incredibly strong" could symbolize the strength of his bond with his father and the resilience he has developed despite the challenges he has faced.