The newest Avurudu Kumaraya
View(s):By Shireen Senadhira
There we were at Knuckles range of hills beyond Kandy and Matale. How we nearly missed our trip which my brother and I were planning for many months. We live abroad and were coming for the Easter vacation to Colombo to spend Avurudu as well, here. But when we got to Colombo, what happened? Aunty Shala was due to have a baby and what a fuss people made of it.
Last month, my friend Algie in school, his real name is Algernon, had a little baby sister and now he has two sisters. He told me that his mom went to hospital for three days and came back with a little baby. An aunt came to look after the family for a week. No fuss and no bother!
Anyway, we were at Knuckles and it was the evening of the second day. It was only because Uncle Percy took pity on us and said he would accompany us on the trip. Thanks to Uncle Percy we came on this trip, as the others refused to come with us as they were dancing attendance on Aunty Shala. We’d already done our first hike on the day we arrived and discovered a rock pool where we plunged in and bathed in cold water.
Today, after our long trek and climb, we’re examining our legs for leeches after a welcome bath. We went visiting Meemure an old, old town in these hills where people have old fashioned names like Ran Ethana, Heen Menika and Bisohamy.
We went through the village and climbed Lakegala, which is a high, coneshaped mountain towering over this picturesque rural
village. We saw some beautiful wild orchids and a shadow of a fishing cat that just disappeared and we thought it was a mirage. But all three of us, that is, Uncle Percy, Robin my brother and I, couldn’t have imagined the same yellow shadow.
We were staying at Dumbanagala Chalet and the view over the gap from the balcony was tremendous. There were eagles gliding below us and when the mists came up and slowly covered the green, green trees in the surrounding forests, it was like living in some misty and mysterious place. As we were discussing what happened during our hike, we got a message that Aunt Shala had entered
hospital and for us to return to Colombo.
I really got mad, thinking about this new baby to come but we had to pack our things. Next morning, we left the chalet at 4 a.m., and had an early breakfast in Kandy and headed to Colombo. The baby was born even before we started our return trip and Uncle Percy went off to the hospital immediately. He told both of us that we could go to see the baby in the evening. I wanted to retort that I didn’t want to see this baby but luckily didn’t do so.
I was still smarting when I thought of how our lovely holiday was cut short. What fun it was taking salt and a piece of sunlight soap to put on our legs when the leeches attached themselves and then to see them drop off. How we came across a rock pool on top of a hill
hidden by the shrubs around it. How the pool lay with its waters winking and blinking in the sun. Also, how we spotted a mongoose that ran across the paddy fields of the villagers.
What did the mongoose do? He was scurrying off somewhere and when he reached the bund of a far-off paddy field, he stopped, turned and watched us, as if to say, ‘Who are you strangers in my territory?’ He watched us as long as we watched him and then he ran down the bund not to be seen anymore. Then, I found a piece of pink quartz like stone about the size of my palm and had to wash it in a nearby little spout of water.
The household in Colombo was getting ready for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year which was in a few days’ time. The house was being spring cleaned and what a bustle in the kitchen area where the sweetmeats were being made. I did like to taste them. Then, it was time for us to dress and go to the hospital. Though I was curious to see a new born baby, I wasn’t too pleased as he had spoiled our entire holiday trip. Uncle Percy, as always to the rescue, said that he would take us both again to Knuckles range.
We went marching down the corridors and into the room where Aunty Shala was in bed. There were my parents seated on an extra bed and Uncle Priyan standing near Aunty Shala, another aunt and uncle. What a crowd. We said hello to Aunty Shala who smiled and
greeted us from bed. “Where’s the baby,” I asked Aunty Shala.
She showed the bassinet and told us to go near it. Wow! There was a day old baby turned on a side and sleeping. As I looked, he squirmed and stretched. “Is he already doing his exercises,” I wondered in amazement. Then, baby squirmed and stretched again. He opened his eyes and looked at me.
My father spoke to me. “What have you to say Rehan?” I looked towards my father and looked again at the baby. He squirmed and opened his eyes once again and looked at me. I could only gasp and say, “Priyan Maama has a Chooty Baba!”Everyone chuckled, and when I looked at them what did I see? There was the evening sun coming through the window, bathing the room and the people with a
golden light.
I saw Aunty Shala smiling happily. Priyan Maama did look proud. The whole picture seemed to say that something special was happening in that room. Yes, it was because of the new baby. I looked at the baby again and knew that our Avurudu Kumaraya had arrived. Then, I knew that I loved him, and thought of all the things I could teach him later. After all, he was my newest and littlest cousin.
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