Kevum Seeya
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Long time ago in a village far away, there lived a person who was known by all as ‘Kevum Seeya’. During Avurudu time every year, he would come to the village with a basket full of kevums. He distributed them to each and every house but expected nothing in return. Even when people gave him money, he never accepted it.
Although back then all houses made their own sweetmeats at home, the Avurudu table was not complete without a few of Kevum Seeya’s kevums. No one could make kevums as good as him. Kevum Seeya’s kevums were the tastiest kevums anyone had ever eaten. The children in the village loved him too. Kevum Seeya was a very kind person and he always brought a few extra kevums to give the children.
So during Avurudu time everyone in the village including the children waited impatiently for Kevum Seeya’s arrival.
But things didn’t happen in the usual way during one Avurudu season. Kevum Seeya who appeared a few days before Avurudu was unusually late this time. The whole village waited for him but he didn’t come although there were only a couple of days more to Avurudu. The children were very sad. “He always comes on time. There must be something wrong!” they spoke among themselves and decided to go in search of Kevum Seeya. Now this was not an easy thing to do, because no one knew where he lived. So the children gathered the next morning and went to the next village, passing little thickets and crossing small streams. When they arrived at the next village they asked the people if Kevum Seeya lived there. “No one knows where he lives!” said the villagers. “We too are waiting till he brings his tasty kevums. If you find him, tell him that we too are waiting for him!”
So the children went to the next village and the next. But no one had seen him and no one knew where he lived. “When you find him, please do tell him to visit our village,” is what everyone said.
The children finally decide to give-up their search. They didn’t want to go too far and they had no idea where Kevum Seeya lived. Just when they were about to turn back, they saw a beautiful meadow not too far away. It was very quiet and peaceful and at its edge was one little hut all by its own. “Let’s go in there and see,” decided the children. When they went near the hut, they saw that it was a very poor hut but it was very clean and well kept. One child peeped through an open window and shouted, “Here he is! Here is our Kevum Seeya!”
They all peeped through the window. Lying on a mat was Kevum Seeya with a swollen foot. “What happened to you Kevum Seeya? We all came
searching for you because you didn’t come to our village this time!” they all shouted. Kevum Seeya looked happy to see them but soon his mood changed. “When I went near the well I slipped and fell. Now I can’t walk with my swollen leg,” he said and sighed. “The Veda-mahaththaya gave me some medicine but it will take time to heal.
I won’t be able to bring you kevum this time,” he said very sadly. “But Seeya, are you going to be here alone during Avurudu?” a small girl asked him.
“I am always alone, for I have no one!” replied Kevum Seeya. “The only happiness I had was bringing kevum to the
village during Avurudu and the time I spent there. But this year I won’t get to do that,” he said.
“How sad! He brings us so much of happiness but he lives such a sad life!” the children whispered to each other. They bade farewell to Kevum Seeya and started their journey back home. They felt very sad to leave him alone but there wasn’t much they could do.
On Avurudu day, Kevum Seeya woke up to the sound of raban. He felt very surprised because there were no houses near-by and even the closest village was some distance away. He got up and opened the door. Kevum Seeya couldn’t believe his eyes. In the meadow there were people playing raban. There were swings tied to the tall trees and in the middle of his garden was a huge table covered with a clean white cloth. On the table were sweet-meats of all kinds. Kevums, Kokis, Athirasa, ripe yellow plantains and much more. The children came running to him, held his hand and took him near the table. People of the whole village were there. They all came forward, gave him betel leaves and worshipped him. That’s not all; there were lots of gifts for him. New clothes and lots of other useful things.
“Kevum Seeya, you brought so much of happiness to us every year during Avurudu.
This is our small gift of appreciation,”the villagers told him.
“That’s not all, we decided to build you a small house in the village with the assistance of everyone in the village,” the head of the village told him. “You don’t have to be alone anymore Kevum Seeya, we will all look after you,” the children told him.
Kevum Seeya was so happy that he was speechless. He could feel the happiness spreading across his little hut and the beautiful meadow. “
When you do good to others, it always finds its way back to you, this is something you children should always remember,” the village-head told the children. Kevum Seeya felt so happy after a very long time. He thanked everyone and gathered his hands together and wished everyone a very
Happy New Year!