Translated into English by Saravanan Karmegam
***
Chapter 33: Medan
Cryon reached Belawan harbour on
Tuesday morning. Ships of all kind were found everywhere- ships carrying
troops, cargo ships, oil tankers and warships. The taxi strode fast on Medan
highway. The Padang driver kept on throwing abuses on white men as he drove the
car through Labuwan, Bulu Brayan, Kulukoor, Thana Labang, Harrison Cross field,
and Mosky Straat.
People gathered in Chetti Street
and greeted Pandian. The contractor had gone to nearby town. ‘What happened to
Rathnam? He joined Indian National Army and his whereabouts are unknown. Where is
Kalimuthu, army number 13?’ He had chosen a different path. He left the shop
and married a local woman. He had a tough time to lead his life. He had a shop
selling greens in Debing Ding.
“Where is Aavanna? He is here.
Isn’t he?”
“He had been mentally upset,
seems to have lost his mind. He behaves like a mad. He had gone to Siyandar and
staying with his brother in law”
“Why? What happened suddenly?”
“He got a letter from his native
town. His youngest daughter Amirtham died of small pox. From that day, he seems to have lost his senses and has been sitting always looking down. He never
talks to anyone. It pains to see him in that condition.”
“Pitiable soul! He loved his
daughter very much”
“What can we do about it? It is
pity anyway but everything happens according to one’s destiny. Right? Nothing is
in our hand. It is just a void of luck and we must leave it to destiny. Is there any use if we keep lamenting about what had already left. Now see…my sister’s
son- the only heir to a property worth twenty lakh rupees. He was studying B.A
in Trichy. I got a letter carrying a message that his life had been taken away
by the god of death due to fever that didn’t even last for three days. So everything
happens as per the scheme of destiny. We can’t do anything about it”
***Chapter
33 Medan ended***
