Translated into English by Saravanan Karmegam
***
Chapter 34: Ayesha
Thangaiya’s bachelor residence in
Nagapattinam Straat. Afternoon. The house owner had gone to office. Pandian was sitting on a chair stretching out his legs on a table. He was holding a four days old Singaporean newspaper
in hands. The buzz of street came in through the windows. A mixed sound of Javanese
Malay and Sumathra Tamil came over, fell into his ears.
He could sense a chariot arriving
in at the entrance and a lady getting off. The fragrance of jasmine perfume was
almost oppressive. ‘Who’s that? Is that she?’
The door was knocked.
“Please come in”
With her eyes radiating
compassion, Ayesha entered pushing the door. She was wearing violet batik,
Green silk kemeja and yellow georgette.
“Pandeen…Pandeen”
Her voice got him goosebumps. He
took his legs off reflexively at once, rose from the chair.
“It is ok…it’s ok…please be
seated”
His heart grew restless. ‘Why?...why?’
he sat down.
She kissed him gently on his
forehead, ostensibly not touching it, with her lips that closely resembled red
berries as she groped her hands across his cheeks. There was no fire in it,
rather it gave him a feeling of cold spring water.
In flick of a second, the fire
that had engulfed his body a while ago got doused.
“My brother! My brother!”
She kissed him again on his
forehead- Cold water, spring water, and snowy drops.
“Ayesha”
“Pandeen, it’s been almost two
years since I got married. Now I am your sister. I guess you are happy that I
got married”- she asked him as she was holding the back of his head with her
left hand and adjusting his hair with her right hand.
“Yes…I am very happy. You are my
sister. Who’s your husband?”
“He is a good man” she sat down
on a chair near.
“Why did you come here without
going back home…The war is over. Right?”
“Just to meet you”
“Pandeen, get a ship without
making further delay. If you don’t have money, I’ll give you”
“I have a lot of money. Why are
you so interested in getting rid of me?”
“You are not the same Pandeen you
used to be. Your eyes emit fire. Your words are intimidating” – she stroked his
forehead with her palm. “Don’t get involved with those freedom fighters. Hell
with those men and Dutch”
“Ayesha, you sound informative!
Freedom fighters …relationship with them…doesn’t it sound funny?”
“Your eyes emit fire. Yours words
get me intimidated”
“It is alright. Your words sound so poetic. I
hope you keep alright”
“I don’t have any problems. I
live a fulfilling life. My husband is at home. I have told him before coming
here that I am going to meet you. Chariot is waiting outside”
“How did you know that I am here?”
“My husband got the information
from Chetti Street. Please listen to my words. Get the ship as soon as
possible. Don’t get involved with those freedom fighters”
“Thank you, Ayesha”
“May I take leave now?” She went
near to him and placed a strong kiss on his forehead. “Please don’t forget what
I said” she repeated again.
“Sure”
“Slamat thingal”
“Slamat bale”
The fragrance from Ayesha grew
thin as she left him and disappeared finally. The creaking sound of chariot pacing
on the road was heard.
***
It was the time of sunset.
Pandian was sitting, leaning back against the rear seat of a chariot pacing
fast towards east. On both sides of the road, were found many farm houses. Beyond
the curtained windows, was seen a dim, prorated light. A mild voice of radio was
following from behind. The last batch of Dutch and Eurasians was returning to
their home. On the right, the diversion led to Polish Way. Semi spherical,
slippery towered Dovros Bungalow built in green marble was standing on a
corner. Ahead of it, was there American consulate, Dermulan Restaurant, queues
of jeeps, cars and a church in the opposite. Tall and well-built frames of
military officers were standing on an open podium lying in front of the restaurant,
under the flood of blue neon light with beer bottles in hands, sweat in
forehead, and splendid Dutch language dancing in their tongues. The radio was
yelling in high pitch: “This is Netherland’s Indish Radio station at Pattaviya”.The
chariot went past railway track. At Hugga Straat the movement of men and
vehicular traffic were thicker.
Pandian closed his eyes. ‘The
Dutch who had gone away are now coming back. The Japanese who were once ruling
here had gone away. They might return one day. These men might go back one day.
How many empires had swayed their reign on this land? How many different races
had walked upon this land with the pride of triumph? Tamils, Portuguese,
British, Dutch, Japanese and again Dutch! Will this list end with them? Such an
old city it is! How long more this city would stand such men? Empires appear
and then disappear. Metropolis appear and disappear. How many empires! How many
cities! Pharaoh’s Membis, Sumerian’s Ur, Iranian’s Susa, Pandian kings’ Korkai,
The Great Chola’s Kaveripattinam, Chera Kings’ Musiri- the city on the shores
of roaring sea, much famed Malaiyur Thirupathi of King Shailendra. Is it the
fame that commands the enslavement of other races? Or is there any other reason
for it? One can find innumerable reasons according to one’s whims and
convenience. What happened to those men who attained fame by establishing
empires? King Asherbanibal who built a palace for himself with the stones he
made other kings to carry on their heads died of self-immolation. The great
king Nebugat Nezzar became mad and walked on four legs like animals and died
chomping on grass. Alexander the Great fell unconscious in one liquor revelry
he arranged in Babylon while returning as king of kings and died of prolonged
illness after that. Julius Caesar died after he was stabbed by his close
friend. Napoleon met with his end in a small island where he was imprisoned.
What is price of fame? What is the use of fame? What is the end of fame?’
**
The erstwhile colonel of
Indonesian Republic Army, Kashim who had come to Medan city as a pepper
merchant met the erstwhile clerk in Achin Company, Pandian in the market and
had a long talk with him. Pandian arranged a building in Market Street and
started a business under the banner “Malasia-Indonesia Corporation”. He could
find a residence in Jalan Dorian.
Dutch troops kept streaming in,
their number increasing. British- Indian army troops were leaving the city.
Those who were waiting for ships to board hoped to return to their homes with
some handsome amount they could manage earning. The rifles lying unaccounted and
boxes of ammunition in the armouries were shifted to some other place that
night itself. Cash flowed from one hand to another.
As Pandian suggested, the first
division of North Sumathra Guerilla force was given jungle warfare training in
Dumas forest area. Pandian made visits to Dumas forest whenever he
found it feasible. Just beyond the city limits, was there the government established
by the Forces of Freedom. He had to be extra vigilant while crossing the border. That was it.
Chapter
34: “Ayesha” ended.
