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Paduma's
World By Nihal de Silva
‘Even
a minor event in the life of a child is an event in that child's
world … and thus a world event’.
Adopting Somay
Paduma knows that Sunil will be waiting for him in the school
compound. He had managed to get away after school on the previous
day but there will be no escape today.
The
other children are already referring to Sunil as Patholay. They
jeer at him but of course, only from a safe distance. Sunil will
be insane with fury, waiting for revenge.
Paduma
has thought about staying home, pretending to be ill. But then his
mother might drag him to the veda mahattaya, the village physician,
whose potions taste worse than cow urine. In any case, that will
only postpone the meeting with Sunil by one day.
Paduma
hides outside the school compound till he hears the bell, then dashes
breathlessly into class just as Miss Rupa is marking the register.
She frowns but doesn't say anything. Patholay, seated at the back,
is glaring at him. Paduma sees his lips move and knows that dire
threats are being muttered.
He
is safe till the bell rings for the interval. What will happen then?
The morning session is almost over. Paduma desperately counts his
options. He thinks about appealing to Miss Rupa but that will be
shameful. Only cowards run to the teacher for help. Besides, after
yesterday, it isn't likely Miss Rupa will be inclined to help him.
The other option is to dash out of class as the bell rings, but
that means ignoring the teacher's instructions. What will the punishment
be for that offence?
Over
the half-wall that separates the class from the compound, Paduma
sees a woman pushing a cart of some sort. When she comes through
the door of the classroom he realises that it is a tricycle used
by cripples. Sitting in it is the tiny figure of a boy with a shrivelled
leg.
Paduma
recognises Podihamy and her son Somaratne. The boys call him Kora
Somay because he cannot walk but drags himself around his home and
garden. Paduma had once seen a man on a bicycle run over a small
puppy, breaking its back. The little animal had dragged its broken
and lifeless hind section along the road as it crawled towards its
mother.
Kora
Somay is like that.
The small boys of the village make fun of him. If they see him in
the garden when they go by they will not miss a chance to laugh
at him, to call out insults. If Podihamy were not around they'd
even throw a stone or two.
Kora
Somay has never been to school because Podihamy is a widow and there
is no one to carry him to school and back. But Paduma's mother has
told him that Somay is very clever and that the veda is teaching
him at home.
What's
the good of being clever if you have to crawl like an injured animal?
The bell rings just as Podihamy struggles to push the clumsy cart
through the door. That cart seems familiar and Paduma wonders where
he has seen it before. He remembers then; Carolis aiya, who had
lost his legs in a motor accident, had got the tricycle from some
charity. Carolis died two weeks ago when he had dragged himself
to the wäwa for a bath. Being dead drunk he had drowned in
two feet of water. His wife must have given the tricycle to Podihamy.
Miss
Rupa has a frown on her face. She walks briskly to the door, ignores
Podihamy and her son, and leaves the class. Distracted, Paduma misses
his chance to escape. As the other children rush out of the class
he feels the grasp of powerful fingers round his neck.
Caught.
He knows he is about to be pounded.
The other children also know what is about to happen. Mahi Bada
looks at him with sorrow but there is nothing he can do. They all
troop out of the class, heading for the playground. Podihamy also
steps out of the room, pulling a small bundle of betel leaves from
her waist.
They
are alone and Sunil, standing behind him, still holds him by the
neck.
“Umba mata namak dunna neydha?” Sunil whispers in Paduma's
ear. “Mama umbata honda thäggak dennang.”
You made up a nickname for me didn't you? Now I will give you a
good present.
A
sharp blow across his ear makes Paduma's head ring. He yelps in
pain knowing this is only the beginning. How long will Sunil keep
it up?
A voice cuts through the classroom.
“What
are you doing?”
Paduma looks up in surprise. He has forgotten that the tricycle
is still standing near the door with a small, bent figure sitting
in it.
“I am punishing a boy,” Sunil says roughly. “What
is it to you? You are not even a student here.”
“You
can't beat smaller children,” Somaratne answers quietly. “Only
cowards do that.”
“I am the monitor,” Sunil shoots back. “I can
do anything I like. Miss Rupa has put me in charge.”
“You can't beat other children,” Somaratne repeats.
“If you don't stop, I'll tell the principal.”
Sunil
releases Paduma and advances threateningly on the boy in the tricycle.
“You are like a worm. You can't even stand up,” he says
roughly. “How dare you interfere with me?”
“I
am only saying it is wrong to hit other children,” Somay answers
mildly.
“I feel like taking you out of that and dashing you on the
ground,” Sunil says furiously, towering over the tiny figure.
Paduma thinks he might actually harm the boy.
“His
mother is just outside,” Paduma calls out.
Sunil is still shaking with fury but looks uncertain for the first
time. He stares at Paduma for a moment and then stalks out of the
classroom.
The bell rings for classes to resume.
Miss
Rupa walks into the class still appearing to be in a bad mood. Podihamy
comes in diffidently and speaks to her in a low voice.
Pleading!
Paduma hears some of her words.
“Somaratne … attend school … tricycle.”
Miss
Rupa shakes her head.
“He has not attended school at all. How can he come straight
into grade five?” she asks. “It is impossible.”
“But Somaratne has taken the lessons at home,” Podihamy
says nervously.
“I
don't believe it. How could he have kept pace with schoolwork?”
Miss Rupa asks the woman impatiently. “You don't understand
how many subjects we teach in school, how big the syllabus is.”
Podihamy
has no answer.
“What is the use of bringing him to school?” Miss Rupa
goes on cruelly. “Look at him. He will never be able to do
a job. He should be put into a home.”
Podihamy's shoulders seem to slump in defeat.
An
impulse to annoy the teacher makes Paduma raise his hand.
“Yes?” Miss Rupa asks unpleasantly. “What do you
want?”
“Miss, my mother told me that Somay is very clever,”
Paduma said. “She said that the veda mahatthaya had taken
his lessons and he knows more than all of us.”
There
is a distinct murmur of support from the other children.
Podihamy says: “Somaratne wants to study. He can lead a normal
life if he is given a chance.”
Miss Rupa seems slightly taken aback and is getting annoyed.
“But
… how will he sit in class? He can't sit at a desk.”
“We can move a desk and put the tricycle in,” Paduma
goes on recklessly, pleased that he has got under Miss Rupa's skin.
“I'll do that every morning and put the table back after school.”
Miss Rupa's face is like thunder. She stares at Paduma angrily for
a minute but then shrugs her shoulders.
“All
right,” she says grudgingly. “I'll try it out for a
week. You can shift the table now.”
Paduma feels a glow spreading through him. The day has been, so
far, filled with glory. He has escaped a thumping in the hands of
Patholay, thanks to the courage of Somay. He has now won a public
battle of wills with Miss Rupa. Podihamy looks at him with real
gratitude before she leaves the class and the eyes of some of the
children seem to be filled with admiration.
Even
Saro, one of his bitter enemies, is looking at him with an expression
of puzzled respect.
But one problem still remains.
Patholay has spoken to Miss Rupa and taken a desk near the door.
He will be waiting to catch Paduma when the bell rings. When Sunil
does catch him, Paduma knows that he is in for a severe thrashing.
How is he to avoid that?
When
school is over Paduma sees Podihamy struggling to get the clumsy
cart through the door. In a flash he sees a way out.
He rushes over to help Podihamy. Once they get the cart into the
compound Podihamy smiles her thanks and prepares to leave.
Paduma says:
“You don't worry. I will push the cart.”
Mahi
Bada and Bothalay realise what Paduma is up to and join him immediately.
“We will also help, nända,” Mahi Bada says. “Don't
worry about Somay.”
Somay
leaves the compound at the head of a procession. They pass a furious
Sunil near the school gate.
“Amma adha kämata pathola hadalada danney nähä,”
Paduma says loudly. “Mama pathola kanna hari asai.”
I wonder if mother has cooked pathola today. I love to eat pathola.
“Mata
nang pathola peynna bähä,” Bothalay says. “Harima
gandai.”
I hate pathola. It stinks.
“Pathola honda leddunta vitharai,” Mahi Bada adds.
Pathola
is only fit for sick people.
Sunil's face is black and a blob of spittle has dripped on to his
chin. His fists are clenched tight. For a moment Paduma wonders
if they have gone too far. Sunil seems about to pounce on them but
controls himself with an effort as they pass by. When Paduma looks
back he sees the monitor following them.
Paduma
had wanted to leave Podihamy at the school gate but now that plan
has to be changed. By himself he knows he can outrun Patholay easily
but Mahi Bada is not built for running. He's sure to be caught and
Patholay will give it to him properly.
Paduma
decides to push the tricycle all the way to Somay's home.
One wheel bumps on a rock and the cart tilts to a side. Somay, in
a seat built for a much bigger person, is flung sharply to one side
and might have toppled over the armrest. Paduma grabs at him by
sheer instinct and is lucky enough to grasp the collar of his shirt.
Somay turns and smiles gratefully when he settles back in the seat.
“I'm
so happy that Somaratne has found some good friends like you,”
Podihamy says. “He has never had friends. Not one in all his
life.”
Friends? What friends? We are not friends with Kora Somay.
Paduma looks at the woman and finds her wiping her eyes on the sleeve
of her blouse.
He
looks at Mahi Bada with a puzzled frown, jerking his head questioningly.
Mahi shrugs his shoulders and turns his hands up.
He doesn't have a clue. Paduma puts it out of his mind; he just
wants to enjoy the moment. He has got away from Patholay one more
time.
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