Wesak '10

Wesak in Colombo

You made me delirious.

So here I am reading what you surprised me with. Would you even know that I carry the book with a fierce grip, almost afraid that it would tear by itself or get lost on its own free will.

You wouldn't know that I miss your smile which pops into my head like flashing light when I least expect it.

Or the telephone conversations. Or even the way I incessantly blush to myself when reading your sweet and brutally honest text messages.

Did you get over me so fast? Or maybe you didn't.

Did you forget everything so quickly? Did you forget the times we spent together where we actually lost track of time?

I wouldn't know.

So do tell me.

Now you know why I had to let you go.

You know you've heard it..

People go 'Life is too short. You've got to live it.' I've heard that phrase on countless occasions and have rolled my eyes at its cliche-ness. But that's probably when I've been in moods of my own and not actually appreciated life despite its crazy ups, downs and rainbows. But since of late, I've realized that life itself is magic on its own. It doesn't always have to be the pair of designer shoes you have or what 5-star restaurant you dined at last week. Well, it could be those too but I've come to understand that joy in life comes at no cost. No cost whatsoever.

Finding pleasure to me comes with rainy days and spontaneous moments. Sri Lanka for the past two weeks or so has been plagued with thundershowers and such. I haven't complained a bit. Not even once. People complain when the weather is too hot and then they complain when the sun doesn't come out cos their washed clothes don't seem to be drying up. Trust me, I've heard that line tons of times. The truly great moments in life are the unplanned ones and maybe sometimes even the properly planned occasions.

I remember the time when it was nearing the end of February this year and a bunch of my friends just planned to visit Galle the next week. Not much planning went into the whole trip. We just knew we were going on Saturday afternoon and we were content with that idea. Thursday, someone decides we're going by bus and not by car/hired van. Even more excitement there. Come Friday night and everyone's in jitters with excitement. Unable to fall asleep, most of them are online just as I am coupled with the last minute packing. Saturday morning comes along and I find myself doing some more last minute packing. Throwing in my swimsuit into my trusty backpack and we're off to Fort to catch a bus to Galle.

We find a bus to suit our liking and get on it making as much noise as we want much to the annoyance of fellow passengers but that never does seem to get to us. Galle promised us everything we wanted. Unawatuna, the Fort and sleepless nights.

arrival in Galle. picture courtesy of Nandun Amaratunga

So there you go. One of the best times in my life this year. Galle 2010. A trip we wish which never had to end.

'Live for yourself - not for others, alive or dead.' -- excerpted from this little book at home.

100 days

Sandhya Eknaligoda

It is 1:09pm and I am standing in the sweltering Colombo heat. Positioned in front of the Fort Railway Station for a protest held to mark 100 days since the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, several thoughts run through my mind. I watch Eknaligoda's wife Sandhya at the fore of the protest holding a placard and standing next to her two sons who are also holding a placard. A few minutes later and Sandhya speaks to journalists about her husband's disappearance. She quietly says that her children have no father and she has no husband. I note that she looks tired and worn out. The stress must be getting to her. It is heart-wrenching to watch her and her sons like this. They must feel hopeless. Eknaligoda's eldest son speaks to journalists after his mother finishes and he has a blank look on his face. Imagine what it must feel like to suddenly not have your father next to you? I left the protest feeling very very sad. Sure, Eknaligoda went missing 100 days ago but it is only when you see his family so distraught, you understand their plight. He was the sole breadwinner of his family. It must feel awful to not have your husband or father anymore.