Recuperating

Recuperating

“Melancholy”, was the word that Maryam always used when describing her life nowadays. Though she was an independent, accomplished lawyer, life never showed her any pleasantries after the demise of her parents. She too being the only daughter of migrant parents lost interest in her roots.

Her life was a set of routine from home to work to home again. Though a lawyer, Maryam never found it easy to express her own feelings. Thus after her parents now she had no one to completely understand her. Maryam at times had felt that she was meant to live her life alone and end up with Alzheimer’s in a nursing home at the last dregs of her life. She wasn’t happy with the flash forward, nor was she a reserved person. It was just that friendship had never been a constant thing in her life. Nor had she met anyone to fit in as her cup of tea in the big Melbourne city.

Becoming a lawyer had always been her passion. Thus she never regretted the choice of her occupation. Yet sometimes it gets way too much for her. Also working in Minter Ellison had given her a broad insight of the world. She had met many individuals, dealt with many cases and seen many happy, sad, angry and disappointed faces. As she often saw the emotional side of her client whenever they came to her, she knew how important emotional intelligence was in her career.

At times she even felt that making a family is an utter nuisance. For, however much effort a couple put into making one, they somehow end up in her office. Yet, although the census of the divorcees was affirmative to her view, she always had a ray of light that directed her otherwise. It was from the reflection of the life of her parents which brought a smile to her face every time she thought of it.

Mr. and Mrs. Anwer were migrants from Sri Lanka long before she was born. She had never visited Sri Lanka. Nor was she interested in it. Though they never visit, her parents spoke of Sri Lanka with a sense of pride she never understood. How they could admire a small developing island when then they were well off being doctors in a sophisticated well developed city, was beyond her comprehension.

Maryam’s had been moving thus without much happenings till one Wednesday on the fifth of February. Suddenly her boss called her to his cabin and handed the project of Mr. and Mrs. Silva from Sri Lanka. The case had been regarding their re-location interstate. Since John thought that the client would feel comfortable when they have an adviser from their own nation, he gave her the project. She knew that any professional could provide advice to the couple regardless of the connection to their nation. Yet she wasn’t in a mood to argue and since the client's place was quite close by, Maryam didn’t mind taking the project.

The Silvas were really amiable couple in their mid-fifties. They too spoke a great deal about their motherland. They really were keen on giving Maryam an interest to visit it. She found them to be a couple still in love and more than anything they reminded her of her parents. “It was very nice meeting you dear. Thank you for the valuable advice”, said Mrs. Silva. Mr. Silva who had been observing the interchanged remarked with a smile, “I hope you will find Sri Lanka to be fascinating.”

The meeting went well and since it was past seven I went home, ran the water in my bath, made some hot chocolate and enjoyed the bath. It was still warm outside but I always enjoy a hot beverage in my bath. The evening kept on playing in my mind and I admitted that my unconscious mind was telling me to take a break from the job I had been continuously doing for two years.

The bath refreshed me and my mind. For the first time I went to bed with a plan in my head and a smile on my face. The morning was bright. Not a surprise in a summer day. Yet the birds around, the slight breeze and the bustle around cheered me in a new way that I’d never felt before. In the firm, John had readily agreed to me taking a ten days’ vacation considering the fact that I had never taken any holidays in the last two years. Thus, I booked a room in the Galle Face Hotel. The flight to Colombo was an enjoyable one since I had not travelled in a very long period. 

The airport was a very nice and friendly place and strangely I did not feel like an outsider. When I reached the hotel, I was dead tried from the long journey. The hotel was friendly and luxurious enough to put me to a deep slumber till the evening. I had my stay all planned out. Three days in Colombo to recreate the memories of my parents. Then move on to Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnrauwa, Batticaloa and then back to the airport. 

I made some tea and enjoyed the view of the beautiful city along with the delicious tea that had an awesome aroma and a pleasant flavor even without sugar.

The room was well equipped with a wonderful overview of the magnificent Galle Face. Since the ambience was very warm and welcoming I decided to take a stroll along the Galle Face that seemed to be calling me with open arms.

Just when Maryam stepped out of the hotel, a figure taller than her passed her in a fluid movement. She noticed that it was a guy going for a jog in the beach. She was observing the beach from the entrance of the hotel and saw that the jogger’s strides were longer than hers and thus the shorts and hoodie was out of her sight quite soon. The salty air hit Maryam’s face and for the first time in two years Maryam closed her eyes and felt a smile creep up her lips when she merged with her surroundings. Walking along she felt a peace even the State of Victoria library failed to give her.

The beach was simply amazing with peculiar street vendors selling food that I had not seen in Australia. I was fascinated by a round stuff with pawn arranged in a row. The cart wasn’t very hygienic. Yet which street vendor is? On asking about it from the vendor I got a very interesting stare as an answer. I understood that he didn’t comprehend my words. So I tried showing signals. Yet figuring the prices in the language he spoke seemed hopeless. Just when I was about to leave the jogger joined me.

The jogger said something and the vendor at once proceeded with the customer who would really buy something than just show awkward signals. Embarrassingly just when the hooded man near me turned towards me and smiled, I came to my senses and realized that I had been gawking at them. “Good Evening. Sri Lankan?” he asked. “Good Evening. Australian and apologies. It’s just that the language rolled out beautifully from you.” He had a nice laugh that was infectious. “No worries. Looks like you need some help. Hassan by the way.” Thus conversing with Hassan I acknowledged that the round stuff was called “Isso wade” which means “Prawns fitters”. He also informed that he was an Australian too with a much better connection to his parent’s motherland than me. He also helped me purchase the fritters and then left with a “see you around”.

The Galle Face beach was quite a different from the normal beaches. The sea level was below the land. The land once again was elevated from the drive she was walking on. The land area was very vast and since the sun was setting the view was breath taking. The main attraction of the beach was the bridge a little way into to sea. Getting on the bridge I found that the waves were very strong and rigorous. I was a little afraid but the view of the sky from the bridge was so pleasant that was determined to reach the end of the bridge. It was a pleasant feeling to hear the clashing of the sea against the big strong walls that held the bridge

. The mesmerizing sun set, the pleasant sound of the breeze playing with my hijab, the lack of people, the mouth-watering fitters with it’s delicious curry and toppings made the evening a carving on my mind.

In the buffet at dinner I met Hassan again. It was such a co-incidence that once again we both stepped together. This time inside not out. Hassan expressed his surprise at seeing me too. Then, the conversation flowed so naturally. He explained about the lavishly displayed Sri Lankan cuisine. Hassan was an amiable person with a wonderful sense of humor. Conversing with him seemed effortless and he told a lot about him during the dinner. He said that he is a PhD student in psychology at the Deakin University. He further explained that becoming a clinical psychologist and helping people in distress was his dream.

The dinner was a satisfying one and Maryam left feeling very relaxed. It had been a very long time since she spoke so comfortably with anyone. Hassan too felt different during this stay at his most favourite destination in the world. He wouldn’t completely give the credit to Maryam. Yet he felt that she did play a role in it. Being a psychologist he understood that Maryam wasn’t the kind of girl to open up to everyone. So when he didn’t push much, she warmed up to him. He hadn’t told her that he had seen her at the airport in Melbourne. Nor did he admit that he admired the way she was excited to see Sri Lanka from up in the air. It was funny that she hadn’t noticed that he was just a seat away from her in the flight. Hassan smiled thinking that the clichéd line to describe their situation now would be, “Destiny brought us together”.

The next day Maryam set out to explore the city and took many photos of the places she remembered seeing in her parent’s album. She also found a lot of interesting things to do. The ice-cream parlor in the Galle road named “Carnival” and the museum were her favourites. After lunch she met Hassan again at the pool area. They both smiled at spotting each other again and Hassan announced that he’d be checking out tomorrow morning. Maryam too said the outline of her plans in Sri Lanka for which Hassan gave a thumbs up. “So when are you leaving Maryam?” asked Hassan. “My return flight is another seven days later. What about you?” Maryam asked back.  

“No plans yet. I have time”

“Oh, see you then. Good bye.”

“Um Maryam, this is my card. On case you need me. Don’t hesitate to contact. Goodbye”

Travelling to Polonnaruwa in train and taking the public transport rather than the cars provided by the hotel gave Maryam a better exposure to the country. Travelling around the beautiful island she discovered why he parents loved this country despite its small size and lack of development.

Every city was different and beautiful on its own way. The small island amazed with its variety of climate which was warm near the coasts and cold with the elevation in the center parts of it. She bought many souvenirs, took many photographs and discovered more about herself. She realized that she would had derided Sri Lanka so much had in fact fallen in love with it. Since it was her last day Maryam thought about all that happened so far and unconsciously she found her hand reaching into her handbag and clutching Hassan’s card. In a flash she emailed about her departure and sent him a thank you note.

All throughout her way to the airport Maryam felt like she was leaving her parents behind. She felt like she had somehow connected to them through connecting to what they love the most. She realized that she had after she came to Sri Lanka. She knew that she would miss this amazing country and made a pledge to visit it soon.

In the airport, once she was about to reach the terminal, Maryam he her name being called. On turning she was surprised to find the jogger she knew so well jogging towards her. “Hey Hassan. Are you too leaving today?” Maryam asked surprised. “No, I’m leaving tomorrow. Just thought to spend the night in the airport”, Hassan replied sarcastically. Baffled Maryam started laughing on realizing her stupid question.

 “I mailed you back”

“Oh? I’m sorry I didn’t check that”

“So?”

“So?”

“Excuse me madam”, said a voice. On turning they both found that it was Maryam’s turn to step into the metal detector. Smiling at each other, they stepped through and came out without any beeping sound. While wearing her shoes Maryam couldn’t help smiling widely thinking of the new things that Sri Lanka had introduced to her. Thus when the plane was announced she felt so grateful to her indirect motherland.

When she was about to enter the Jet Bridge Maryam turned to see, the most beautiful country she had ever seen, for one last time. At that moment she realized that unless we make a move in life, we would never get to know what else it holds for us in store. So far she had been so engrossed in her loss that she never even thought about reaching for the things that future would hold for her. Looking across the aisle from her seat, she saw two things that she had come to like so much recently. The beauty of one outside the window and the other beaming at her from inside it, brought a bright smile and a new ray of hope in her life. “Melancholy” will not be a word for her life, anymore.

Author:- Badurdeen Fathima Ayesha