False Divinity
by Madulu Waheed
from Malas 29, 1 June 1990
National Centre for Linguistic and Historical
Research
Something crawled across his leg and he woke with a
start. By then, the rat was climbing the wall and the first cock crowed lazily
in the distance. They'll be on their way to wake me for fishing, he thought.
With no reason to go back to sleep, he picked up his work pants and found the
unmended tear at the bottom. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he stepped into
the next room and saw his sleeping wife and baby. The infant had fallen asleep
as Dhaleyka was feeding her and the mat on the bed had slipped to one side exposing
the bare coir matting. The nappy under the baby was soaked in urine. The man's
anger melted away. His wife had more pressing chores than mending his pants.
For a moment, he considered going to the shop and getting flour and sugar on credit,
and then he remembered how much he owed. The debt's high enough already, I
shouldn't take any more. The man lifted the lid of a the saucepan near the
bed, revealing three pieces of boiled breadfruit. He took the larger piece and
was about to walk outside when he realised he had no tobacco. Taking the lamp,
the man lifted the cover on the bodu ashi but the remaining tobacco was
only stems. Must get some leaves from the shop, he thought, it's
more important than food!
Heading towards the shop, the man had
a coughing fit. He braced himself against a fence. If I had some eucalyptus
oil, my cough would be cured. Maybe it's caused by loss of appetite and not eating.
I've certainly taken enough disprin. Recovering slightly, he entered the
shop and someone asked, 'Hey Kalhu Huttu, what's that blood?'
The man looked
down and there was blood on the back of his hand, and more splattered across his
t-shirt. The cough came back and there was nothing to hold on to, so he sank slowly
to the ground.
From a distance, dressed in white and smiling, a familiar
old man came towards him. Kalhu Huttu tried desperately to get to his feet but
he couldn't. He began to crawl, and tears covered his face. 'Master, my condition
hasn't changed,' he pleaded. 'My wife and children are hungry and blood is coming
from my throat. There's no medicine and I'm in debt. Where's the wealth you promised
me? I perform my prayers. I cause no harm. I go fishing every day... I can't live
like this any more.'
The holy man said nothing. He smiled and and
pointed his finger to the sky. Kalhu Huttu looked up into heavens that glittered
like silver necklaces. Light was everywhere.
'Isn't there any alternative
for me?' he complained. 'My father, my grandfather, both died without ever experiencing
a comfortable life; without tasting decent food; never being able to afford beautiful
clothes! We don't have medicine when we fall ill. You said it wouldn't happen
to me. Fulfil that promise!'
The white-clad holy man kept smiling as he
spread out his wings and began to fly away, disappearing back into the distance.
In
despair, Kalhu Huttu shouted uncontrollably through the tears streaming across
his face, 'You are a deceiptful man, don't come back here again! You thief! Goodbye
forever, I never want to see you again!'
Raging, he thrashed around and his
throat began to choke.
'Kalhu Huttu, wake up,' called the soft voice
of a woman.
He opened his eyes and felt his body soaked in sweat.
'Aren't
you going fishing today?' asked Dhaleyka.
'Yes, I am.' mumbled her husband,
sitting up and wiping the sweat from his face. He thought about the dream as Dhaleyka
handed him the fishing pants. The tear was mended.
Before he could
put a foot to the ground, a loud voice outside announced it was time to go fishing.
Still half asleep, Kalhu Huttu shuffled out the door, straight into the cold breeze
of dawn. Shivering, he wandered towards the fishing boat beach. Dawn cocks began
to crow. It was a new day once again - the same as any other day.
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