The torrential rain that fell throughout the night had caused much damage. The huge rock which was over the water spout had slipped over and landed on the clay field. The clay field couldn't be recognized because of the earth slip. The destruction was so huge that the people believed that it was due to the felling trees and erosion. They were really worried over the inability to see the water spout again in their life times as a large pile if earth had shrouded the entire area.
The huge destruction caused by the heavy rain was a news for the villagers as they had never witnessed a damage of that nature. Hearing that news Nandana Menike, Koinmenika and Periyavar came to see the damage by Bernard's Volkswagen car on his invitation. Observing the present state of his estate he thought how even nature had stood against him. Nandana Menike's heart sank when she failed to find even a trace of the path through which she used to go to school, instead she saw a huge volume of water flowing through it which nobody could even go across it. The fertile land which nourished generations had completely been transformed into a mire. There were a few thorny bushes here and there which could be of no use to anybody. Bernard didn't want to remain there any longer as the more he looked at the futile surrounding the more anguish crept into his heart.
"Shall we go back then…?"
Periyavar cast a timid look at Bernard as he had to go to meet Kapilasena to convey a message from Koinmenika. Bernard sensing the indifference in his behavior looked at him inquisitively.
"Need to meet kapilasena…" glancing at Koinmenika, he asked for permission.
Bernard turned towards Koinmenika for confirmation.
"To bring Menike's suitcase… Bank pass books, cards… all the valuables are in it…"
"What about the necklace…? Is that also in it…?" with a smile Bernard questioned.
She shook her head.
"The tree cutters are staying there… aren't they…? If they sense it…"
"No… no…! It is in the new house… locked in our room... the key is with Kapilasena…" Bernard gazed at Koinmenika's house, which was visible over the slope and found it in a world of emptiness. It looked like an abandoned house. A little distance away from the house, there were a few people engaged in sawing off timber? Bernard tried to locate Kapilasena among them.
"Hmm… you go there then… I don't think I can take the car there… the road has completely been washed away…" He observed the narrow road and the extent of destruction caused.
The tamarind tree, which was a landmark for both Nandana Menike and Samantha where they used to meet each other became the focal point of Nandana Menike's eye sight. She wanted to see whether Samantha had come there. She imagined how his mother had stared at her. She felt she was on fire when she remembered her mother with Samantha's mother's vague look. The two ladies got into the car from the rear door and Bernard closing the door, got into his seat looking at Periyavar for a moment that was going down the slope.
Sweeping the living room of the second floor was a part of Periyavar's duty. Since he was away to attend to a personal mater, Nandana Menike volunteered to clean it. She remembered how Periyavar cleaned the entire area. He brushed and wiped out every item whether there was dust or not. She followed that procedure. The telephone started ringing and she looked at the main entrance of the third floor. Bernard came up to the door step and signaled her to answer the call.
"Hello…" She answered the call lifting the receiver.
"Who is this…?" A female voice from the other end.
"Sandra Hamu…?" Nandana Menike hesitantly responded.
"I'm Sandra Hamu's mother… Is it you now… answering the phone…? Why... Is Hamu not at home…?"
Bernard descended with a quizzical look expecting to know from whom the call was.
"Loku Nona Hamu…."
He took the receiver from Nandana Menike and listened.
"Hmm… now is that girl… answering the phone…? Better to teach her the manners before answering calls…!" Bernard understood that Nandana Menike's pause could have been the reason for her to her to get cross.
"Why did you call aunty..?"
"I spoke… I spoke to know something about that girl…"
"What have you got to know about that girl…?" Turning his eyes towards Nandana Menike Bernard questioned. At that time Nandana Menike was dusting the brass lamp.
"How old is that girl..?"
"Why are you asking me…? You should be aware of it…" There was a sarcastic smile on his face.
"How should I know of unknown one's age…?" Her tone represented how pent up she was.
"It is not a big issue for an aunty to figure out the age of your granddaughter…"
"I think it's easier to ask it from Victor other than asking me… still should be at home I suppose…"
The disconnection of the call from the other end brought consolation for Bernard. He was just about to go back to his room; another call stopped him. He paused for a moment and glanced at Nandana Menike. She too turned her eyes towards him. He thought it would be more appropriate to answer the call by himself.
"Yes… Why… Speak…" Bernard guessed the call was again from Sandra's mother.
"Hello… Hello…" His pronunciation was a bit high.
"Bernard…" the call was from Sandra.
He felt like being strangled.
"I'm Sandra… why are you in anger…?"
He couldn't believe in getting a call form Sandra, he failed to compose his mind on anything. What sort of answer to be given. He couldn't decide on anything at that moment.
"Forgive me Bernard… Forgive me… I know…, I wronged you…"
There was a pause between two parties and it was broken by Bernard.
"Why did you call me…?"
"Even calling you in this way is also wrong Bernard… I did an unpardonable mistake… But…" Her voice was filled with a lot of emotions.
"Tell me why you did this to me Sandra…?" Even his voice also had a sad tone.
"I don't know what happened to me… When I lost you only I realized the value of you… I'm fed up with everything… I did an utter foolish thing…" Her sobbing made Bernard rather emotional.
"Do you think so…?"
The answer was a long breath.
"Come back Sandra…" He picked up his words with much difficulty.
"Let me think for some time Bernard… I got to know that Mum had come to the bungalow…"
"You spoke to me on your mother's behalf…" Bernard wanted to know whether her mother had tempted Sandra to talk about the property with him.
"She asked me to talk to you, but not anything about property that I want to speak with you…"
"Then..?"
"I need not even a cent from what you got from me… Even I won't interfere with that on behalf of them either…"
"Sandra, where are you speaking from…?" Bernard suspected her that she had come to Sri Lanka and was calling him.
"Australia… at sister's place…"
There were a lot of untold stories in her answer. The main thing was she was not staying with Shamal. He allowed Sandra to continue her episode, releasing a long deep sigh.
"Is Nanda at our house…?"
"Hmm… at OUR HOUSE…" He stressed the word 'our house' with the idea of convincing her.
"I have now no right to say 'our house', but it came to my mouth automatically…" There was an apology in her voice.
"This is OUR HOME…! Wherever you go… you are still with me in the living room looking at my face, near the Eiffel Tower…"
"I thought you have removed it by now…"
"It will never happen… you did leave me…! That's true… but I have not removed anything of yours. I'll never do it either… The night dress you put on last is still lying at the same place as it is…"
He clearly heard Sandra's sobbing.
"What is the mistake I did for you to leave me like this…? Sandra…?"
"No… No… Bernard, you didn't do anything wrong… it is my unlucky… I didn't try to understand you… I thought you were crazy and dying only for your property…"
Tears wetted his eyes. He quickly turned his head to see whether Nandana Menike was around. By that time, she had left the living room. Bernard tried to take Sandra back as he understood that she was repenting of what she had done. Yet, she was confused that she had no strength to face him. She had taken the call to inform him that her mother was planning to bring a proposal to Nandana Menike.
A seed of suspicion grew in his heart when he thought why Sandra's mother phoned him a short while ago.