Bernard had made all arrangements for the seventh day's alms giving inviting seven Bhikkus. There were only a handful of people attending the alms giving ceremony. Bernard went down to the first floor, after the alms giving ceremony, to discuss the subsequent events in relation to Nandana Menike's future, with the consent of her.
Since Kapilasena was the closest relative of Nandana Menike, Bernard first invited him to express his stance. He explained that despite the absence of a female guardian and in an unfamiliar location with some hardships, he was prepared to take the custody of Nandana Menike if she expressed her consent. And also he stressed the urgency of locating Yasawathi for Nandana Menike's protection. Bernard broke silence afterwards. He emphasized the fact that Nandana Menike was the daughter of Yasawathi as well as Victor. Besides, she was a close blood relation of his wife Sandra. Reminding of the first journey to Ulhitiya and its aftermath consequences, from which both Koinmenika and Nandana Menike suffered a lot, Bernard suggested to Nandana Menike to opt for a conducive, more familiar and a more protective place.
It was up to Nandana Menike to take a decision.
Nandana Menike looked at each other's face being unable to arrive at a decision.
"Menike Duwa… tell your idea… "
With tearful eyes she looked at the only female member present there - Peter's wife. Yet, she had no strength to speak anything other than glancing at the naked sky through the window. Even Peter's wife kept her hand on Nandana Menike's shoulder in an attempt to encourage her to speak; Nandana Menike remained silent.
"Hamu… let me also speak of what I have got… May I have your permission for that…?" Periyavar opened his mouth on something which nobody had expected. Bernard raised his right-hand half way inviting him to go ahead.
"Since the day this child came to Yasawathi's womb, it is ME who saw and knew A to Z of what happened… What I'm going to say here is, to some extent, Peter knows… It is true… something happened… and the result we can see… One day, Raja Hamu asked me to accept Yasawathi…"
A story which Bernard had never heard made him astonished and he listened to Periyavar attentively.
"Though Koinmenika gave her consent, Yasawathi didn't like the proposal. If she had given her consent, Menike would have been a daughter of mine with my surname and religion. Even though it didn't happen, I treated her as if my own daughter. Even today, it is the same… I look after her like the apple of the eye… Promise…! Both Sandra Hamu and Bernard Hamu equally love this child… It is me who know it better that anybody else…"
A sense of love and affection for Periyavar crept into her heart. Periyavar wiped out tears from both hands. Bernard regretted hearing the hitherto unheard story from his loyal servant. Nandana Menike raised her head and looked at Bernard with an expression of seeking some assistance. Bernard quietly stretched his both hands towards Nandana Menike indicating his commitment for her to realize her dreams, leaving no doubts. She burst into tears and could hardly stop her sobs. Slowly she got up and went close to Bernard and tried to kneel down to worship. Bernard stopped her kneeling down and embraced her like a father clasping his child with over pouring love and affection.
* * *
Periyavar was instructed to arrange the visitor's room of the second floor for Nandana Menike to stay, as Bernard thought it was not safe enough to keep her alone in the first floor, where Koinmenika released her last breath. In fact, she preferred to stay at the visitor's room as it was the place where she spent her first night at the bungalow. Nandana Menike got back to normalcy within a week. She involuntarily made her contribution to the areas like cleaning and cooking. There wasn't any distinct difference in Bernard's daily routine. Most the day time he was out of the bungalow. Nandana Menike could only see him at the breakfast and dinner table. He didn't come to chat with her unless there was something important or urgent.
After the demise of Koinmenika, Nandana Menike got closer to Periyavar. He often tried to understand the heartbeat of the young girl and didn't create any room for her to be isolated. She too preferred the fatherly treatment of Periyavar.
She observed Periyavar and learnt to prepare various types of food. She was really amazed to see Periyavar's daily routine: getting up early, carrying out all the domestic work, cleaning up etc. quite methodically with a lot of patience. She volunteered herself to help Periyavar with his work, allowing him to get a certain amount of freedom.
Nandana Menike got to know later that when her mother was in trouble, it was not only Raja Weerasekara but also there were many other influences behind him to compel Periyavar to marry her mother. He took no notice of the affair between Yasawathi and Victor. Periyavar considered that those occurrences were rather ordinary things as he had plenty of similar cases constantly reported from the estate sector.
"Your mother… our Yasawathi sister… why all of a sudden disappeared…? As Kapilasena repeatedly says, it should be a result of that spell cast on her…"
Periyavar, while putting some pieces of fish into a pot, mentioned his regards and sympathy he had towards Yasawathi.
"Kapilasena Bappa (Uncie) is combing the country looking for my mother… yet, not a single clue could be traced…"
Nandana Menike again felt the pain caused by her mother's absence along with the vacuum created by the death of her beloved grandma.
"When our Loku Hamu was alive, he used to go to Mawathagama to meet a particular 'Saami' in a kovil, whose predictions through black magic were proved to be true…"
Raja Weerasekara believed in black magic. It was not a secret for Periyavar, as he was well aware of the visits paid by Loku Hamu on very many occasions to meet that Saami. In order to take Victor away from Yasawathi's entanglement, it was said that Loku Hamu had sought the assistance from that Saami to break up that relationship.
"Uncle… do you know exactly where that Saami's kovil is…?"
Nandana Menike asked that question from Periyavar quite enthusiastically as she thought she would be able to get some information about her mother.
"I can't tell you exactly Menike… mmmm, I know it is somewhere in Mawathagama… That Saami is said to be an ardent follower of Sathya Sri Sai Baba in India…"
"Then, Bernard Hamu also may know him…" Periyavar thought for a moment.
"Mmmm… can't say he doesn't know… but the problem is he doesn't believe in black magic…"
A firm decision was taken. She was determined to get the support of Bernard to find some information about her mother from that Saami in Mawathagama.
"I will slowly approach Bernard Hamu… When Kapilasena comes, if both of us ask, he will do something for us regarding your matter…"
By reading what was written in the book of Nandana Menike's mind, Periyavar put forward his plan taking the easy way out. Periyavar was totally unaware of the intimate relationship that existed between Kapilasena and Yasawathi. He only knew Kapilasena was a one-year younger brother of Yasawathi and nothing beyond. Nandana Menike was determined not to utter anything about her mother's affair with Kapilasena to Periyavar.
"And also, Bernard Hamu can find out a solution to his burning problems, if he meets that Saami… He also can take Sandra Hamu back home…" That suggestion enlightened Periyavar.
"Hmmm… that's quite true… Great that you reminded me of it… In fact, it was totally out of my memory…"
That day evening Periyavar presented his opinion to Bernard regarding his possibility of taking Sandra Hamu back if they made a vow before that Saami.
Bernard quietly listened to Periyavar, and putting a tap on his shoulder, he went up to the third floor.
"Uncle, what did Bernard Hamu tell you…?"
As soon as the Bernard closed the door of his room, Nandana Menike came running to Periyavar and asked in a low voice. She wanted to know what his reactions were.
Periyavar's smile on his face indicated a possibility of her attempt.
"I think he may consider it…"
Nandana Menike looked at Periyavar being not very happy about his expression.
"He listened to all what I said… Most probably he would come up with his decision…"
A sign of disappointment appeared on her face.
"You need not worry about that Menike… I know the typical nature of Hamu… He listened to me without telling anything… That showed he was interested in it… The other thing is if he is not interested, he would stop me, and leave…"
Periyavar cast Nandana Menike's doubts saying his knowledge about Bernard Hamu's disposition. At that moment she glanced at the huge photo that Bernard and Sandra had taken beside the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Nandana Menike started playing the piano shortly after Periyavar left the second floor. She thought her piano playing would bring a soothing effect to Bernard's ailing heart.
She further thought that he would at any moment come down to the second floor as he was a music lover. About half an hour later, Bernard descended the flight of steps with a half-filled glass of whisky, realizing the expectation of her. He sat down on the settee comfortably and his eyes, without his knowledge, drew towards the huge digital photo he and Sandra had taken in Paris. He felt as if Sandra was nearby him at that moment.
Nandana Menike paused for a moment after playing the piano forte and turned her head towards Bernard Hamu.
"Did Sandra call you yesterday or the day before…?" In a calm voice, he asked.
Nandana Menike shook her head first in negation, yet, as he was straightly looking at her, she finally converted her gesture into a verbal utterance.
"No Hamu…"
"Oh… now you too can play the piano very well…! Good…"
He admired her talent without any hesitation.
"Hamu…"
Her pleading tone drew Bernard's attention
"Hamu… shall we go to Mawathagama to meet that Saami…?"
The smile that appeared on his face seemed to be an indication of a plus point for what she asked.
"We can get Sandra Hamu back with the help of that Saami…"
"Who told you that…? Is it Periyavar…?"
Changing his posture to be in a more comfortable manner, he inclined towards her with a sense of compassion.
"No point in that Nanda… If she has any regard for me, will she stay there like that…? How can invisible forces change her mind in that way…? Suppose… even if it is possible… for what…? Feelings, genuine bonds, attachments… can never be created by external forces. Even if they are created, they are short lived. Everything should come within our hearts. Then only we can derive the true sense of happiness… You are not matured enough to understand all these Nanda…"
Nanda heaved an involuntary sigh.
"Let's wait patiently a bit more…"
Bernard guessed that Nandana Menike was waiting anxiously to see Sandra back. He partly agreed with her idea in order to please her.
"When you go to Mawathagama, please take me also…"
It was a puzzle for him as he did not expect a suggestion of that nature from her.
"To see where my mother is… Periyavar Uncle told me that through that Saami, some information about my mother could be gathered…"
"Aha, that is why you want to meet that Saami… ok, ok… no problem… I can take you there…"
Nandana Menike felt as if she had conquered half of the world from that response.
"You better speak to Periyavar, and let's go there as early as possible…"
Nandana Menike was delighted to see Bernard's enthusiasm to locate her mother.
"Then, once Kapilasena Uncle comes back, shall we go to meet that Saami, Hamu…?"
Bernard felt how he could refuse such a humble request from such an innocent girl whose parents were not with her, even the only guardian she had also left her forever a few days ago.
* * *