Nandana Menike anxiously looked at the parcel kept on her bed by Periyavar. She took out by one by one like small children taking their toys. An inexpressible delight crept into her heart. She smelled the fragrance of the new garments. She opened the bag given by Bernard and checked each and every item. To her surprise, she could see only ladies' undergarments. She understood that without consulting her, he had bought all those; if he had asked her, it would have been a very embarrassing situation.
Since the construction work of the dam was on the verge of completion, many people from different parts of the country came to see it. Most of the settlers who lived on either side of the river had already settled down in the new block of lands given in the Mahaweli Zone C.
Sandra's mother gave up the idea of filing a case against Bernard and claiming a portion of the compensation given to Sandra's property. Sandra's interference mostly influenced that decision. Sandra' s mother had to listen to her daughter's words as, if she took legal actions against Bernard, she thought Sandra would leave all business matters of Victor aside and come back to Sri Lanka which in turn would result in considerable financial losses to Victor's business. The cancellation of Sandra's arrival to meet Bernard affected Nandana Menike adversely. The delay in Sandra's return day by day made Bernard get addicted to drinking more and more. Periyavar's attempt to take Bernard away from that habit turned into to be a futile effort. Nandana Menike felt scared to talk to him when he was under the influence of liquor.
"Hamu… why are you ruining your life in vain…? You emptied this bottle yesterday itself…?"
Periyavar grumbled removing the empty brandy bottle found at the feet of his bed, while cleaning the room in the morning. Bernard looked at his faithful servant and understood how much they loved and respected him despite his world turned into a gloomy one. Bernard smiled and remained silent as it was of no use talking to his servant of his personal matters.
"Hamu… it's not a laughable matter… I'm scared whether we will have to cry…"
"If something happens to me, will you cry…?"
Periyavar understood that he was going to be tamed by his words.
"It's not my crying what matters… Hamu… but I think more of that child who is under your custody… Either sends that child to Ulhitiya and you mind your own business…" A resentful look appeared on Periyavar's face.
"There's no reason for her to be get scared… The Victor's portion of compensation of Sandra's property, all have been credited to Nandana Menike's name…"
"Money does everything Hamu…? If someone cheats that girl taking all the money out…?"
Bernard realized that there was something to be taken from his words and he thought he had an undeniable responsibility regarding Nandana Menike's future.
"If Sandra Hamu is not coming… why are you waiting any more…? Why…? Can't you find another good partner…?"
With a smile Bernard got up and took the glass of water lying on the table; washed his mouth and emptied it at once.
"That child also is waiting for you…"
"I have told you many times not to wait for me… after arranging meals for me, you can have it. No problem…"
"We are not used to that sort of tradition Hamu…" Periyavar went out murmuring something. After a body wash, Bernard came down to the second floor, Nandana Menike was playing the piano and Bernard went closer to her.
"You came here after having your breakfast…?" She was startled by the voice of Bernard. She stopped playing the piano and quickly stood up. Bernard was hundred percent sure that she hadn't taken her breakfast.
"Ok… ok… Let's have it, I'm also going for that…"
"Bernard Hamu… shall we go to see the dam…?" It was the first request made by Nandana Menike to Bernard. Nodding his head Bernard stepped towards the breakfast table with Nandana Menike.
"Periyavar… Periyavar…"
With that calling out, the servant understood that his master was ready for breakfast. In a jiffy the servant came near him.
"You too get ready to go to see the dam… before that, eat something…!"
Bernard saw triumphant smile lighting up Nandana Menike's face. He sensed that Nandana Menike was more attractive than Sandra. When she smiled the slightly protruding teeth on either side of her mouth added more beauty than the pimples that appeared.
The circular shaped dam looked majestic with its height and view. The workers involved in construction work were seen like Lilliput's when observed from the View Point. They were active like ants. The huge cranes fixed on either side of the mountains and how they were operated to lift huge heavy equipment drew the attention of everybody.
"From the Victoria dam, the Mahaweli River, Hulu River, and Guru Oya get blocked… you see… it is from that point… the rivers meet… From a bit above, Guru Oya joins the Hulu River…" Pointing out some key points of the development project, Bernard explained to Nandana Menike.
The full extent of the Victoria Project startled Nandana Menike. When she put her head out of the shutters of the vehicle, her long curly locks stubbornly danced in the wind with no control.
"Periyavar, if we go up to that point, can view the entire area more clearly. No permission to take the vehicle there… I'll park it and come… you better go up with Nandana Menike…"
Periyavar understood that Bernard wanted to show each and every point of the mega project to Nandana Menike. They started walking up to the view point to look around, as if they were climbing up the Everest Mountain.
"Uncle… where can we find our houses…?" She tried to locate the three-story bungalow through the range of mountains seen far in the distance.
"I think it is covered by that mountain…" Periyavar, pointing out one of the high mountains, on the west side, said to Nandana Menike.
"How it would be, once it is filled with water…?"
They couldn't go up quickly as a group of students from a school were descending from the top. They all came down as a cluster and Periyavar and Nandana Menike found it rather difficult to proceed.
"Aha… Nangi (Sister)… shall we give you a push to go up…?"
In the meantime, a few youngsters were going up and when they overtook Nandana Menike and Periyavar, one of them jeered at Nandana Menike.
Allowing the school children to go down, Periyavar and Nandana Menike paused for a moment. At that time, about the youngsters who passed Periyavar and Nandana Menike made the remark. Most of them had beards.
"Machan (Friend)… father is close by…" one of the youngsters warned the others.
"That one can't be her father… you see… that girl is like a wax- image…"
Nandana Menike heard another youngster responding to that one.
"Uncle… let's wait till these go…"
Nandana Menike took Periyavar aside giving way to the young gang.
"Upon my word Nangi (sister)… if you don't give me a word, I will jump from this view point…" A youngster pretended to be jumping the precipice.
The jokers looked at Periyavar with smiles. Periyavar could understand the nature of youngsters and didn't say a word against them. As the youngsters knew that the guardian didn't get cross, they went on cracking jokes.
"My uncle… looks here…
Your daughter is very dear…
If you give me your heart…
To the best, I'll play my part…"
Another member of the gang who had a long beard inclined towards Nandana Menike and recited the above lines.
"Nonsense…" said Nandana Menike moving away from that one.
Nandana Menike got closer to Periyavar as that young boy stood in front of Nandana Menike stretching his right hand, like in a drama, pleading love from a girl. Periyavar felt relieved as he saw Bernard coming towards them.
"A flower bloomed in the jungle… How can I miss such a beauty…? Hey… let's go slowly will you…?"
Bernard hurried his steps as he saw Periyavar and Nandana Menike being disturbed by the youngsters. Since it was a narrow road, Bernard came up through two young boys and the gang noticed Bernard's approach.
"Where is hell are you going in such a hurry…?"
Bernard got closer to Nandana Menike patting on the shoulder of the young boy, who was jeering at Nandana Menike, standing in front of her. As soon as Nandana Menike saw Bernard, she clutched at his arm for protection.
"Sorry brother… we cracked a joke…" said that, the young boy with the beard retreated.
He joined his gang, singing a part of a song substituting some other interesting words, which expressed his disappointments.
Bernard, without releasing her hand, walked up to the view point. The dam was quite visible with its last phase of construction. In another few days..., a huge volume of water flowing downwards would be stopped by that giant dam and it would hold back all the water. The people had never thought even in their dreams that there would be such a transformation.
Nandana Menike, who grew up under the guardianship of Koinmenika, had moved completely from Koinmenika to Bernard. He had almost become the custodian of Nandana Menike. He looked at her affectionately. She observed the wonders and miracles performed by modern machinery, clutching at Bernard's right hand. Most of the people around, who had come to see the dam turned their eyes towards Nandana Menike. Those who glanced once were made to glance again and again by the beauty of Nandana Menike. A sense of pride crept into Bernard's heart.