Nectar in a Sieve
The Last Chapter (30)
The days went by, Nathan no longer beside me; no more. Ashes and dust,
scattered to the winds, moistened by the rain, unrecognisable. I picked up the fragments
of my life and put them together, all but the missing piece; and out of my affliction I
called to Puli. I do not know what words I used, when I think of what I may have said I
shiver. Rich promise to lure a child, before I knew it could be kept. Priceless treasure of
health, not mine to give. And he, compassionate creature, who drew from me the arrows
of sorrow one by one, listened, and when I cam home I was not alone.
So good to be home at last, at last. The cart jolted to a standstill. I looked about
me at the land and it was life to my starving spirit. I felt the earth beneath my feet and
wept for happiness. The time of in-between, already a memory, coiled away like a snake
within its hole.
From the unfinished, scaffolded building a figure emerged, came running. Selvam,
my son.
“Thank God,” he said. “Are you alright?” and he held me. My daughter joined us,
her haste making her breathless. Puli alone not of the family, standing a little apart
awkwardly, clutching in his arms the dum-dum cart. I called to him.
“My son,” I said. “We adopted him, your father and I.”
“You look tired and hungry,” Ira said, taking his arm. “Come with me and rest, I
will prepare the rice.”
They walked on ahead.
“Do not worry,” Selvam said. “We shall manage.”
There was a silence, I struggled to say what had to be said.
“Do not talk about it,” he said tenderly, “unless you must.”
“It was a gentle passing,” I said. “I will tell you later.”