The school bell rang, signaling to all the students that school was over for the day. Students ran out the school gates, as if they feared that if they stayed at school for even a second more, they’ll never be imprisoned here and never able to leave. They were in such a hurry to go home and watch cartoons. This made me go back down the memory lane to my own childhood, when I was just as eager as them to go home after a long day at school. My best friend and I were neighbors. So, we would often walk home together. There was a huge Mango tree near our school. I remember Wasantha mama used to sell ice cream under the mango tree. We ate ice cream almost every day after school. With a sigh, I snapped myself out of my memories, I was getting ready to leave as well. I was exhausted. I couldn’t wait to go home and go to sleep for a few minutes. I am absolutely certain that my bed missed me as much as I missed it. I grabbed my handbag and was just about to leave when I remembered that I couldn’t finish marking a few books. I turned around and glanced at the table at the corner of the staff room. It was a large brown table-reminiscent to a dining table, there was a hideous table cloth on it. I absolutely despised the pattern on the table cloth. It was not bad but I felt that the pattern and color of the tablecloth were not suitable. On the table was a flower vase, a glass bottle and a stack of books. I knew that they belonged to my students. With a sigh, I went and grabbed the stack of books. There were about twenty books. They were quite heavy. I wished I had something to carry them in; I glanced around but couldn’t find anything. In the end, I decided to leave a few books at school and take the rest home.

When I stepped out the school gate, most of the children had gone home. But from the corner of my eye, I spotted one little girl, Saheli, she was in grade seven. Unlike most students, she was never in a rush to go home, instead she would often wait for me so that we could walk home together. I didn’t even realize that I was smiling until I saw her running up to me. “Hello Duwa!”, I said. She smiled back at my shyly. She immediately offered to carry some of the books I was carrying. But I knew that these books were far too heavy for her to carry. Instead, I gave her my handbag, it was small and not heavy at all, as only my mobile phone and purse were inside it. She happily took my handbag and the two of us started walking home.

“Duwa?”, I said after a little while. “Yes Miss?”, she said, looking up at me with doe-like eyes. “Don’t you like to go home and watch cartons like other kids?”, I asked as we continued walking. “Oh…” she mumbled. She looked down at the ground as if she was studying her slippers, “I do, Miss” she said after a while, “But I like talking with you more”. I smiled. “So, how was your day at school, darling?”, I questioned. “Oh…” she mumbled, “I had the best day at school. I went to the IT lab today during IT period and they we got to go to the playground during the last period”, she replied with a huge smile. “It seems like you had a lot of fun today” I smiled. She nodded. We continued to walk in silence. I would occasionally ask a few questions about her day and she would also reply. We parted ways when we reached Kumara Mawatha, (Where I lived). She handed me my handbag. “Duwa, go home safely”, I said as she worshiped me, “see you tomorrow”. She nods. She always looked disappointed when we reached Kumara Mawatha, I just assumed that she just liked spending time with me while other kids would rush home to watch their cartoons. I walked down the path until I reached the green gate. I unlocked it and went in. Amma was in the garden, hanging some clothes to dry. I smiled, “Amma!”, I called, “I came home”. She smiled in returned. “Your lunch is on the table”, she spoke in Sinhala. “What’s for lunch, Amma?”, I asked. She chuckled, “Rice, Pól sambal and dried fish” she replied. That was my favorite thing to eat. “Amma, I’ll eat after a wash” I said before heading towards the house. I was so tired.

One day

I didn’t even realize that I had fallen asleep, until Aloka Miss, gently shook me awake, “Yasho, wake up. You have a class to teach”. My eyes immediately snapped open, I stood up and grabbed my books. “Thanks, Aloka”, I smiled gratefully, if it wasn’t for her, I would probably be late. I ran to the grade seven and eight building. As I was walking down the hallway, I noticed someone kneeling down. I curiously glanced at the student. It had been only five minutes after the interval, how could a child get into trouble this quickly? I couldn’t help but wonder. I was honestly surprised to see Saheli. “Saheli?!”, I exclaimed. With one hand and I grabbed her and made her stand up, “What on earth is going on?”, I questioned. She did not answer. “Duwa?”, I said again, I kept my hand on her shoulder, “Alright, come with me then”, I said, “We’ll go to grade eight section and talk, ok Duwa?”. Saheli shook her head. “It’s fine, come on, let’s go”, I said, wrapping an arm around her. I took her to the grade eight section. As soon as we entered the classroom, I asked one of the kids to bring a chair and place it next to the teacher’s table. I thanked the girl and made Saheli sit down. “Give me a few minutes”, I whispered to her.

I started to write some questions on the blackboard. Then I turned to the children, “These are some questions based on the poem we discussed last week. Please write answers and bring your books for me to check”, I instructed the children.

I turned to look at Saheli. She had tears streaming down her cheeks. I sat down at my chair and spoke to the scared child “Tell me what’s wrong…I will never scold you”. I tried to make my voice as soft as possible. “Who punished you?”, I asked. “Samantha Sir”, Saheli mumbled. “Why did he punish you, Patiyo?”. “Because I didn’t have a textbook”, Saheli mumbled. “OH, did you forget to bring them?”, I asked. “No, Miss”, She mumbled, looking down. “Then?” I spoke. “I gave them to my brother”, she mumbled, “He lost his books and my stepmother asked me to give him my ones”. “Why did you have to give him your ones?”, I asked, “You also have to learn”. “Yes, but my stepmother says that he is more important than me” Saheli said sadly. “Alright…we’ll talk about this afterschool, darling. Now you have to go to your class. Didn’t you tell sir about it?”, I asked. “No miss”, Saheli mumbled. I patted her hair and smiled before standing up, “Lamai, I will go out for a bit. Please be silent and do your work”, I announced. Then I turned to Saheli, “come on. Let’s go”. She seemed hesitant. “Don’t worry, Duwa. I’ll sort this problem for you”, I said. She smiled. The two of us walked to her classroom, which was in grade seven section. “Excuse me, can I speak to Samantha sir?”, I asked, standing near the classroom entrance. Saheli was hiding behind me. I placed a hand on her head, “Don’t be scared”, I whispered. I explained to Samantha sir what had happened and why she didn’t have her books. “Ayyo…Why didn’t you tell me lamayo?” Samantha sir asked, patting the small girl’s head, “It’s fine now. Why don’t you come in and sit. I have some extra textbooks with me. You can keep them, Saheli”, he said. Saheli smiled gratefully. And I left feeling happy, something bothered me. Why did her stepmother do that? I couldn’t help but wonder. I turned back to look at Saheli, who was now happily sitting at her table, eagerly reading her new textbook. I made a mental note to ask her about it later.

“Saheli, can you tell me more about your stepmother?”, I asked. School had ended and we were walking home together as usual. Saheli looked down. I glanced at her, concerned, “You don’t have to be scared. You can tell me anything”, I assured her. “Miss…”, she started. She spoke in a soft voice, barely above a whisper. “Yes, Patiyo?” I said, looking at her eyes. “If I tell you something, you won’t tell anyone else, right?”, she asked, looking up at me, as if she was searching my face for a lie. “I won’t tell a soul. Our secret is safe with me”, I assured her. She told me about the abuse she has to suffer at the hands of her stepmother. “My darling!”, I cried and pulled her into a hug. I planted a kiss on her forehead and whispered “I’ll carry this to the grave. I won’t tell a soul about it”, I assured her.

“She doesn’t deserve this, Amma” I cried that night, “She is just an innocent little girl. She wouldn’t harm a fly! I don’t know how people can be so cruel!”. “Yasho…”, Amma started, “I don’t know what to say. Some people just don’t deserve to be parents”, she said. “I want to murder that woman, Amma”, I cried. My heart was filled with anger. How dare she try to hurt an innocent child? But as much as I wished to murder that vile woman, I knew that I couldn’t. So I made up my mind to monitor Saheli closely and take care of her. I decided that I would try my best to be someone this girl could look up to and trust.

A few years passed and this precious child turned fourteen years old. But she remained the same. She would always wait for me after school so that we could walk home together. Amma loved her too. One day, the two of them made milk toffee together. It was the most delicious thing that I have ever tasted. Sometimes she would visit me on weekends. She always says that she needs help with homework but I know that she just wants to spend time with me.

There was a timid little knock on my door one day. “Amma!”, I said, “Someone’s at the door!”. Upon opening the door, Amma let out a cry, “Duwa! Come quick!!”. Abandoning all my work, I rushed to the door. I was shocked to see Amma holding Saheli who looked as if she was about to pass out. She also had multiple bruises all over her body I gently lifted Saheli and placed her on the sofa, “Amma, get some water” I urged and Amma immediately rushed to the kitchen. A few moments later she returned with a glass of water. I took it and held it to the girl’s lips. She slowly took a few sips. I handed the glass to Amma. “What happened to you, Patiyo?” I questioned, cupping her cheek. Saheli glanced down. By now I had got familiar with this girl’s behaviors when she glanced down, I knew very well that something was bothering her, “You know you can always tell me anything. I’ll always be here for you”, I said with a soft voice. “Can you look up?” I asked. She didn’t. She continued to look down. I placed my hand under her chin and gently lifted her head until our eyes met, “Imagine there is a crown on your head. And if you look down, your crown will fall”, I said. As soon as I removed my hand, she started to glance at the floor, as if she couldn’t lift her head up without my support. “Your crown is falling!” I exclaimed, “Look up!”, I said with a smile. She giggled and slowly looked up at me. “Alright, now why don’t you tell me what wrong?”, I said, “I won’t be able to help you unless you tell me”.

“Amma, we have to do something”, I told my mother that night. Saheli was asleep in my room. My mother and I didn’t want to send her back to her stepmother. After making sure that Saheli was asleep, I crept into Amma’s room. I desperately wanted to talk to her. I sat down on her bed. “I agree with you, Duwa”, Amma said. “Her stepmother wants her to stop going to school. She even beat her when she refused. You saw the bruises on her body”, I explained, “She’s a child with a bright future ahead of her. We can’t let this happen to her”. Amma remained silent for a few minutes. “What if she lived with us?”, Amma asked, “Then she won’t have to worry about her stepmother at all”. “Amma, can you do that? Are you ready to take on such a responsibility?” I asked. “Why not?” Amma said, “I raised you, didn’t I?”. “But that’s different know Amma”, I tried to reason with her, “You are old now. And I am planning to marry soon. When I get married, how can you look after a child all by yourself?”. “I also want to help her. But I don’t know how” I said. “Duwa, I think that adopting her is the best thing that I can do for this child”, Amma insisted, “Besides it’s not as if she is a toddler. She is a fourteen-year-old young lady. And in four years’ time she will have finished her studies and start university”. “I agree with you, Amma” I said. “And you are only twenty years old yourself. You don’t have to rush to find someone. Take things slowly”, Amma said, “And I know you will help take care of Saheli. And I will take care of both of you”. “Ok, Amma. We’ll ask Saheli about it to.”, I said, “But I know that she’ll agree”. “Yeah, she will” Amma smiled. “Amma, you are so kind. You don’t hesitate for even a second to help a person in need”, I smiled. “Well, maybe that’s my talent”, Amma said, “And besides, I wanted another daughter anyway. The one I have is not good enough”, she said, with a smirk. She was teasing me.

“Miss?”, I heard a tiny voice say as I entered my room after the chat with my mother. “Oh, Manike, I thought you were asleep. I am sorry if I woke you up”, I said, sitting on my bed. “No, you didn’t wake me, Miss”, she mumbled, sitting up on the bed, “I just couldn’t sleep”. “Is it because of the pain?” I questioned, “I already gave you some painkillers. I think they might have worn off”. “No, it’s not that, miss” the little girl mumbled. “Do want to have a chat?”, I asked, knowing all too well what her answer was going to be. “Yes, Miss”, she whispered. “Alright”, I stood up, turned the light on and sat back down on my bed, “So, what do you want to talk about?”. “Miss, do I have to go back?”, she asked, looking down, as if she was scared of being disappointed. “Do you want to go back?”, I asked, paying attention to her reaction. “No, miss”, she mumbled. “Then you will never have to go back”, I assured her. “But then where will I stay?” Saheli questioned. “Well, you could stay with us if you like”, I suggested. Her eyes widened, “Miss, are you serious?”. “Yes, I am, Patiyo”, I chuckled, “So is that a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’? I won’t be upset even if you say no”. “Of course I want to live with you, Miss”, she cried, leaning against me, “But are you sure, Miss? Do you really want me to live with you?”, she asked. “Yes, I do”, I assured her, “I would love it if you live here with me and my mother”. She smiled. “And besides, my mother is eager to look after you. She says that she is not satisfied with the other daughter she has. Guess you’ll be her favourite daughter now” I said jokingly and I heard her giggle.

Saheli started to live with us since that day. Her stepmum seemed eager to get rid of her. I told her that she was making a huge mistake. But Saheli was happy. She no longer had to work after school, or get beaten up. Amma was thrilled to have Saheli. Sometimes Amma would tease me saying that she loved Saheli more than me. A few years went by and now, my little Saheli is not so little anymore, she is seventeen years old and is studying for her alevel examination. She is a bright little lady and I am sure she will be able to make her dreams come true. “My dream is to become a doctor one day” she said one day, “I want to help people as much as possible”. “Well, Kelle, I am sure you will be able to achieve your dreams one day”, I smiled.

A lot years have passed. And our lives have changed alot. I am now married and have three children of my own. Amma passed away two years ago. I miss her lot. But what can I do? No matter how many times I cry and beg for my mother to come back, she won’t. That’s just how life is. I learnt that I should cherish the people around me because I never know when they’ll leave from my life. And now Saheli is a doctor. She lives in Colombo now so I don’t see her much as I live in Kandy. But she never forgets to give me a call and check up on me.

It was a nice and sunny day. My husband had gone to work and two of my kids went to school. My youngest (who is three years old) absolutely refused to go to school and insisted “Ammi, I will stay home”. “Puthe, there’s no point of staying at home. You should go to school and play with you friends”, I said. “But then who will help you look after Malli baba?” my three-year-old asked. “Thermally baba is not even born yet”, I reasoned. “So that means I have to work extra hard to keep you and Malli baba safe”, she said, “Don’t worry Ammi, I will skip school every day even to look after you both”, she said before she ran inside. I gave up after that. I recently learnt that arguing with toddlers was impossible and very tiring task. I sat down on a bench and started to read a book, but as I continued reading, I became lost in some fond memories. I thought back to when my sweet Saheli was only twelve and how she used to follow me around like a puppy. Saheli had long, beautiful hair. Amma loved combing her hair. She was such an innocent soul back then-well, she still is an innocent soul.

All of a sudden, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It didn’t feel like it belonged to a toddler. I Startled; I looked up only to see Saheli smiling down at me. “Oh god!”, I cried, standing up. I wrapped my arms around her. I planted a kiss of her forehead. “You didn’t even tell me that you were coming”, I whispered. Saheli smiled. “Where are the kids?”, Saheli asked looking around. “Two went to school, Chooti stayed at home” I said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Chooti! Saheli Akka has come”, I said. And my youngest came running out with a huge grin. Saheli immediately lifted her, “Hello Chooti!” she exclaimed, “Why didn’t you go to school?”. “I have to look after my Malli baba”, Chooti answered. Saheli turned to me, “Malli baba? Miss?”, she said confused, “You are pregnant?!!”, she cried and hugged me once again. “Oh my god!”, she cried, “You didn’t even tell me”

She stayed for two weeks but she had to leave again. “Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to go back at all. I miss you a lot”, she whispered. I looked at this beautiful young lady standing in front of me, “Me too. Sometimes I wish you could just stay with us forever”, I smiled, wiping a few tears from my eyes. “You know Miss, when I was younger, I wanted a mother so badly. I dreamt of having someone who will hold me when I get scared, someone to wipe my tears when I cry, someone to share my secrets with and someone who loves me and celebrates my happiness with me”, Saheli spoke. She turned to me, “You and Nadee Aunty made all my dreams come true. Because you both I received a good education and I got the opportunity to feel and understand what a mother’s love is. And I will be forever grateful for that. Thank you so much. You fulfilled all my dreams and I promise that I will help you fulfill yours as well”. I felt tears gathering in my eyes. I stepped closer to her and cupped her cheek in my hand, “Nadee Aunty loved you. Sometimes I wonder whether she loved you more than me”, I said gently, “You, Saheli, are a wish come true that I never ever realized I was making. I am so proud of you and I love you with all my heart”.