Chapter 1
Staring blankly at the overcast sky stretching as far as the eye could see, she watched the petals of the Ehala flowers, carried by the wind, gently drifting to the ground. As the chilly spray of rain drifted through the window panes, she wrapped her arms tightly around herself, completely losing herself in a world of thoughts.
“What on earth are you thinking about so deeply, as if the sky is about to fall?”
She was jolted back to reality by the familiar voice of her best friend.
“It’s nothing, Ara. I just wish it would rain like this every day, without the sun ever rising.”
“Oh, come on! Are you trying to tell me you were just staring at the sky and nothing else was on your mind? That’s rich, especially coming from you...”
“No, really. I was just thinking about home. I wonder what Aunt Sumana is doing. I wish I could at least go and visit her.”
“Is there really anything left for you to miss in that house, knowing exactly how those people are? Aunt Sumana is unfortunate, I agree. But you should never, under any circumstances, go back there. You haven’t forgotten what happened, have you? Now, forget all of that and let’s go have some tea. I brought some Parippu Vade on my way. Make a cup of tea for me too, girl. I’m so exhausted.”
Together, they walked into the kitchen to brew the tea.
“This tea is amazing. Whoever ends up with you someday is going to be incredibly lucky.”
“Oh, and why only me? Besides, I only made tea for you today. Every other day, you’re the one making it for me...”
“Mmm... that’s true, isn’t it?”
After their lighthearted teasing, a heavy silence settled between them.
“This job isn’t going to cut it, Ara. I only took it because I desperately wanted to leave home, but what can I even do with this meager amount? Even if we combine both our salaries, it’s barely enough to eat and pay the house rent. There are absolutely no savings.”
“That’s true. Let’s look for a few other jobs. After all, we are both still just twenty.”
“You could have stayed and helped with your father’s business, Ara. It’s such a waste for you to suffer like this here.”
“Are you crazy? That’s not for me. And besides, when I start my own business someday, I won’t take a single cent from my father. I will only invest the money I earn through my own hard work. Plus, I don’t really care all that much about big money.”
“As if you even need to tell me that. If you actually cared about money, would you have ever come to a place like this with a penniless girl like me?”
“Oh, stop talking nonsense. You know how I am. You are just like a sister to me, so don’t you dare say things like that again. Anyway, I’m going to wash up. The vegetables I brought are on the table. If you can, please put them away on the rack, girl.”
Her friend’s love and loyalty felt like a true blessing in her life. For her, this friend was the only real family she had left.
“What are we making for dinner tonight?”
“You’re the chef, Ara! Take a look at what we have and tell me.”
“I bought a packet of mushrooms on my way back. What do you think? Should I make them the way I did the other day?”
“Oh my gosh, just thinking about it makes my mouth water! Yes, please make that. While you were going to wash up, I already started the rice. I’ll make a tempered dhal curry to go with it.”
“That sounds perfect. We still have that leftover lime pickle too, don’t we? That’s more than enough. We need to save money whenever we can.”
After preparing their dinner together, they walked out to the wooden bench built under the mango tree in the yard. Even though there was only a dim bulb hanging from a branch, it didn’t bother them as they enjoyed their meal.
“I was meaning to ask you... shall we go visit the Saman Devalaya tomorrow? We haven’t been anywhere since we moved here.”
“That’s so true. Let’s definitely go. I’ve actually never been there before, Ara.”
“Did those people ever let you step a single foot out of that house? Honestly, just talking about them makes me so angry that the food burns in my mouth before it even hits my stomach.”
“Maybe it was just my karma. I paid my dues. If I hadn’t walked out of that house that day, I probably would have died by now, serving my aunt like a slave.”
“And do you really think you’re fully done paying that karma? I saw the way that guy, Ashen, was staring at you. If he could have, he would have done something right then and there to stop you from leaving. He gave you such a vile look.”
“There’s no need to explain how Podi Aiya is. He’s been exactly like that ever since he came back from abroad. He has changed so much.”
“Alright, alright, finish your rice instead of just playing with it. Let’s sleep early tonight. We need to wake up early tomorrow morning to prepare some Kiripindu as an offering. Since we finally have a day to go, we should do it properly and get their blessings.”
“Hmm... yeah. We can have milk rice for breakfast too. You know how much I love eating whatever you cook.”
“Alright, my dear. I’ll make plenty for you to eat tomorrow, don’t worry.”
📌️ Cultural & Contextual Notes
Parippu Vade (පරිප්පු වඩේ): A delicious, crunchy snack primarily made by mixing lentils, onions, Kochchi chillies (bird’s eye chillies), and curry leaves, then deep-frying them to perfection.
Lunu Dehi (ලුණුදෙහි): A traditional Sri Lankan pickled lime dish. It is prepared using lime, salt, and various spices, crafted carefully to preserve the limes for long-term use.
Kiripindu (කිරිපිඬු): A sacred food offering prepared specially for deities and Lord Buddha. It is made using white rice, rich coconut milk, raisins, and cashews.
Ehala Flowers (ඇහැල මල්): A breathtakingly beautiful flower variety that blooms in vibrant yellow, cascading in long clusters that entirely cover the tree. They primarily bloom during the months of May, June, and July, and are a signature sight in Sri Lanka’s dry zone.
Saman Devalaya (සමන් දේවාලය): A highly ancient shrine of immense historical value, located in the Ratnapura District (famously known as the Gem City) within the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. This sacred temple was built specifically to pay homage and offer devotion to God Saman.
