Description
Roshan – A Prediction
“Why did Sanerian Theodore come here in 1875 A.D.? Amazed, Roshan kept on reading. He is reading something as if answering a question asked by another.
“Sanerian Theodore was a Colonel in the Armed Forces. He was informed of the death of his father while going by sea to the warfront. Sanerian’s father arrived that day on to the ship in which he was travelling.” Roshan felt his body going cold.
“Do not be afraid. There is no danger.” Again Roshan heard as if someone was saying.
“Sanerian Theodore could have died in that war. His father knew about it. It was to protect him that the father came in search of his son on the ship,” Roshan is still looking around. But he is unable to think from where this sound is coming from.
“Do you have anything to ask?” Again that sound. But Roshan did not know from whom he should ask.
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Kamal aiya has still not come back from the town. Roshan thinks that the sound of the rain he hears for a long time from afar is very strange. He also feels that the surroundings of Maama’s house has changed from yesterday.
The wind and the rain striking the trees around the house make a rustling sound. The electric light on the roadside lamp post goes on and off. Roshan sees a novelty in all this.
He quietly turned back the chair and looked again at the road in the distance. He could see far on the road from where he sat. Roshan was looking from the iron gate of Mama’s house to the distance afar on the road. Roshan started seeing a dark shadow like the figure he saw in the mysterious cave that afternoon. Roshan felt as if body was struck by lightning.
He suddenly felt as if someone was whispering in his ear “Do not get frightened, child”
Roshan once again turned back towards the sitting room and looked at the television.
The television was showing a part of a story about three small kids who had lost their way in a forest. It was a daring story of the difficulties faced by these kids in trying to find a way out of the forest. Roshan moved his chair closer to the television and continued watching.
What happened that afternoon was similar to a television story thought Roshan.
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“you don’t’ need soothsayers for this? I said our son would come. Then a boy turned up.”
By this looks you can tell that he is our son…” Jokin said making the children laugh.
Kamal asked the timid looking by to come through the gate.
“What is his name?” Roshan asked from Jokin as he remembered that the Art Master had said every person liked to be called by his name.
“The name is Ranjith, but we call him Ranjo.” Jokin laughed again.
“Ah..Ranjo, come, come we were waiting till you come.” Roshan shouted out and Jokin’s son Ranjith replied with a big smile.
Ranjo quickly joined the kids. Roshan was glad that he got another friend like Saman.
Ranjo was good for work and along with Roshan & Saman quickly cut the rotten branches off the flower shrubs near the wall and arranged the place nicely.
The children saw that although there were Lotus and Olu in the pond, it has not being cleaned for long time.
Manori and Maalika having being tired and bathed in sweat removing grass, came walking towards Roshan.
“Look. I saw a fine thing.” Roshan whispered to Saman.
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“I was thinking that these kids would have created enough trouble to you all. They are experts at doing naughty things” Amma said to Nenda at the dining table that night.
“Well, although you said putha is naughty, we don’t see it as such.” Maama said in reply. Peshala akka looked at Roshan with lowered eyes and smiled.
“Roshan is now drawing a large picture for a foreign art exhibition” said Maama changing the subject.
“What are you drawing, Putha?” asked Thaththa.
“Thaththa, Kamal aiya said about an overseas art exhibition. He asked me to send a picture to it.”
“So, will the Bird Island be drawn again? It was no clear whether Thaththa asked from Roshan or from Kamal.”
“Roshan came here and did a big exploration. He will be drawing that.” Kamal said laughing.
“Then I can imagine what things he would have done after coming here.” Thaththa said in a deep voice. “No, the Children did not do anything bad,” Nenda spoke up on behalf of the children.
It was in the early morning of towmorrow that Peshala akka had to be dressed up as a bride and made ready to leave the house. Even before the children woke up Peshala akka was dressed up and ready.
The children woke up, washed and dressed themselves in the new clothes Amma had brought.
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“I drew a picture under Environment and Nature, Aiye. But it is not complete yet” replied Roshan.
“Are you not going to show us the picture?” Winnie asked with a smile.
“It is at home Aiya. I drew it on a large page so it will be difficult to bring” smiled Roshan.
The friends of Manori and Maalika in the girls school like Lorna, Sandali, Savthri were listening attentively to the experiences of the two girls during the holidays.
Lorna has had a different experience. Someone had carried off Lorna’s younger sister for fun. Lorna had got so frightened that she had to be hospitalized for many weeks. The children were sad about it.
The first few nights at the boarding were spent on sharing the experiences of all during the holidays. They also shared the food brought from their homes.
Having obtained the Principals permission Roshan came home during midterm for a holiday and completed the picture.
Then he filled in the application form sent by Kamal aiya and prepared the picture to be sent to the exhibition in America as Kamal aiya had advised.
The night he finished the picture Roshan felt very light hearted. He felt that someone who stayed near him told him a lot of notes about the picture. Roshan’s mother and father smiled when they saw a pup had also joined the group of children going in aboat along the sea towards Bird Island.
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