Christmas of the Present-By Algi Wijewickrema

Source:Island

It was four days before Christmas and father Asiri was in his little office room when Peter, his faithful sacristan who doubled as butler, bodyguard, odd job man, et al, came in and announced that a young woman wished to see him. Although parishioners young and old visiting him was not something to be considered special, father Asiri detected something in Peter’s manner that told him it was not a normal visit.

The young girl ushered to his presence was no more than twenty, dressed in a wrinkled skirt and blouse and was carrying a child who  could not be more than a few days old. She could not be called beautiful but could have been attractive if not for her troubled look. Fr. Asiri inquired from her what the problem was but it was Peter who answered saying that she had been sent out of her house.

It was obvious that Peter had questioned her before bringing her to him and knowing that it was Peter’s habit to do so with casual visitors, he proceeded to ask the girl what the problem was while signalling to Peter to be silent.

The story that came out in halting words and tears was that she had married her lover and moved into his house in the adjoing village about one year ago. His parents had not been in favour of her marriage to their son and though not openly hostile towards her, had shown her that she was not welcome in their house. Her pregnancy nine months ago had been tolerated by her in-laws but they had not been supportive and the situation had taken a dramatic turn just about 10 days ago. Her husband had gone missing and no amount of inquiries brought any news of his whereabouts. The absence of their son had been an opportunity for her in-laws to openly scold her for anything and everything she did or didn’t do and also accuse her of bringing a curse on the family. With her husband not there to defend or pacify her, she had decided to face all that came her way for the sake of their child to be born and take a decision on what she would do after the child was born.

With an interval for nursing the child, she continued her story. The child had been born four days ago and she had returned home with the baby only to be ordered out the very next day. Having walked aimlessly that day, knowing that a stranger with a child would not be welcome under normal circumstances and less so during these COVID fearing days, she had spotted the church and had decided to seek help.

Having listened to her story, Fr. Asiri could not decide immediately what to do so he asked her what she thought he could do. That was when Peter butted in saying “why father, she can stay in the storeroom and can help me with the cooking”. Knowing Peter to be largehearted, Fr. Asiri  did not wish to caution him about keeping his mouth shut and in any case, he thought, that was probably the best solution until he was able to find a permanent arrangement for the girl.

Led by Peter, the girl who said her name was nimali walked to the back of the mission house where the storeroom was. Fr. Asiri had no qualms about Nimali being in the house as Peter would look after her like she was his own granddaughter. Except being reminded of her presence when the child cried or having better tasting meals with more variety than he was used to, father Asiri could have carried on as if nothing had happened.

The next day being Sunday he announced to his congregation the plight of the girl he had given shelter to and sought their generous support to help find a solution and also provisions for the mother and child’s support. Being days before Christmas there was a substantial response and all seemed to be going well till Christmas eve.

As was his routine Fr. Asiri was attending to his office work in the morning when he noticed a young man dressed fairly well, standing, waiting for him to recognise his presence. As soon as he was seated, upon being invited to, he introduced himself as Ransiri and proceeded to relate to Fr. Asiri the reason for his visit. When he had finished, Fr. Asiri had a smile on his lips and asked the young man to come back in the evening.

When he arrived that evening Ransiri was dressed casually and appeared more relaxed and unlike in the morning, more determined, and it was clear that he had gone home and returned. Fr. Aisiri called Peter and he came with Nimali and the child and the reunion was obviously emotional and it was even more obvious that the couple loved each other very much.

Instead of relating the story of Ransiri’s disappearance to Peter or Nimali, Fr. Asiri asked Ransiri himself to tell his wife what happened. Amidst sobs and tears from Nimali, first of sorrow and self pity and then of joy, Ransiri described his ordeal. 

On the day he disappeared, the bus he was in, travelling to office had been stopped by PHIs based on information that a COVID-19 patient was travelling in it and having identified the patient they had sent him for treatment in an ambulance that was waiting. The driver, conductor and the rest of the passengers including Ransiri had been sent for immediate quarantine to a centre some distance away. Since he had forgotten to carry his cell phone that day he had requested that a message be passed on to his office and home which the PHIs had promised to do. Blissfully unaware of his wife’s plight, Ransiri had nervously passed the time longing for the fourteen days to be over and he be declared free of infection. 

Upon returning home he had found Nimail missing and questioned his parents and only then learned of his baby’s birth, Nimali’s disappearance and that his parents had withheld the information of his quarantine from Nimali. Frustrated and angry he had left the house immediately and had made inquiries from his village church, as he thought that may have been the first place she might have gone for help but when he learned that it was not so, by chance decided to check on the neighbouring parish.

“All’s well that ends well” thought Fr. Asiri. But he asked Ransiri if he was going back home with Nimali and the baby as he felt that the environment would not be conducive for Nimali and the baby to do so. Ransiri explained that he had arranged for them to stay at a friend’s house till they were able to rent out a place. However, what pleased more than the happy ending was Ransiri’s determination to return home to his parents some day soon, after helping them to understand that he needed Nimali and the baby in his life as much as he needed them. 

Somehow Fr. Asiri felt happier with the present Christmas than his Christmases past.