“Aththiwaaram”
THE FOUNDATION
Story for ScriptNet SL
By
B.Thavapalan
September 2006
Synopsis
The great displacement that occurred in 1996 Sri Lanka shook the foundations of many people’s lives. Kavari was one of the victims. Kethees loved her, faced challenges, and tried to overcome them. But the circumstances of that time led to misunderstandings.
Eventually, they overcame everything and fulfilled their parents’ dream by getting married.
Treatment
Kanthasamy, father of Kavari, was a contractor in their hometown. They were doing well, but they lost their property and wealth during the displacement in 1996. When they returned home as the peace talks started, Kavari lost one of her legs and her mother to landmines near their house entrance. As she used a Jaipur Leg for a long time, she did not appear disabled. But Kanthasamy became a heart patient.
Later, with some help from distant relatives, Kavari and her father shifted their lives to Negombo. As Kavari had attended a sewing training course organized by an NGO during their displacement, she was able to earn some income for the family. Kanthasamy became an active land broker, and Kavari worked in a tailor shop. Together, father and daughter developed themselves with the help of their knowledge and friends.
After years of hard work, Kanthasamy bought a three-wheeler on lease with the bank manager’s recommendation. He became a three-wheeler driver as well as continuing land brokering. He was known as KK, “Kaani Kanthasamy.” The vehicle also helped with his daughter’s transport.
Katheeswaran, called Kethees, was 30 years old but looked younger. He worked in a textile shop as a salesperson in Negombo town. Kethees lived with his parents; his father was a retired mathematics teacher, and his mother was a housewife. In his mind, Kethees dreamed of owning his own textile business. His ability and interest in business encouraged his boss, Sundaram, the shop owner, to support him. Kethees often visited Colombo with his boss, sometimes alone, for business purposes.
In the late 1990s, Sundaram decided to expand his business into ready-made and tailor-made garment manufacturing. While developing this idea, Kethees met Kavari. As she was hardworking and active, she caught his interest. They became friends—business friends and family friends.
Later, Kethees learned about her disability and her family situation. He helped her start her own tailor shop and arranged for her products to be sold in Sundaram’s shop.
One day, Kethees expressed his love for her. Initially, Kavari pretended to accept his love, but later she said she had no intention of marrying and that her father meant everything to her. Kethees became sad and hopeless, and his performance at work declined. Sundaram noticed and discussed it with him. With his boss’s encouragement, Kethees decided to speak to KK.
When Kethees talked to Kanthasamy about his love for Kavari, KK respected his feelings but gave him a challenge: Kethees must own a house before marrying Kavari. If he could do that, KK promised to convince his daughter. Kethees agreed and promised not to disturb them until he owned a house. But Kavari knew nothing of this arrangement, even as her feelings for Kethees deepened.
Kethees discussed the matter with his boss, who agreed to help him financially and look after Kethees’s family for a while. Kethees then left Negombo for Colombo.
During the peace talks, property development in the capital boomed as many migrated Sri Lankans wished to invest. Numerous flats were being constructed in and around Colombo. With his business talent and textile contacts, Kethees decided to supply curtain materials to the new flats. Thanks to his pricing, wide range, and quality, he became a known supplier to leading companies and property developers.
Meanwhile, Kavari and KK were also doing well and learned of Kethees’s progress. Kethees had selected a house with land and updated Sundaram, who informed KK that Kethees might marry soon. KK began expecting Kethees’s visit.
However, at the same time, Kethees’s father fell ill. To care for his parents, Kethees moved to Dehiwala, postponing his house purchase. KK, upset by the missed visit, believed that Kethees had abandoned his daughter because of her disability. He grew ill from worry.
Eventually, Kethees resumed his house search and located a property in Wattala. But before he could finalize it, KK suffered another heart attack and was admitted to Negombo hospital. The day Kethees came to speak to KK, doctors had already advised transferring him to Colombo. KK was taken by ambulance while Kethees followed later by van. Their vehicles crossed, but neither realized.
When Kethees reached Negombo, neighbors told him KK had been moved to Colombo. On his way back, he met Kanesh, who wrongly claimed KK had promised his daughter to a Colombo textile businessman, and that Kavari’s love for a local man had caused conflict and KK’s heart attack. Heartbroken, Kethees returned to Colombo, refusing to meet KK or Kavari.
At the hospital, doctors required funds for KK’s bypass surgery. After deep thought, Kavari contacted Kethees for help. Understanding the situation, Kethees provided the money without conditions. The operation succeeded.
KK later sold his three-wheeler to repay Kethees. When they visited Kethees’s home, his parents revealed how much hope he had placed on KK and Kavari, and how devastated he was by the misunderstanding. After clarifying the truth, everyone realized the mistake and set out to find Kethees.
They found him at the house he had planned to buy, just after he had canceled the booking. There, the truth was revealed to him.
Kethees married Kavari. He bought land in Wattala, and both families attended the house foundation ceremony together.
End
