The Firstborn

Nimmi held Asitha’s hand and studied his face as they sat at the corner table, their usual retreat, at the Misty Mountain restaurant, whenever they came to Nuwara Eliya. After finishing the work in town they would come here for coffee. His eyes sparkled with warmth and love; he was visibly happy. She thought so and hoped… But as she watched, a deep frown appeared on his face, and slowly spread over his rugged features.

- Aditha Dissanayake

Outside the window, a thin drizzle kept falling on the already drooping geraniums. The headlights of a car briefly flashed on the cypress trees by the roadside. The wet leaves glistened in the sharp light. A cat ran across the portico mewing piteously.  

‘Life sure is what happens when you are planning something else.’ Asitha turned to look at Nimmi. ‘Do you know who said that?’  

Nimmi shrugged.  

‘Me neither. But it’s so true.’ He paused for a moment. ‘What shall we do now?’  

Nimmi shrugged again, but this time her face broke into a wide smile. She looked like a kid who had been given a chocolate treat. ‘Isn’t this what we have always wanted? Oh, it’s so wonderful! Just when I had given up all hope it happened, or rather it didn’t happen.’ She grinned again, wrinkled her nose and said, ‘I wouldn’t go to that doctor ever again though. He gives me the creeps.’  

‘We’ll consult the best doctor in Colombo,’ Asitha assured her and placed his hand on top of hers. ‘How are you feeling? You mustn’t drink your usual cup of milk coffee today. Coffee might be bad for you. I’ll order tea for both of us.’  

After the waitress had left with their order, Asitha resumed the conversation. ‘What shall we do now?’ he repeated the question this time rubbing his forehead with his index finger.  

Nimmi took his hand into hers. ‘We’ll go ahead with what we had planned,’ she said with determination. ‘We can’t go back on our word now.’

‘Are you sure? Are you sure it will work?’ he asked her, uncertainly.