"Madam, I'm here to cut off the electricity..."
"Okay sir, go ahead and do your job..."
At that time, I was working for the Electricity Board and had come to that house to disconnect the electricity because they hadn't paid their bill for several months, and a disconnection order had been issued.
When I arrived, an elderly woman was feeding a young child. She didn't even acknowledge me and said, "Sir, just do your job."
Her demeanor piqued my curiosity about her story.
"Why are you saying that, madam? If the electricity is cut off, it will be inconvenient for you. Can't you manage to pay the bill somehow?"
"It's no use, sir. I don't have a way to pay it."
"If the electricity is cut off, you will have to pay to get it reconnected. It's just a small amount to pay now..."
The amount to be paid was around three thousand rupees. Other people usually make up excuses to avoid having their electricity cut off. I was genuinely curious as to why this woman couldn't manage to pay, so I asked her.
"I can't pay the bill, let alone feed this little one."
"Why, madam? What's the matter? Whose child is this?"
"My story won't matter to you, sir. It's of no use to anyone..."
She looked away... The way she spoke made my heart ache.
I sat down to listen to her story.
"Sir, this is my daughter's child. She went abroad and hasn't returned since... I used to work on a farm, but I retired when I turned sixty. I still haven't received my pension, sir..."
"This child has leukemia..."
A small tear glistened at the corner of her eye.
"When I went to work, my daughter used to stay at home alone... My husband died of an illness two years after she was born..."
"For a while, I worked in houses and raised my daughter with the little money I had..."
"I couldn't afford to educate her properly, sir... There was no money..."
"Later, when I went to work on the farm, she stayed at home alone..."
"This child doesn't have a father... Come here, my dear..."
She hugged the child and wiped her tears with the edge of her cloth.
"When this child's illness worsened, I sold my house to pay for the hospital expenses at Maharagama hospital... I have nothing left, sir... The neighbors gathered and helped us with a place to stay... We don't even have a chair to sit on, sir..."
That was when I looked inside the house. There was only a small mat to sleep on...
What I heard was more than enough. The courage this woman had to live like this despite such hardships was astounding... My heart felt heavy... It felt like I was passing through a desolate wasteland on my way back to the office.
"Sir... I can't cut off the electricity for this house. Please deduct this amount from my salary over the next six months..."
I stood before my boss and said this.
He looked surprised.
"Why, Sarath? What's the problem?"
I explained everything to him.
"Sarath, do you think I don't have a heart?"
He took a red pen and canceled the bill.
--------------------------
Several months later, I received a message,
"Sarath, there's an elderly woman looking for you."
I finished my work and came to the office entrance. There was an elderly woman who looked familiar...
I remembered...
"Sir, do you remember me?"
She asked, handing me a parcel.
"I received my pension, sir..."
"I have no one left now... My grandchild passed away too... I couldn't even afford proper treatment for him..."
"The only person who showed me kindness in my life was you, sir..."
"I brought this parcel of sweets for you..."
"Thank you very much... Please come inside..."
I took her to my boss.
I introduced her. As my boss instructed, all the staff gathered in his office.
Everyone had sweets and tea with her...
We laughed... Even the corners of the old woman's wrinkled face had a small smile... Her eyes sparkled...