At the Airport

It was an evening in last may
our son's family was readying to go to airport
after a month's holiday here in Sri Lanka
a holiday that they have enjoyed so much

They took the flight to Dubai at ten in the evening
from Katunayaka International airport
with our grand-daughter 'Chaneli' of thirteen months
blowing flying kisses to us, non-stop

On our way to the car park, I saw this lady with a travelling bag
with pleading eyes, alone, frightened and a look of hurt
she advanced to my wife and asked for help
'can you drop me to my home at Wattala please?'

It was way beyond our home, thirty kilometres to the south
we got her in to the vehicle and asked what her problem was
'this is all I've got after working two years in Saudi'
'What's happened there?' wife wanted to know

'I was a house-maid in Saudi and they ill treated me
forced me to swallow twelve nails and beat me up
I was not given meals and no water for two days
finally I escaped through a friend to our embassy'

'They provided me with a plane ticket after a week or so
no wages for me for the past six months
I am bruised, hurt and have difficulty in breathing'
all of a sudden she started crying

Finally we reached her home, one roomed house in the suburb
she got down with thanks and opened her bag
with tears flowing her eyes, she grabbed a t-shirt
offered it to my wife with both of her hands

She was looking at us and wiping her tears
It was past midnight when we left her
I looked at the side mirror and saw her
raising her hand in a final good-bye!