ANGEL INCARNATE

Henry was a clerk working in a Government Department in Colombo. When he received a transfer order to work in a remote outstation, he did not protest because he was a happy-go-lucky bachelor of 24 years of age in search of adventure. 

Henry booked accommodation in the house of a friend’s relative, a hop, step and a jump from the new office, and at the end of the month, he bade farewell to his parents and departed to his new station. When he got down from the bus at his destination he looked around to enjoy the beauties of nature of the country side. "How beautiful," he exclaimed expanding his chest and inhaling the delicious morning air. However, unlike the busy metropolis, there was not a soul to be seen even to make enquiries about the road he had to take to his boarding house. He saw a cottage nearby and approaching it, whom did he see? There seated on the steps was a girl, very beautiful so much so that he thought she was an angel incarnate. When he spoke to her she did not reply, but ran inside the house and came back with her mother. On his repeating the enquiry, the old lady gave him the necessary instructions saying that the road he had taken was the correct one. He thanked her, surveyed the girl again, and reluctantly went away. 

Thereafter When passing that .way Henry spoke to the girl on days she was out in the garden and to his annoyance she only smiled never spoke to him. Nevertheless, he could not remove her out of his mind. After spending sleepless nights thinking of her, Henry told himself, “Faint heart never won fair lady" and went to see the girl's father one day. The old man who has visited Henry 's office on business (he was the owner of two lorries transporting agricultural produce Colombo) welcomed Henry with open arms. They discussed various matters concerning the old man's business till the girl's mother prepared and brought two cups of tea for them. At last Henry told the old man that the purpose of his visit was to ask for the hand of his daughter in marriage. 

"Aiyo, mahathmaya," said the old man in a sad voice. "I think you don't know that my pretty daughter can neither hear nor speak. She is both stone deaf and dumb!" 

Henry’s chagrin knew no bounds. He wished that the earth would open up and devour him.