Fathima & I

We were Montessori friends

She’s a Muslim, I am a Buddhist

She always had Mehendi on hands

That was the only difference,

We danced for a concert

She was the Flower, I was the Butterfly.

That was quite a show!

"රන්වන් පාටයි සමනළයා 

රෝස මලේ පැණි බීල ගියා 

ආයිත් ඒවිද ඒ සමනළයා 

මල්වල පැණි බොන්ටා "

I did not meet her after Montessori days

I met her suddenly one day

We were 24 years old.

She was an English teacher, I was still at University

She was worried about her marriage:

“You know the girls in my age, all married 

& having children,

I am too late for everything”

She talked about Quran, I talked about Feminism

I said I wanted to travel more,

She laughed sighed & left.

I heard she got married when I studied for Masters,

She decided to wear Burqua

I knew she would because

Studying Quran was her favorite hobby

I had a fascination for her spiritual

Stories, 

I felt like a sinner.

She had two children, while I had two Masters

She wore all black, covered from head to foot

I had courage to wear a Bikini

Who won? Was there a contest between us?

Shame on us.

Recently, I was waiting in a queue

To get my driving license,

Lady in Burqua was standing behind me

A driving license?

I looked at her

She smiled at me

From her eyes,

That was all I could see

She smiled again

there was a sparkle in her eyes

But, there was no mouth

No nose, No face, No body

Not even Mehendi

All covered in black clothes,

She was still beautiful.

How can I know whether it’s Fathima,

My friend, The Flower?