I Swear You Will Be Fine

Dear Josh,

I have a new routine when I go away on holidays if I am alone. I have the luxury of sitting at breakfast with my laptop, taking my time sampling the food, while writing to you, working or reading. It is my favourite time of the holiday. You know how much I like to eat, though you probably don’t approve.

My first morning in Kandy, I had a good hour before anyone joined me. But I had a visitor, constantly getting closer and closer to me. When I told my cousins, S Mami said to perhaps chase the black bird away from the food area before it spreads more germs. You were probably saying the same thing. But it was beautiful. The jet black bird bouncing around on the background of the Mahaweli river and the lush greenery. It kept me company for a good half an hour. Eventually I chased it away when it decided to come sit on my table.

A little later, we left to catch a glimpse of the house Ammamma grew up in. Your cousin S has been so kind to accompany us. Patta told Ammamma not to ask the new owners of the house if we could come inside. 34 years ago when we visited, they were not so friendly and refused to let us come in, understandably. But when our van parked, there was an elderly man hovering in the garden. Cousin S and Ammamma approached the gate and said she lived there 50 years ago. And the elderly man immediately said my Patta’s (your great grandfather’s name) and welcomed us into their home. Ammamma was thrilled, showing us the room she slept in, the kitchen, where Patta would sit. It was lovely. As she walked through the garden and showed me some of the original structures of the house, I told her to turn around. There was a huge tree completely blossoming with bright purple flowers. Thank you for showing us you were right there with us.

Later we visited Patta’s University. Tun spotted a corridor we missed full of pictures. There we saw Patta’s graduation picture with his class, along with the fathers of many of my friends. He was so proud, constantly asking us to take pictures of him.

We also managed to visit Ammamma’s school, although we couldn’t quite go inside because of examinations ongoing. And for lunch, Cousin S treated us to a lovely pizza meal. He ordered the Quattro Formagi and I told him that was one of your favourite pizzas (before you started your strict diet), together with Margherita and Pepperoni.

Kandy is a lovely place Josh. I think you like it here. It reminds me of a south Asian version of Edinburgh, with its hilly lanes. Lakes and rivers make the place feel mystical together with the cooler weather. I hope you took in the sights with us.

So Josh, we’ve pretty much ticked all the boxes of what Patta and Ammamma wanted to see. We still need to get back to Colombo and then Singapore, but overall, it looks like mission accomplished. I know you were right by our sides. Again, the physical you could not have managed this. I think the spiritual you was with us every minute of the trip. I think out of all of us, Patta’s and Ammamma’s happiness means most to you. I hope you are happy that you made this possible.

Love Mum