We are temporary assistant lecturers. Those who belong to this species are young, fresh graduates. Somehow God’ s plan for me was a different one. I was going here and there as a visiting lecturer and after around six years I recieved this job. So, I am the eldest. That did not make me more responsible or mature. I can easily camouflage among these girls who are couple of years younger than me.
I have two best friends. In fact all are my friends. Since we share the same floor the two assistant lecturers in German section are more closer to me. I am in French cubical. We are separated by one partition and we can talk to each other even we are at either sides. Since Senior lecturers come when they have lectures only I find myself alone in my area. So, every morning I wait until they come. I hear their door opens. I wait.
” Good morning Akke”
I recognize their voice. If you can hardly hear the voice then that is the smaller one there. If the voice speaks in full extacy, that is the elder one.
” Good morning friends!”
” Had breakfast?”
” No. I was waiting until you both come, will you come to France?”
In a while they come French cubical. Some mornings I bring shorteats, three pieces. One for me and the rest for them. Im the one who come from home. They stay at boarding houses. When they go home they bring a packet of rice. Sometimes, I also ask my mother to make me a parcel of rice. She cannot do that every day as she had a lot of work to do in early morning. She is the one who drape me in Kandyan Saree. It consumes at least forty five minutes. However if there is rice to eat, then we switch our dining room from France to Germany.
After one or two lectures, we meet again. May be before lunch or for lunch.
” What shall we do now?”
” We’ ll go to canteen”
There are several canteens in campus. Around twelve O clock they are crowded with students. We come out from our department. On the way we might meet our friends from other countries, China, Russia, Korea and Japan. None of them are natives from those countries but Sri Lankans like us. We have some other friends in other departments too. Those who teach Christian culture, Eastern Atchteture, Film and Telivision studies, Drama, Western classics. Most of them are girls. Even if we don’t know them there is a special code to recognize a temporary lecturer. If a young girl is wearing new vibrant colour sarees and smiles with everyone she meets and greet, then that is one of ours. Honestly there are fistful of boys and novice priests.
We go down stairs in Summer Huts, cross the road. This road which runs to village is fallen through our University. On the other side, first we meet Juice bar. Avacado, wood apple, lime,watermelon, mango, pineapple or milshakes you can buy there.
” What are we going to drink?”
” Mmm… anything”
” Ok … we ll have Avacado then”
Same scenario every day. We come here and we just discuss what shall we buy and then buy avacado juice. During Mango season we’d buy mango juice. After that we will have lunch or some snacks. Then two pieces of cake, every day coffee cake with three spoons.
If our work for the day ends at 3 O clock in the afternoon we’ll again go to have a coffee or some shorteats. Around that time there are fresh Parippu Wade, fish patties and vege rolls. Milk tea or plain tea you can have there. There we meet friends from other faculties too.
Food, snacks, juice, tea or coffee is an essential part of our daily routine. One of my German friends and I are chubby. We often think that we must not eat always. When we have hectic schedules, it is natural that we feel hungry. So one morning my friend came up with a solution.
” Akke, I found a new method.”
” What method?”
” We eat only rice, that is also in six hour intervals. We will stop eating random snacks and sugary items.”
” No cakes too?”
” Yes”
The smaller friend does not have any choice. We thought that she has a small stomach as she eats a bit. She can adapt to any situation. I made up my mind not to eat biscuits. For me biscuit is like a drug. It was not easy to not to look at buttery cookies. We were very strong, we maintained this practice for one week.
” Shall we eat something?”
It was a fine morning. I was hungry but as my friend counted we can eat at 9 O clock only.
” No we’ ll wait.”
” Ok…ok”
Stepping to second week. I felt that I am weak, yet I see no progress in body.
Why did we actully started this diet plan? This was because some people teased us. Not at same time though.
” Oh… you have put on some weight no.”
” Anyway , you all hang out, eating from every canteen no”
” Not yet married right? Better to consider losing some pounds.”
Sometimes, they come as advice. They will not give these precious ideas when we meet in person but in public.
Third week, we were going somewhere inside campus. There days we do adventure. There is a huge Robarosia tree in Science faculty. During summer days the tree bloosoms bloom in pink hues. We’ d invade this neighbouring faculty. Sit on the bench under the tree and enjoy the view of falling flowers. Flowering season in the university is picturesque. Golden rain trees are bloom in yellow. Mee Amba Sewana, a serene area here, owns golden rain trees. Every one would love to take pictures and selfies there. So do we. That day we were on such itinerary.
A good friend of ours comes from other side. She is again a chubby girl. She wears beautiful sarees, earings and always a pretty smile on her face.
” Hello, lectures done? where are you all going?”
” Hello, yes done. We just came out”
She went in her way and we were in our way.
” I’ m hungry. Shall we eat something?”
” What do you say nangi?”
” You both are in diet, not me no. So I am ok with anything”
It was a fine evening. Sun rays were hidden behind clouds. we three went down the stairs at summer huts. Crossed the road. Went to canteen. Students were still there. They looked tired after lectures. Some lecturers were having tea. We bought three snacks, coffee and two pieces of cake. Then sat aroud a table.
” I think we are beautiful, piece of cake can do no harm. “
“May be we’ll eat them once in a while”
” You both are pretty, why do you care about what others say”
– Sumudu-