Page 30 - Memoirs of Sarasworthy Somasundaram

The Alligator

1975 Non-aligned (Nations) Conference, Colombo
Tale recounted by Sentha at Uduvil Girls’ College Morning Assembly.
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Sentha had worked as secretary to the French speaking Delegation
Delegates to the Conference had been assigned accommodation in the posh hotels in
Colombo. Mt Lavania Hotel was of course one of the more popular ones.

One night, suddenly, there was an emergency alert from one of the guest delegates. The
receptionist on duty picked up the telephone and heard a desperate voice “Please take me
from this room immediately, there is an Alligator in my room!”

The Workmen rushed up to the room and what did they see? A seven inch lizard crawling
across the wall in pursuit of a fly!!

Nevertheless, the delegate insisted on moving to another room, and the hotel staff, though
highly tickled, acquiesced his wishes.

Who had the last laugh? The Hotel staff? The lizard? Or the students?

Amma’s Dream 1978
It was the night Raman left us. He had died in the early hours of the morning and I had
taken the night train to Colombo. I had arranged for two of my friends (Kamala Sugunarajah
and Leela) to move into the Mission House to keep an eye on my Mother and to keep her
company. It was after dinner, she had been given her dinner, a sleeping pill and put to bed.
I am certain she didn’t know about Raman. My duties often took me to Colombo and yet…

Kamala, Leela and a couple of other teachers were in the drawing room. The Servants too
were around. Suddenly they heard Amma banging on the outer doors of her room, shouting
“Sentha… Sentha… don’t let Raman go… oh hold onto him” He’s dressed to go out. Oh…
stop him Sentha” And she tried to run out the back door.

Kamala and Leela had rushed in and tried to quieten her and soothe her. They were very
alarmed too. After a while she quietened down and gradually fell asleep.

Some friends explained Raman had called at the Mission House to say Good-bye to Amma …
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and yet, how to give a rational explanation to the fact that she had called out to Sentha?
That morning Sentha was the one who had gone in to wake him up with a cup of morning
coffee. It had been a holiday and she had volunteered to do the breakfast. But how could
Amma have known? I am not sure she even knew Sentha had rented the room over their
garage and that she too was at 34 Glen Aber Place. Why not Susheela, Reva, Geetha or
Papoose?

8 Editor’s note: Sentha confirmed that she was translating papers and filing papers, general admin duties. She
was about 20 at the time.
9 Editor’s note: Sentha was studying Chemistry at the University of Colombo at the time.

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