Ambayaluwo Chapter One

 

Nimal caqme running past the other boys, and leapt from the road on to the grass and picked up a mango,

''That's mine said Sunil trying to snatch it from him 

''I'll give you!"

'' could the mango I picked up be yours?"

'' May be you picked it, but I am the one who saw it first''

The other boys walked about under the mango tree looking for mangoes. A few boys picked up good ones, some even picked up mangoes partly eaten by squirrels while some were decivbed by immature ones that looked ripe.

Sunil who only wnated to get the mango Nimal had picked up got nothing.

'' Are you giving my mango or not?'' asked Sunil and rushed towards Nimal leaving the satchel on the ground and fought for the mango.

Nimal too thrust his bundle of books under his armpit and held the mango with both his hands. Because of the quarrel the books slipped and fell on the ground. The other boys who picked up manges shared them together.

''If you want a pice I'll give you one" said Nimal Still fighting.

''Why only a pice for me?"

The fight increased in internsity. Both of them fought rolling on the ground, crawling on thir keness and by getting up and falling several times over. The other boys who were only interested in enjoying the taste of manges thought that it was a mock fight at first and made fun of it. But when they saw the angry faces of the fighters they were drawn towards the scene of the fight.

''What's this? asked one.

''He is trying to take the mango I picked up "said Nimal without giving up the mango.

" I am the one who saw i first" said Sunil drawing his fist and giving Nimal a powerful blow on the forehead.

Nimal who did not expect this blow was thrown aside and it was with difficulty that he prevented himself from falling on the ground. The boys were alarmed. Without trembling Nimal continued to look at Sunil Silently. Sunil also stood up preparing to him if the need arose. Immediately. Nimal stepped forward and offered the crushed mango to Sunil. Sunil drew his foot back and kicked Nimal's extended hand. The mango slipped out blue flies. Still Nimal kept on looking at Sunil. Sunil too stared at Nimal like a fighting cock.

"In vain! None got it" said some boys. Nimal wiped the mango juice that soiled his hands on his trouser pockets dused his clothes and collected his books when a fully ripe golden mango fell in front of Nimal and he picked it up.

"See how the sqirrels selected the correct side, "said Nimal. Sunil who heard it looked up as if he intended to hit the squirrel.

Nimal took out his penknife from his pocket, opended it and cut the mango. The boys surrounded him Nimal pinned the first piece of mango with the tip of his knife and offered it to Sunil sunil looked at Nimal's face and as he saw it tears gatherd in Sunil's eyes.

''Take Sunil, take" said one boy. Sunil looked at the piece of mango and Nimal's two innocent eyes twice or thrice, then he turned back, picked up the satchel and went away.

/

/