Anthony teased his knuckle down her cheek and cupped her chin in his hand. ‘Lakshmi told me about a dream you and she shared as children. One where you would be together, your children playing. The dream can come true, princess. Our children.’ He smiled and touched her lip with his finger. ‘Yes, yours and mine will play with Lakshmi’s Daniel, except it will be in a vineyard in Australia and not a tea plantation in Sri Lanka.’
Shiro shook her head. ‘Your parents and Jega helped you plan this meeting didn’t they? That’s why your mother said I could get credit for my courses in an Australian medical school.’
‘Jega cares for you deeply, Shiro. He knows now that I encouraged you to follow your dreams of medical study and would never ask you to give it up. He contacted the Adelaide Medical School. And my parents, they realise that you are my future. Marry me, princess. Come with me to Australia.’ Anthony reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet covered box. He flicked it open.
The blue sapphire absorbed the sparkle of the diamonds that surrounded it. ‘It’s the Ashley-Cooper engagement ring. My grandfather had it made. It was meant to represent the Ashley-Cooper Empire. The Sri Lankan sapphire surrounded by South African diamonds. The wife of the firstborn wore it. I wondered why my parents didn’t give it to William. Now I know.’ He picked up her hand and slipped it onto her finger.
She glanced down at the ring and then into Anthony’s eyes. In the clear blue depth she saw his love – and her future.
‘I think I like the sound of Dr Shiromi Ashley-Cooper.’
Anthony’s arms tightened around her. He bent his head to kiss her.
Shiromi giggled.
Anthony raised his head. ‘I’m not sure I like that twinkle in your eyes, princess.’
Shiro placed her hands on either side of his face. She stood on tip-toe to whisper in his ear, ‘I can’t wait to show our children the letters Ann Ashley-Cooper wrote to me!’
Patricia Weerakoon
Glossary
Acca: (Tamil) older sister.
Achchi: (Tamil) grandmother.
Aiya: (Tamil) used as term of respect, like ‘sir’, although it literally means brother.
Aiyoo: polite exclamation. Akin to saying ‘Oh dear’.
Amma: mother. Also used as a term of respect, akin to madam, as in ‘Malar Amma’.
Aney: casual exclamation, in this context it is expressing delight.
Angé pore: (Tamil) move over there.
Annai: (Tamil) older brother. Sometimes used as a term of respect to an older male.
Appa: (Tamil) father. A wife didn’t address her husband by name. She would call him ‘Appa’ which means father.
Appu: the cook and housekeeper to British superintendents.
Arak: home brewed alcoholic beverage from the coconut palm.
Ayubowan: (Sinhalese) salutation wishing the recipient a long life, typically as a greeting or a goodbye.
Baila: lively dance music introduced to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese.
Betel: the leaf of the vine piper betel chewed with areca nut and slaked lime paste. It is a mild stimulant.
Chenthamil: (Tamil) the native Sri Lankans from the north of the country believe that they speak a pure unadulterated dialect of the language.
Chinnamma: (Tamil) young miss. Lakshmi addresses Shiro as Chinnamma out of respect. The word ‘amma’ means mother, but is also used as a sign of respect, akin to madam.
Coolie: indentured Indian labour working in the tea plantation.
Egg Hopper: made from a fermented batter of rice flour, coconut milk and sometimes a dash of palm toddy. Cooked with an egg in the centre.
Ganja: marijuana.
Hodhi: a light gravy of coconut milk, turmeric and spices.
Ingé pore: (Tamil) come over here.
Jaffna Tamil: Tamils who trace their heritage to the north of Sri Lanka.
Kadalai: boiled and tempered pulse with coconut and hot chili.
Kade: small corner store.
Kaluthai: donkey.
Kangani: (Tamil) Indian labour supervisor.
Kavanam: (Tamil) be careful.
Kiribath: rice porridge cooked with coconut milk.
Kohled: eyes outlined and painted in black eyeliner like paint.
Mahal: (Tamil) daughter.
Nandri illatha kaluthai: (Tamil) ungrateful donkey.
Nohuthu: (Tamil) a cry of excruciating pain.
Palaharams: (Tamil) A generic term for snacks sweet and savoury.
Palayang yako: (Sinhalese) go away, you idiot.
Parvati: Hindu Goddess considered as the supreme Divine Mother. She is considered her as the ultimate Divine Shakti — the embodiment of the total energy of the universe. She was homemaker and the protector of her husband (Shiva).
Pasikithu: (Tamil) I am hungry.
Periadorai: (Tamil) the senior superintendent of the tea plantation.
Periamma: (Tamil) madam. Amma is mother. However when the prefix ‘Peria’ or ‘big’ is added it means madam.
Pittu: steamed cylinders of ground rice paste layered with coconut.
Podeher Aiya: (Tamil) the minister in church.
Rambuttan: small red fruits about the size of golf balls. The fruit flesh is translucent, whitish or very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavour
Roti: griddle cakes made with flour, water and grated coconut.
Seenisambol: A dish made with chopped onions, chillie powder that is sweet and hot.
Soonyam: a curse or charm meant to induce the demons to bring illness or death on a person.
Stringhoppers: a form of steamed rice noodles. A traditional Sri Lankan breakfast dish.
Swami: a holy man with supposed supernatural powers.
Thambili: juice of the young coconut.
Thosai: savoury pancake originating in South India.
Thovil: thovil or ‘devil-dancing’ is a ritualistic healing ceremony that primarily belongs to folk religion. The dancers dress up to represent demons.
Uderata Maniké: (Sinhalese) upcountry girl. The name given to the locomotive taking the train up to the hill country.
Vadai: Indian-style savoury fritters made with variety of pulses and fried.
Vallukum: (Tamil) you may slip, it is slippery.
Vayapothu: (Tamil) shut up.
Veedu: (Tamil) house.
Veeté poungé: (Tamil) go home.
Vellala: A high caste Tamil.
Vesak lanterns: colourful lanterns of paper and bamboo sticks lit to celebrate the commemoration of Buddha and his Enlightenment.
About the author
Patricia Weerakoon is a medical doctor cum academic turned Sexologist and Writer. She retired in 2012 from a career as director of an internationally renowned graduate program in sexual health at the University of Sydney to pursue her passion for writing and public speaking. Her novels bring together her international experience in sexual health and her passion for her homeland of Sri Lanka.
As a Sexologist she has translated her passion to bring good holistic sexual health to all people into practical sex education, sex research and sex therapy. Patricia has a recognised media presence and is a popular public speaker and social commentator in Australia.
Follow Patricia Weerakoon and find out more about Empire’s Children at her blog: patriciaweerakoon.com/empireschildren
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