Voyageur Vol:1 | Page 70

V O Y A G E U R 69 S T O R Y E.T.A. AnupaTennakoon pots car drive on the village road by spreading dust everywhere. Every place in this village looks like a mess. Lots of restaurant are open both side on shabby road. Few foreigners are inside the sirisena's shop. Guneris watch all these things by sitting at bench of his boutique. He was slowly memorizing his past. Guneris has been living in this village since his child hood. Today village has changed lot, by comparing to the past. But one thing has not been changed. It is villagers' name and this shabby road. This road goes to the lake. Village had changed with situating a hotel in the village twenty years back. Guneris feel that past still on his dream. Listen authorities!! Preserve culture!! No need hotel!! In his young age Guneris collaborated with protesting programs against hotel. But anything could not stop the construction of hotel. Government and hotel owners gave possible answers to villager's question. They promised to do construction with low effect to environment, develop infrastructure, facilities of villagers, providing jobs to villager youth make better solution to villagers protest. Hotel construction began with months, huge trees cut down from the forest near the reservation. Huge trucks made old village road in in to dusty place. But electricity was given to village, half of the villagers employed through hotel. Benefits of the hotel made the people think it as fortune given by God. Large amount of people who got participated in Guneris' protest join with hotel construction. That made Guneris' S heart more hurt. Now hotel is celebrating its twentieth year. Guneris now in old age and his children also at young age. Elder son had married German girl before few years. He was highly against with that marriage. But elder son wanted do that marriage. Now he is a permanent resident in Germany. Younger son lives in village. He is doing a socially unacceptable job and earns money. From child hood he was familiar with drugs and associating forefingers. Even though Guneris was revolutionary in his young age he could not take his children in to correct path. Hotel looks like a giant in the forest. Guneris don't like to accept the changes happened to village. English has added to the word of villagers. As well as new generation full with technology. Almost every young has a mobile phone. There is attending of stopping education in ordinary level and join with a hotel job. Some sounds make Guneris from his dreams. Voice belongs to his younger son. What are you thinking father? It is about us. Isn't it? We are still alive. All these bullshits still in your mind. How many jobs this hotel provides to villagers. Both of us are earning something because of this hotel. Father!! Sill beauty is remaining in our village. If there was not hotel situated in this area houses may cover this area. We take lots of benefits from this hotel. Let see this road. At least they no need to change this road. They need to conserve our tradition and earn from it. Guneris maintain his silence furthermore. There were no answers to give his younger son. Winners accept fair changes. He was not changed. He could not realize whether these changes are good or bad. He stands up from the bench with confuse mind.