Miurielle

The Unhappy Bride

Denzil Jayasinghe

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Miurielle came to her homecoming party in a red saree, the colour of fire and blood. She smiled and danced with Julian, her husband, who held her tight. He moved awkwardly, trying to copy the dances he had seen at rich people’s parties. His parents, Wilma Akka and Gabriel Mama had made a tent outside their tiny house, a cheap copy of a wedding hall. They had invited their relatives and friends, who came to see the newlyweds.

But Miurielle felt nothing inside. She wanted more; she wanted a wealthy husband, a car and a big house. She did not want poor relatives for her family. She felt empty, alone, and unsatisfied.

Julian’s parents did not trust her. They did not like his marriage, his decision, his wife. They saw her as a foreigner and an invader. They knew that Miurielle’s parents had forced their son to marry her without their consent. Miurielle’s sisters, brother, and parents had come with her, but they left soon after.

The wedding party ended at midnight. His parents and younger brother gave up their only bedroom to Julian and Miurielle and slept in the hall on the floor. It was her first night at Miurielle’s husband’s home.

The next morning, Miurielle and Wilma Akka clashed. Miurielle shouted at Julian, “Julian, Julian, what is this? This is not a kitchen.” She was appalled by the outdoor kitchen at Wilma’s house.

That was the beginning of the trouble. Wilma Akka, a plain and devout woman, felt no bond with Miurielle. Miurielle, a fashionable and flashy young woman, liked her mini-skirts and bare legs. Wilma Akka, a religious and fervent woman, was horrified by such brazen displays. They fought from the first day over everything: cooking, laundry and household chores. Miurielle was not used to living in a cramped space. Her parent’s home, though rented, was a showy place. Miurielle and her sisters dressed well, eager to impress young lads. But Julian’s parents were simple people uneasy with a girl who flaunted her ways.

Julian’s friends came to see him and were charmed by Miurielle’s beauty, especially her legs. They were tempted, but they kept their distance out of respect for Julian.

Julian was a poor office assistant in a government school, earning only 165 rupees monthly, a meagre salary. He loved Miurielle; she had cast a spell on him. He had no money to spend on her, but they had a connection.

Miurielle, on the other hand, was used to getting attention and praise from others. But she realised that she was married to Julian, a handsome but poor young man from a peasant family with no money or education. She was not loyal to him. She wanted to look good and flirt with other men. She wanted to be noticed.

Julian had no money to spare to satisfy Miurielle’s appetite for new clothes. Julian’s mother noticed that her money and bangles were missing. She accused Miurielle of stealing from her, pawning them and buying clothes. Julian had nothing left, was always in debt and he asked his friends for cigarettes. Miurielle wore her short skirts, put on makeup and went out when Julian was at work. No one knew where she went, but she came back before Julian came back in the evening.

Miurielle was a scandal in the street. People whispered that she had lovers who gave her cash and jewels. She quarreled with Julian’s mother every day about the food, the clothes, and the house. Wilma Akka, the old woman, prayed loudly to her God to save Miurielle from sin. Once, someone saw Miurielle with Rodney, a rich young man in a Triumph car, speeding away.

Julian felt his manhood fading away. He had married a woman who was too much for him. His parents were poor and simple; they could not handle her demands. He felt insecure about his job and his status. He told his friends about his problems. He suffered every day. He drank to forget.

Miurielle’s life drastically changed after she left the village carnival with Rodney. She humiliated Julian in front of everyone at the fair. He was helpless and heartbroken. He drank more and cried in public. His friends carried him home.

Miurielle did not care about Julian or his feelings. She continued to see other men behind his back. She would leave the house when he went to work and return before he came back. She would get into cars with her lovers and drive away. Julian’s parents could not stop her. They tried to reason with her, but she would not listen. She would argue with them about everything. She hated their simple and poor lifestyle. She wanted more money, more clothes, more cars.

Julian had enough of Miurielle. He decided to leave her and go to Germany. He got a visa and packed his bags. The night he left, Miurielle yelled at him. “Bring a car when you return; even a Morris Minor will do.” She did not care that he was leaving. She did not love him.

Miurielle became more reckless after Julian left. She did not stay at his parents’ house anymore. She would disappear for days, and no one knew where she was. She was beyond control. She did not care about anyone or anything.

A year later, Miurielle gave birth to a baby boy. It was Julian’s son, but he did not know. He did not return to Sri Lanka for the birth. He cut off his ties with her. He did not want to see her or hear from her. He wanted to forget her.

Wilma Akka was left to care for Miurielle and the baby, her grandson. She was kind and compassionate. She took pity on Miurielle and her child. She hoped that Miurielle would change her ways after the baby was born. But Miurielle did not change. She still went out with other men and neglected her child. She would leave the baby with Wilma Akka and vanish for days. This caused more fights at home. Wilma Akka scolded her for being a bad mother and a bad wife. Miurielle did not listen. She packed a bag and left, abandoning her child.

Wilma Akka looked after the child and nursed him. She prayed for Julian and Miurielle. She hoped that God would forgive Miurielle and save her from sin.

A fiery blaze sealed Miurielle’s fate. She was trapped in Rodney’s home in a fire when it exploded. She was scorched and dying on a hospital bed. People whispered that she carried another life inside her when she breathed her last. Some said that she wept for her sins, and her agony was the price she paid for hurting Julian.

Disclaimer: The above is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The author has made every effort to portray the characters and events in a fictional and entertaining manner.

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