“What was that about?” I finally was able to muster, stepping out from behind the gate.

“Some madman, miss. Nothing to worry about,” one of the security men answered.

“Madam, good evening.” It was Piyadasa, Mahesh’s driver. That was strange. I don’t remember seeing Mahesh inside.

“Good evening, Piyadasa. Mahesh sir athuley de?” Is Mahesh sir inside? My Sinhala felt alien coming out of my mouth. Like my tongue was not used to forming the sounds.

“Naa, madam. Thawa mahaththayekta podi baduwak deliver karranna awey.” No, madam. I came to deliver a package to someone else. Was it me or did some of the other drivers smirk at this?

“Is your vehicle coming, madam?” one of the English-speaking drivers asked, peering down the street to where the angry man continued to walk.

I had called an Uber and it was just turning in.

“Who did he want to see?” I asked, looking in the same direction.

“No one, miss. He was crazy. Don’t worry.”

I was about to dig for more details when Aunty Josephina’s voice rang out.

“Leaving early, darling?”

“Y-yes, Aunty. Not feeling so great. Must be the jet lag, you know, no?”

“Yes, yes. I’m not feeling so well too. I thought I’d head home early. My driver needs to leave for the night as well. Ah, there he is.”

Her chauffeur-driven BMW pulled up right alongside my Uber, and we air-kissed our goodbyes. A vision of her blouse getting caught in the car door, dragging her screaming on the gravelly road, crossed my mind, but I shooed it away.

The man trying to make his way into the party was like the forgotten leftovers of a dream. I had bigger things on my mind. Things like the envelope in Aunty Josephina’s handbag.

How much longer did I have to wait?

Ticktock.

LAKSHI

Interview Transcript: Lakshi Malalasekara (abbrev. LM)

Date: January 25, 2020

Location: The Mount Lavinia Hotel