The Arranged Marriage

Part 19

Mr. Narayan found Achchu at his desk, still working. It was past 7pm. He walked up to him and said, "Anandasivan, enna innum kelambaliya nee? Eppovum tan nu kelabiduviye. All ok?" Achchu stood up and said, "Illai sir, indha work ellam muduchudalaamnu. Leave vera apply paneerken liya adhu thaan." Narayan smiled patting his back, "Dei unnoda vayasu thaandi thaan Naanum vandirukken. Wife a romba miss pannarey pola irukku?"  Achchu looked away blushing. Narayan said, "Ok ok. Ippo kelambu. Naaliki paathukalaam." Achchu nodded and said, "ok sir" and closed up what he was doing and walked out the door with Narayan.

He took the tram, as usual and then walked home slowly. He opened the mail box and his face lit up. There was a fat envelope sitting. The moment he saw that, he knew it was from her. He grabbed it smiling and rushed up the stairs. As soon as he reached home he switched on the lights, removed his shoes quickly and ripped open the cover. He rushed to quickly freshen up and change to something more comfortable. He wasn't even hungry so he quickly boiled a glass of milk and grabbed a banana. That was his dinner. Then he smiled looking at her letter. He sat on the bed and started reading.

"Anbulla athaanukku..." reading those words made him smile and blush. The letter it self was as though she was talking to him. "Seriya saapadrela? Naan illaingardhu naala Chumma paalum pazhamum saaptu thoongadhengo. Aparam naan vardhulla elachu poiduvel" he smiled reading this and looked at the banana peel on the floor and the glass of milk. He continued reading, "Romba neram office la irukaadhengo. Aathukku vandhu rest eduthukongo. Inge ellarum sowkiyama irukka. Meena akka athimbair a pottu thochu edukara. Enakku avaala paatha chirippu thaan varudhu. Paavam athimbair, akka va paathave nadungara. Ava pullaigal rendu irukku. Seriyana vaalu. Ennikki Perippa kitta adi vaanga pordhunu therila. Periappa ku per an vera so thitta maata. Adhugal Rendum Raja anna oda pullai Dhruvan a pottu paada paduthinadhula manni ava rendu kozhandaigalayum kooteendu naalikke Trivandrum ku poralaam. Anna kondu poi vittuttu varuvaa. Rendum azhaga English kaara madiriye pesardhu. Avaloda baashai enakku mattum thaan puriyadhu. I know British English you see." He laughed out loud reading that and continued, "seri, seri enna geli pannadengo. Geetha akka oda kozhandaikku 3 vayasu thaan. Adhukku udambu padutheende irukaam. Ippo kooda jorathula thaan azhara paavam. Chachu akka va paaka romba paavama irukku. Neraya kashta patirukka. Ippovum padaraa. Ava ponnu Radhika avvalo lakshanam. Romba chamathu ponnu. Inniki thaane paathirukken adhunaala jaasthi pesalai aana ava enna maadiriyo nu thonardhu. Paapom. Athai athimbair ellam inniki thaan vara pora. Bayapadadhengo Chandru athaan varalai pola irukku. Edho Delhi la velai kedachirukaam. Ellarum Athaiya pathi vambu peseendu irukka. Enakku konjam paavama irundhudhu aana avaala madiri enakku athaiya pazhakkam illai. Seri inge irukara kadhai ellam solli mudichutten. Naan ungala romba romba romba miss pannaren. Seekirama vaango. Ungalukaaga avala kaathundu irukken. Ungal Anbu Maa."

Achchu sighed reading the letter and he kissed it. "Maa Unna romba, romba, romba miss pannaren maa. Veetukku varave pidikkale. Nee eppidi thaan enna pathi ivvalo therinju vachirukiyo. Oru vaarame oru maasam madiri iruke maa. Unna paakara varaikkum naan eppidi ottaporen nu therile. I love you maa. I love you so so much" he said to himself. He then read and re-read the letter few more times. Then he placed the letter under his pillow and held on to her saree tightly. His mind wandered to every thing she said and did and slowly sleep took over.

Brinda Subramanian