The Arranged Marriage

Part 22

Sivu handed over the coffee tumbler to Radhu and said, "Indha kondu poi Chithappa kitta kudukariya? Adhukulla naan seekiram poi kulichittu varen. Indha Athai enna ippidiye paatha arambichuduva, ennadi Sivakaami innum kulikiliya. Vizhupoda adakolai kulla onnum pogadhe" she tried imitating Athai and Radhu giggled. She went up to the room and knocked before entering, "Chithappa kaapi." Achchu smiled and took the cup from her and then asked, "Naan unkitta onnu kekatuma? Unnoda chithi konjam minnale Periappakittayum Athaikittayum jaagarthaiya irukka sonnale, yen? Ava yaara pathiyum thappa pesa maata. Edhavudhu perusa nadandirukanum. Unakku therinjirukaname. Sollariya?" Radhu frowned and told him the entire story about how both of them had made Sivu cry. As she was speaking Achchu's eyes were starting to fire up and turn red. He could not believe his ears. At the end of it, he smiled at Radhu and thanked her.

When he came down with the empty coffee cup, Sivu was already out of the bathroom. Her hair was tied with a towel and she was busy doing her prayers. So he quietly went to have a bath, after which he did his prayers and prostrated in front of the in house temple. Just when he finished he heard sounds of people entering. The clan had arrived. Athai walked in yelling, "Sivakaami konjam jillunu thanni kondu vaa. Kovil la enna kootam enna kootam. Nirmalya darishanathukku kooda ippidi undhi thaleendu vara aalugal." Just then Periappa noticed Achchu and said, "Aah.. mapillaiya... vaango vaango eppo vandhel?" Achchu went to seek his blessings and said, "Nethakki sayangalame vandhaachu". Just then Sivu and Radhu brought them water and Periappa handed over the prasadams to them. There was chandanam in a small palm leaf. Sivu held it in her palm and extended it to everyone around so they can take a bit and apply it on their forehead. When she took it to Achchu, he took some and first put it on her forehead and then the remaining on his and smiled at her. Athai noticed it and cleared her throat. Periappa immediately said, "Sivakaami oru kaapi kondu vaa kondhey." She nodded and left.

When the girls had left the room, Athai slowly started her conversation with Achchu,"Engatha ponnu ungala nanna pathukaraala? Anusaraiya irundhukaraala." Achchu smiled and said,"O en pondaati enna romba nanna paathukara." Athai's face changed immediately. She did not expect him to answer this way. In the kitchen Radhu whispered to Sivu, "Chithi soorpanagai oda mooku la oru periya vettu" and she giggled. Now it was Periappa's turn and he went straight out,"ungaloda velai ellam nanna poindu irukkey illiyo? Prachanai onnum illiye?" Achchu responded, "ellam romba nanna poindu irukku. En pondaati vandha neram enakku promotion kooda kedachudhu." Periappa smiled and continued," oh romba sandosham. Illai innoru vishayam, Sivakaami M.Sc. padikka pordha sonna. Idhellam engatha pongalukku pazhakkam illai. Iva ellarukkume pre-degree mudicha udane kalyanam panittom. Avalum udane oru kozhandaiyum pethundu kundumbatha paathukka thodangiyachu. Adukolai, chamayal, kudumbatha pathukarthukku pre-degree porume. Edho ival romba adam pidichadhunaala thaan degree varaikkum padikka vachom. Ival enna M.Sc paduchu velaika poga pora?" Immediately Athai joined the conversation saying, "Appidiye ava sambadhiyathula ukkandhu saapadara aalavukku neenga kaiyala aagathavara enna? Neengalum sandoshama kozhandhai kutti pethukka vendama? Adhellam kaalakalathula nadakanum illaina illamaiye poidum. Ungalukku onnum illai innoru kalyanam pannippel. Engatha ponnuku thaan ketta peru" she spewed.

Achchu's eyes were turning red and his nostrils flaring in anger but he took a breath and smiled. He looked up at Periappa and he said, "Ennoda pondatti romba pudhisaali. Aval college first aakum theriyuma. Appo kooda ava enkitta enna padikka vekarela nu kekkalai. Ennakku padikanum nu aasai Ana andha aasaiya moota katti vachutten nu sonna. Ava M.Sc mudichu velaiku povaala nu enakku theriyadhu. Naan kettu ka vum illai. Padippu aangalukku verum perukku pannala pottukavum, Sambala cover vaangarthukkum thaan aana oru ponnuku padippu oru sothu. Avalukku madhippu, mariyadhai, dheiriyam, nambikkai athana yum kudukkum. Oru velai naalakki naan illama ponen na ava yaarayum nambi oru moolai la ukkarunga vendiya avasiyam illai. Athai, naanum matha aangala madiri en pondattiya ennoda veetu velai pakkara velakaariyavo kozhandhai pethu kudukaro machine aavo vachukka aasa padalai. Adhukku peru kaiyala aagadhavan na naan andha pattatha sandoshama ethukaran. Aparam enga thambathiya vaazhkaiya pathi neenga kavala padaadhengo. Ella vidhathulayum en pondatti enna sandoshama thrupthiya vachirukka. Kozhandai eppo pethukanum ngaradhu Naanum en pondattiyum mudivu panna vendiya vishyam. Mano reedhiyavum udambu reedhiyavum engalukku eppo sarinu padardho appo sandoshama pethuppom. Appidi engaluku andha baghyam illaina avalukku naan enakku Aval. Innum Ungalukku kekka vendiyadhu edhavudhu irukka?" Achchu said with a smile.

Both Periappa and Athai had their head hanging. He had been brutally insulted and they did not know what to do. They had lost their face in front of the entire house. In the kitchen, the women were rejoicing. Chellal quickly came and kissed Sivu on her cheeks and said, "Mappillai thangam dee kondhey" Sivu smiled and said, "Aamam Chellamma. Nejama ve avar chamathu kodam." Radhu said dramatically, "Ravananaiyum Soorpanagaiyum vadhaitha Chithappa the great". All the woman laughed in unison, even Chachu akka finally laughed whole heartedly but Achchu was not done. He yelled, "Maa inge vaayen." Sivu yelled back, "Idho varen" and ran to the hall. He smirked and said, "Athai, neenga aasa padaraa maadiri sandoshama irukka naanga oru naalu naalukku oru kutty trip poitu varom. Maa namma thekkady porom. Vaa maadila poi 4 naal ku venumngara saman ellam oru paila pottuko" and he gently held her hands towards the staircase and stopped to look at Sivu's father, who was looking at his mapillai with pride. Achchu walked up to him, held his hand and said, "Maama enga kalyanam mudinjadhum onnu sonnel nyabagam irukka? En ponnukku onnum theriyadhu, Neenga thaan avala porumaiya, manasu kashta paduthaama paathukanum nu? Naan ungalukku kudutha sathyatha kaapathuven maama. Adhe maadiri innoru sathyamum pannaren, ennoda pondattiya vedhana paduthi azha vecha yaarayum naan summa vidamatten."

Athai and Periappa looked away in shame which Achchu and Sivu went on upstairs. A few hours later they were on a bus to thekkady for a short honey moon.

Brinda Subramanian

So what happens in thekkady is for you to imagine 🤭🤭🫣🫣😳😳😜😜