The Arranged Marriage

Part 48

As usual, Radhu finished singing on the 9th day of Navrathri and Sulo brought the thamboolam. Radhu looked confused because there was an extra bag which Sulo handed to her saying, "Indha indhu unakku thaan." Radhu looked up at Sulo and asked, "Ennadhu mami idhu?" Sulo smiled and said, "Pudavai. Engathu pazhakkam idhu. Innikkum, naalikkum oru kanniya ponnukku pudavai vaangi kuduppom. Pudava kattikara prayathula irukkara ponnugal la kanniya va nee thaan irukkai. Matha ponnugalukku ellam kalyanam aayachu. Adhu naala thaan unakki vaanginom. Thorandhu paaru unakku pidichurukka nu." Radhu sat down and opened up the bag while Manikandan gestured to his mom to not mention that he selected it. Sulo was confused but understood his action. Just the Radhu smiled and said, "Enakku romba pidichirukku. Indha orange color enakku romba pidikkum. Naalike college ku kateendu poren. Ungaloda selection romba nanna irukku mami. Naan edhir paarkave illai. Adhaavudhu correct aa chinna va kattikara madiri vaangeerkel. Neenga kattikara podavai ellam paatha neengal ithara nanna select pannuvel nu edhir paarkalai" she blabbered, shocking Sulo. Sulo said, "ennadi ippidi chollittai. Ennoda podavaikku enna korachal?" Manikandan was trying very hard not to burst out laughing. Radhu had innocently burnt his mom and it was hilarious. Radhu realized her mistake and tried to cover it up saying, "aa-da-ba- illai appidi cholla varalai. Podavai romba nanna irukku. Seri mami naan kelambaren. Amma kitta ippove blouse thechu thara chollaren. Kaarthala kateendu unga kitta vandhu kaataren" and she ran out the door.

As soon as she left, Manikandan burst out laughing at his mom, "Amma nalla kaalam naan vandhu select paninen. Illaina paatigal kattara madiri onnu vaangirpe, avalum Unna naaka pudungara maadiri ketirupal" and he continued laughing. Sulo frowned at him. "Aamam da. Engalukku athara thaan theriyum. Adhu thaan neengal irukele ellam therinjava. Seri naan unkitta oru kaaryam kekattuma? Nee ithara naal naan kenjina kooda en kooda engeyum vara maatai. Radhika ku pudava vaangarthukku maathram eppidi da amma mela aasai?" Manikandan looked away hiding his blush and trying to think what to say, "adhu vandhu vera haaan anniki Appa velaiya irundha liya? Adhunaala unakku thonaiku vandhen." Sulo glared at him, "Dei naan 28 naal kozhandhaiya irukarthaye enakku kaadhu kuttiyachu. Nee ippo pudusha kuthadhe. Andha ponna paathale nee ashadu vazhiyadha naan paarkalai nenachiya? Oru ponna kooda thirumbi parkaadha nee, Nammathula Golu vachale ulla poi olunjukara nee, Radhu vandhu pora varaikkum indha edatha veetu andha pakkam indha pakkam pordhillai engaradha naanum paarkaren, seriya. Dei andha ponnu romba nalla ponnu da. Anaavashyama ava manasula aasai undakki adha odachudaadha da. Unakku avala pidichirukku na ungalukku kalyanam panni vekka enakku poorna sammadham aana ippo neenga rendu perum padikkara vayasu. Adha orma vachuko."

Manikandan had heard every word his mom had spoken. She was absolutely right. He walked up to her, held her hand and said, " Amma, unakku enna pathi nanna theriyum. Nee chollardhu seri thaan maa. Enakku avala romba pidichirukku maa. Naan sathyama avala vedhana pada vekka maaten. Appa illadha ponnu ma Aval. Azhagu a vida Avakitta enakku romba pidichadhu avaloda veguli thanam. Romba pudhisaali ponnu ma. Endha ponnu kittayum illadha oru vishayam avalta irukku. Enakku solla theriyalai aana enakku avala en koodave vachu paathukanam nu thonardhu ma." Sulo smiled and touched his cheeks, "Seri, aana ellathukkum neram kaalam irukku. Ippo unga rendu perukkum padikkara vayasu. Adha nanna pannungo, seriya? Mathadukku ellam neram kaalam koodi varum. Seri nee poi padi" she said and retired to the kitchen.

Manikandan was happy about the conversation he had with his mother and he sighed in relief. The next morning, as Manikandan was getting ready for college, he heard her voice. "Mami, mami. Paarungo naan eppidi irukken?" Sulo walked out of the kitchen and Manikandan rushed out of his room. She looked absolutely gorgeous in the orange saree with little purple, white and blue flowers. She had her hair plaited. Her beautiful kajal and the bright red long bindi. Sulo smiled and said, "Aahaaa azhaga lakshanama irukkai dee kondhey. Inge vaa" and she did the dhrishti kazhikkal and applied vibuthi on her forhead. Manikandan's heart skipped a beat looking at how gorgeous she looked. He just wanted to hold her hands and tell her that but his eyes conveyed it all because she was blushing. He knew that she had read his mind but when she glanced at him, he smiled and raised and eyebrow and then quickly blinked his eyes. As soon as he opened his eyes, she looked at him shyly and quickly blinked her eyes and skipped her way out the door.

Manikandan looked away smiling. His hands automatically reached the back of his head only for his mind voice to say, "Deiii ashadu vazhinjadhu porum. Vaaya thodachundu college ku pora vazhi paaru da badava."

Brinda Subramanian