The Arranged Marriage

Radhu's dilemma

They were in bed. Manikandan's hands were wrapped around her bare breasts and he was kissing her nape. He slowly turned her body to face him and started kissing her lips but stopped. Radhu was not there. Her body was not reacting to him like it usually would. He nipples were not getting perky with touch. He knew something was wrong. He stopped and handed her blouse to her saying, "Indha pottukko". She looked surprised, "Yen ennachu? Ippidi paadhiliye..." He gestured to her asking her to stop, "Naan unakku yaaru?" She looked confused, "Enna kelvi idhu?" He continued, "Naan kettadhukku badhil chollu. Naan unnoda yaaru?" She answered, "Ennoda aambadayan." He nodded, "Appidina enna nu theriyuma? Nammal partners. Partner na enna nu theriyuma? Ellathuliyum sammama irukkardhu. Ippo namma onnu panni paadhila vittome, adhuliyum. Puriyardha? Nee enna yosanaila irukke nu enkitta sonna thaane maa theriyum. Nee inge illiye maa. Enkooda illiye." She looked at him embarrassed and took of the blouse saying, "Illai illai adhellam onnum illai. Naan naan seriya thaan irukken. Vaango" but he stopped her, "Maa idhu kooda Puriyudha alavukku naan enna mirugama. Naan Unna enikiyavudhu unnoda permission illama thotirukena sollu? Nee modhalla dress paneendu unakku enna prachanai nu sollu." She sighed and said, "Adhu vandhu, enakku specialization pannanum nu aasaiya irukku. OBGYN. Aana mama enna nambi thaan clinic a thara. Ithana varshathukku aparama ippo thaan konjam rest eduthukara, naan paathuppen nu nambi. Ippo poi naan eppidi mama kitta sollardhu. Paavam thaane avar." Manikandan laughed out loud and she frowned. "Adiye prandhe idhukka nee bayandhukarai. Nee Appa kitta indha vishayatha sonnena romba sandosham aakum paduva, theriyuma? Nammal naalikke Appa kitta idha pathi pesalam seriya. Ippo unnoda kavalai ellam thooki pottu paduthundu thoongu" he kissed her forehead and she said, "sorry neenga vera oru mood la irundhel..." He cupped her face, looked into her eyes and said, "idhukkum guilty ya? Thevaiye illai. Nee eppovum sandhoshama irukkanum. Edhu panninaalum muzhu sammadhthoda pannanum seriya?"

The next morning, Radhu and Rajan were at the clinic when Manikandan paid a visit. Rajan was surprised, "Ennada dhideernu indha pakkam. Pondatti nyabagam vandhudutho?" he laughed. Manikandan smiled and said, "Illai pa." Then he looked and Radhu and said, "Radhu ku unga kitte edho sollanamaam. Naan moral support kudukka vandhen." Radhu's face turned red and she looked worried but Manikandan walked up to her and held her hands firmly to let her know that it is ok and he is there for her. Rajan looked at her and said, "Ennadhu cholu dee kondhey." She smiled and him and then looked up at Manikandan who nodded at her to go ahead. She cleared her throat and said, "Mama adhu vandhu. Ungalta eppidi chollardhu nu theriyalai. Neenga thappa nenaika maatel nu nambaren. Adhu ennana Enakku specialization pannanum nu aasaiya irukku. Namma oorlayum seri indha hospital layum seri ponnugalukku seriya vaidhyam paakardhukku doctors kammiya irukka. Ippo kooda Dr.Menon maathram thaan prasavam ellam paakara. Adhu thaan OBGYN aagalaamnu thonardhu. Aana ungala vittutu pordhukkum kashtama irukku." Rajan got up from his chair laughing, "Kondhey idha chollardhukka unakku ithara sangocham? Unakku onnu theriyuma? Nee choleerkalaina Naane unkitta pesirpen idha pathi. Nee romba talented aakum. Pinna nee oru first class OBGYN aavai nu enakku theriyum. Clinic a pathi nee kavala padaadhe. Nee poi padikkara velaiya paaru. Innuttu indha clinic liye office vachukko. Athara thaane" he patted her back. She was overwhelmed by what he said and quickly got his blessings. Then she looked up at her husband with gratitude and smiled.

He smiled back and quickly blinked which made her blush. When she walked him out the door he said, "oru vaaram leave ku apply paneerken. Innelerndhu rendu vaarathula oru kutty honeymoon poitu varallama?" She blushed and nodded. Then she looked up at him and said, "unga kitta onnu sollanumnu thonardhu aana vekkama irukku." He quickly kissed her hand and asked, "Appidi enna solla thonardhu?" She said, "ungala romba pidichirukku enakku" and he answered, "Enakkum."

Brinda Subramanian