The Arranged Marriage

Confession

The next 3 days were busy with the wedding itself. Gayu was given the responsibility to sit and make the bakshanam bags, which broke her heart. She really did not want to share them. She asked her mother, "Amma oru Pathu bag namakku eduthu vachukattuma?" receiving a glare and a smack from her. "Yen di ippidi irukke nee? Naalu peru kaadhula vizhundha naan unakku chaapade podardhillai nu nenachuppa" which only made Gayu giggle.

Adu was given complete responsibility of taking care of the groom and his family so he was constantly running around. Gayu tried to block his way a couple of times but his response was, "Velayadadhe maa. Naraya velai irukku. Please." She smiled, "Seri seri aana naan unga kitta pesanum, ok va?" He smiled and moved ahead but came back to say, "Green and blue look great on you." She was wearing a blue pavadai with green halfsaree. She smiled and said, "Maams super kavithai. By the way, neengalum maapillai maadiri super aa irukkel. White is definitely you color." He bit his lower lip trying to hide his blush but his cheeks turned red, for which she whispered, "Maams Ungaloda blush kooda cute thaan." He gave her a fake glare but had to run because the kaasi Yaathrai was about to begin.

The wedding went amazingly well. Adu stayed with the groom throughout since he had to translate whatever the priest was saying. Soon after the wedding and lunch, preparations had to be made for the reception. By the end of it, everyone was tired. Radhu asked Gayu to get to bed. Gayu went to the kitchen to grab some water and she noticed Adu still busy. She sighed but at the same time was appreciative of his hard work. Next day, most people had left after wishing the newly married couple. Kattu sadam was packed and Aishu took leave from everyone. She was literally hugging Adu and sobbing. He hugged her tightly, trying not to cry. They had to go to Chennai right away to complete the registration, which was planned for the following morning and the day after, was their flight back to US. Sivu and Achchu were traveling to Chennai along with Aishu and the Cohen family. Radhu and Manikandan were staying to help Adu because the grandparents were exhausted after all the excitement.

After saying good bye to his sister, Adu pulled up a chair and sat. The mandapam was almost empty with just the few people cleaning up. Gayu walked up to him with a cup of coffee and said, "Maams, indhango, indha coffee kudingo. Naane potten.... Adhaavudhu Naane ange ninnu poda solli kondu vandhen." He smiled and took it from her saying, "Thanks maa." He took a sip and continued, "unakku onnu theriyuma? Enakku Aishu Akka kum 4 years thaan difference. Aana Akka enakku innoru amma madiri. Chinna vayasu lerndhu ennoda protector akka thaan" he laughed and said, "Enakaaga ethana per kitta sanda potirukka theriyuma? Avalukku enna romba pidikkum. Joe is a wonderful man and he loves Akka madly. They make each other happy but I am going to miss her terribly" he quickly took a sip of the coffee to avoid the evident choking of his voice. Gayu just sat next to him listening to him. He then said, "actually naan Navy join pannardhukku kooda ava thaan permission vaangi thandha. Amma was dead against it but Aval thaan enakaaga pesi avaala othukka vacha. Sorry, idhellam naan yen unkitta sollaren nu kooda therila. Edho thonithu adhu thaan." Gayu smiled sweetly and said, "Maams unakku onnu theriyuma? Life is all about changes. Yes, Aishu akka ku ippo kalyanam aagi she has a family of her own aana one thing that will never change is that you will always be her little brother. Naan kooda enna thaan Gokul a thittinaalum yaaradhu avanapathi thappa pesina naan rowdy ya maari mooka odappen." That made him laugh, "Yaaru? Nee rowdy ya?" She was offended and got up to show her muscles, "Idhu paarungo ennoda muscles a?" He smiled and said, "ok ok. By the way, thanks for the coffee and for the conversation. Ippo poi naan matha velai ellam paarkaren. Naaliki kaarthala neengal kelambarel illiya? Naan evening poren." That's when Gayu's face became serious and she said, "Maams naan unga kitta konjam pesaname. Please." He nodded and said, "seri naan indha accounts ellam mudichittu varen. Neegal thaatha paatiya kooteendu aathukku pongo. Oru 2-3 hours la naan vandhuduven."

Those 3 hours seemed the longest for Gayu. This was it. She was nervous. She had never felt such jitters in her life before, not even for her toughest exam. She was biting her nails when she finally heard the gate open and he walked in. Thatha asked him, "Adu ellam mudinjudha kondhey? Ellarodum kanakku settle panniyaacha?" Adu sat next to thatha and said, "Aachu thaatha. Ellarukkum settle panniyachu. Ini naalikki oorukku kelamba vendiyadhu thaan. Mathanaaliki duty join pannanum. Oru maasam odi pochu thatha." Thatha patted Adu's head saying, "Ini eppo varuvai thatha va paarka? Engalukkum vayasayachu. Ippovo appovo. Engaloda aashirvadam eppovum irukku unakku kondhey." Adu touched Thatha's feet. Then he signaled Gayu to come to the backyard. He sat on the stairs and she followed. He looked up at her and smiled, "now tell me. What did you want to talk to me about?" Gayu looked serious. She sighed and said, "Idhu enakku eppidi diplomatic aa sollardhu nu therila but Maams I love you." Silence. There was complete silence for a few minutes and Gayu was starting to get an eerie feeling so she cleared her throat again and said, "Maams ketudha? I have fallen in love with you. Do you have anything to say?" Adu nodded and said, "Ketudhu. Unakku enna vayasu aagardhu?" Gayu did not like his question but, nevertheless answered, "17" he smiled, "17. Enakku enna vayasu theriyuma? I am 24. I am older than you by 7 years. Indha vayasula usually vara crush thaan idhu unakku. You are not in love with me. You like the idea of me. You are having a crush on me. Unakku enna pathi enna theriyum? Nothing. Nee nenakkara madiri, cinema la kaamikara maadiri aalu naan Illai. I am very boring. I don't talk much. I spend a lot of time reading. Enakku naraya friends kedayadhu. I don't party. Ellathukkum mela varshathula mukka vaasi naal naan kadal la iruppen. Enna reach panna kooda mudiyadhu. I am not your type. After this, I don't even know when we will meet. Nee college la yaarayavudhu meet panna thaan pore who is going to sweep you off the floor. Don't waste your energy on me. There is something bigger and better waiting for you." Gayu was starting to tear up already but she was trying hard to beat it, "No Gayu. You cannot cry. Not now. Not here" she told herself. She then gathered the courage to speak up, "Maams Ungalukku enna pidikalaina adha direct aa chollungo but you have no right to tell me how or what I should feel. You don't know me either but we can learn about each other gradually. If my age is your problem, then I can't help it. Age is just a number maams. Even when I am 21, you are still going to be 7 years older to me." Adu sighed and said, "Ok let's do something. I will meet you on your 21st birthday. You have 4 years to meet people, explore life and everything. At that time, let's see what you think of me. That way both of us will be adults." Gayu extended her arm and said, "It is a deal officer. Looking forward to seeing you in 4 years. Until then, we shall be strangers." He smiled and shook her hand, "I am impressed Gayu...." she interrupted him and said, "It is Gayathri sir, Gayathri Manikandan" and she walked away. The next morning they came by to say their goodbyes. Radhu and Manikandan took blessings from the grandparents and wished Adu well and so did Gokul but Gayu too blessing from the elders and walked out, without giving him a glance. He waited yearningly, for her to look at him and smile but she kept walking away without a second look.

Will they meet again? Will they rekindle what they left behind? Let's find out in my next book.

Brinda Subramanian

I want to thank you all immensely for the love you have shown for this story. It has been a pleasure writing these characters. Now I am going to try to take this forward via my next book. Hope to receive the same amount of love for that one too. See you all there soon. Until next time... Tata.