Tiptoeing towards love

30

Kanimozhi

9 months later

"Close your eyes and pray Mozhi," I hurriedly shut my eyes but continue to steal glances at him when he wasn't paying attention to me.

I'm turning nineteen today and so Parthi mama brought me to the temple to do special poojas on my name. My second-semester examination's notification came a few days ago and that means, the first-semester examination's results will be published very soon.

I have done it decently but I'm not sure If I can top it. Priya and a guy in our class were the brightest ones and I don't know If I would be able to swim past them and reach the top. They are naturally gifted with a brain that can grasp things easily. I'm not stating it as an excuse to justify my incapacity to stand equal to them.

They are exceptionally intelligent and it's a fact. Priya was the one who cleared numerous doubts of mine while we were preparing for the examination. I tried my best as well and we conducted a group study in my home before the exam.

Parthi mama was against it. Because Sam was also in our group. Only when I explained to mama about Sam's love for Priya did he loosen up a little. By now, my mama and Sam have become good friends.

"Mozhi," a smack lands on the back of the head as I went into a daze while venturing to pray. "Get it," I quickly forward my hands to receive the leaf from the Iyer that consists of sacred vermilion, sandalwood, and turmeric powder, decorated with colorful flowers and jasmine...

As the Iyer goes back into the shrine, Parthi mama and I move towards the sitting space. "What were you praying so intently?" Mama asks as we seat ourselves on the stone ground.

"Was worrying about my exam," Mama nods his head understandingly. "Don't be distressed about it. You will earn good results for your hard work Mozhi ma," I sigh softly and look down at the contents in the leaf.

Mama sees my line of view and uses his ring finger to pinch a little sandalwood and turmeric powder and applies it to my forehead. Then he smears the vermilion just above my bindi and I feel him filling my partition with it. My heartbeat goes berserk and my chest blooms with unexplainable glee at his action. I did fill my partition regularly in the past months but having him do it in the temple urges a heavenly feeling to engulf me.

"Should we marry again mama?" Mama chuckles at my words and pulls my thaali(nuptial chain) in his hands to place vermilion on the locket. "If you say so Mozhi ma," he smiles at me.

"Mama, I'm being serious," I mutter as I place the sacred powders on his forehead.

"Hm, I was thinking about it as well. Our marriage was so sudden and we didn't even get to invite or announce about it to all our relatives and friends. So I was planning to organize a reception alone but If you want to marry again, we could do it too. By the way, destination weddings are popular nowadays. Do you have any particular site in your mind to conduct it?" I give him a thoughtful look before nodding my head.

"No, I don't prefer destination weddings. Why should we go somewhere else to marry leaving our birthplace? I am not entertained by that idea. Let's conduct our marriage in our hometown's temple itself. It has to be simple and divine," Mama pinches my cheeks as I utter my opinion.

"Just as you wish then. But under one condition. We will marry again when you turn twenty-one," I send him a dumbfounded look.

"I have to wait for another two years..." He shrugs at my annoyed tone. "Well, can't you wait?" I bob my head like an obedient girl, knowing well that my mama wouldn't accept any objections to his condition from my side.

A while later, we leave the temple in our car and arrive at our home.

Mama woke me up at midnight and made me cut the birthday cake but he didn't present me any gifts. I don't mind about it but I could predict that he was planning something...