Early one margazhi morning , Ahalya was singing the usual suprabhadham and making he most beautiful swan kolam. She particularly loved the month because everyone's house looked vibrant with the colorful designs. She was focusing on the design that she barely noticed the two pair of feet standing right outside her design. She stopped what she was doing and slowly looked up as her eyes and mouth widened. She squealed in surprise and jumped to hug Saraswathi. Yes Shankar and Saraswathi were at her door steps and she couldn't contain her excitement. She met Shankar's eyes quickly but blushed and looked away because she knew why they were there.
She quickly fixed her saree and welcomed them, "Vaango vaango ulla vaango" then she yelled, "Thaatha... aaru vandhirukka paarungo. Enge irukkel." Chaami mama was entering from the back ward with a little basket of vegetable that had grown in there backyard garden. He had tied up his veshti but quickly fixed it , handing the basket to Ahalya. He smiled at his guests inviting them, "Vaango Vaango". Ahalya quickly fixed the two folded chairs for the elders and the mat on the floor for Shankar. Then she excused herself quickly and retuned with two glasses of water for them to drink. Then she said, "Neengal peseendu irungo naan kaapi pottu kondu varen." She was clearly excited but was trying to avoid eye contact with Shankar although he kept looking at her for one glance at those beautiful twinkling eyes.
Sarawathi did not want to waste time so, after taking a couple of sips of the chilled, earthen pot water, she looked at Chaami and said, "Naangal inge Edhukku vandhirukkom nu ungalukke purinjirukkum nu nenaikaren aanalum suthi valaikkama Naane chollaren. Unga Ahalya va ennoda Shankarukku ponnu kettu vandhirukkom. Neengal oorulerndhu kelambi vandha aparam Shankar enkitta sonnan avanukku Ahalya va romba pidichirukku num avala kalyanam panikka aasapadaraan nu. Enakku poorna sammadham. Ahalya vukkum Shankar a pudichirukku nu theriyum. Manasu rendum porindhiyachu na edhukku Chumma jaadhagam adhu idhu nu. Indha varsham Shankar ku kalyanathukku anugoolam nu enga josiar mama sonaar. Adhe mattum kettundootom. Adhukku aparam Nalla naal paathu kula deiva kovil la poo vachuttu andha Bhagavathy kitta kozhandaigala paathukka solitttu nera inge vandhom. Neenga sollungo Ungalukku sammadham na adutha muhurthathuliye avala engathukku kooteendu poren."
Ahalya returned with the coffee. Saraswathi smiled and said, "Ahalya inge vaa maa. En pakathula ukkaru. Then she pulled out a little bundle wrapped in a small banana leaf and handed it to her. "indha unakku poo vangeendu vandhu thara marandhutten paaru. Thirumbu Naane vachu vidaren." Then she pulled out another similar pack and told her, "Idhu saamikku." Ahalya quickly took it to the small temple room in the house and placed it there. She returned back saying, "Neengal pasi yoda iruppel. Idliyum chutney yum arachirukken. Saapadrela?" Saraswathi smiled and said, "Adhellam apparama paathukalaam. Oruthan vandhadhu lerndhu unna ekkathoda paathundu irukkan paaru. Inge vaa. Vandhu Avan kittaka ukkaru." Shankar gulped realizing it was so obvious and was embarrassed that his grandma had made a public announcement of it but Ahalya sat beside him and that made him happy.
Chaami cleared his throat and said, "Enga Ahalya va ponnu kettu vandhadhula romba sandhosham. Ungala madiri oru nalla kudumbathula ponnu kudukka naraya per kaathudu iruppa aana neengal engatha thedi vandhadhu andha Bhagavathy oda anugraham. Enakku sammandham thaan pakshe Ahalya va pathi neengal therinjukka vendiya vishayam naraya irukku. Inniki varaikkum idhellam naan avakitta kooda sonnadhu illai. Adhu muzhusa therinja aparamum neengal idhe mudivoda irundha enakku poorna sammadham."
He continued, "Idhu 1966 la nadantha vishayam. Naanum ennoda Aathukari Lakshmi yum Calcutta vukku poga vendiya oru nelamai. Adhu varaikkum naangal Madras varaikkum thaan poirukkom. Lakshmi oda mama pullai ku ange kalyanam nu kelambinom aana enga vandi Anagapalli la ninuduthu. Orey puyal naala trail ellam maateenduduthu. Appo thaan ange enakku oru friend kedachaan Paul. Paul um Avanoda wife Sheela vum ange food packet kuduthundu irundha. Appo Lakshmi ku dhideernu joram. Odambu ellam nadungeedu irundhudhu. Ava rendu perum engala avaathukku kooteendu poi appidi paathunda. Naanga avathula irukom nu, avathula asaivam samaikka kooda illai. Avalukku oru pon kozhandhai Mariam nu. Romba chamathu kozhandhai. Naanga avathula 10 naal irundhom. Ava pannina nursing la Lakshmi poorna aarogyam aana. Ava maathram engala anniki pathindu irundhirukalaina Lakshmi pozhachirupaala nu theriyadhu. Angendhu kelambumpodhu naan Paul ku oru sathyam panninen. Ennikiyavudhu ennoda udhavi venumna naan en uyira kooda kudukka thayyar nu. Adhukku aparam naanga letter ezhudhippom. Naangal adikkadi paathukalaina kooda maasathula rendu thadavai aavudhu letter ezhudhippom."
Ahalya had never heard either of her grandparents ever mention these names before.
Brinda Subramanian
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When Red and Blue make Purple
FanficThis is a story of Ahalya Keshavan and Shankar Krishnamurthy. Both of them grew up in very different environments but life brings them together. Ahalya is calm outside but is red as fire within while Shankar seems like an arrogant no nonsense type o...
