Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Pidichirukku

Seetha and Arun were lost in each other's eyes as Seetha finished drinking the kaapi. Arun waited for her to finish and smirked before saying, "Ennakku kondu vandha kaapi ya nee kuduchadhunaala ippo unakku oru punishment." Seetha frowned, "Achacho Idhu anyayam. Neenga thaane kudikka sonnel apparam Edhukku punishment?" Arun fixed his hair and said, "Adhu appidi thaan."He bit his lower lip and said, "Punishment enna na...." he looked at her eyes again and said, "Enakku un kaiyala kaapi pottu tharanum" then, again in the base voice he said, "Pottu tharuviya?" Seetha blushed and smiled. Unable to hold eye contact with him, she looked away and nodded, "Mmm... pottu tharen" then she looked up and said, "Aana adhu enakku punishment aa Ungalukku punishment aa nu theriyadhu" she chuckled.

They were interrupted by the sound of Parvathy calling out for Seetha. She  quickly turned around and started to run down the staircase. Arun followed her holding Kichu. Seetha was thrilled to see her parents in conversation with Parvathy, Raman and Pankajam. Seetha ran to her mom, while she gestured Seetha to calm down and walk slowly.

Seetha's father stood up at the sight of Arun, who handed the baby to his mother and moved ahead smiling and nodding his head, welcoming his in-laws, "Vaango Vaango ukkarungo. Ippo thaan vandhela?" Before Krishnan could say anything, Parvathi said, "Neenga peseendu irungo naan kaapi pottu eduthundu varen." Just then Seetha touched her mother-in-law's shoulder and said, "Neenga irungo amma. Naan podaren" and she quickly glanced at her husband who smiled back at her.

Seetha mother followed her to the kitchen. Parvathy knew that the mother and daughter might want a private moment so she pretended to tend to Kichu. As soon as they entered the kitchen Raji said, "Seetha eppidi maa irukke. Kalyanam aagi oru naal thaan aachu. Nee maapillai oda manasu padi anusaranaya nadandhukarayono? Pudhu golusu paathen unnoda kaal la. Azhaga iruke." Seetha smiled at her mom and said, "Aamam amma. Avar Pudhu golusu pottu.... Vaangi thandhaar. Inge ellarume romba nalla vidhama irukka maa. Avarum enna nanna paathukarrar." Raji smiled and said, "Nee Pillaiyar pillaiyar nu avar pinnadiya suthinadhukku avar eppovume un kooda irupaar da. Naanum appavum unnaiyum maapillaiyum sadhi ku koopda vandhom. Namma Shanthi  aathukku madhyanam vaango. Mappillai ku enna pidikkum pidikkadhu nu kekka vandhom."

Seetha smiled and nodded. She poured the hot kaapi's in steel tumblers, placed them on the dabara and set them on a plate. The mother daughter combo then walked up to the hall where everyone else was sitting and Seetha walked around with the tray. When she reached out to Arun, Parvathy said, "Avan ippo thaane maa kuduchaan. Nee eduthukko. Nee thaan kaarthalerndhu edhuvum kudikkaliye." Just when Seetha was about to say something, Arun said, "Illai maa enakku Lesa thala valikkardhu adhu thaan....kaapi kuducha seri ayidum." Parvathy chucked and said, "Dei un pondaati kaiyala kaapi kudikka aasa padare nu theriyardhu da" which made everyone in the room chuckle. The young couple blushed.

Raji quickly changed the topic saying, "Inniki maapillaiyum ponnaiyum Shanthi aathukku sadhi ku koopda vandhom. Appidiye maapillai Ungalukku enna pidikkum pidikkadhu nu sonnel naa adhukku ethamadiri samakkarom." Arun stood up and said, "Appidi ellam edhuvum illai. Ungalukku sramam edhukku. Unga ponnukku edhu pudikkumo adhu pannungo. Paavam ava thaan ungathu chamayal ellam romba miss pannuva. Naalikki naanga kelambarom vera." Seetha's face dropped at the thought of going to Madras.

After a few more exchange of words, Raji and Krishnan took leave. Seetha helped clean the tumblers. She offered to help Parvathy make lunch for the rest of the family but she refused saying Pankajam was there to help. She advised Seetha to go up stairs and pack her belongings for the trip the next day. Seetha nodded and went up stairs. She was lost in thoughts with her suitcase wide open and did not notice Arun walk up. She jumped when she heard his voice, "Kaapi super aa irundhudhu. Thanks." She smiled. "Appidi enna aazhndha sindhanai?" he asked. She nodded, "Illai onnum illai. Naaliki Madras ku kelambarom. Naan idhu varaikkum avalo thooram ellam ponadhu kedayadhu. Train la modhal vaati." She then suddenly started to cry, "Nenacha kooda Appa amma vellam paarka mudiyadhu."

Arun quickly sat beside her and said, "Enakku puriyardhu maa. Naan Unna evvalo happy ya vachukka mudiyuma pannaren. Unga Appa amma alavu Unna paathukka mudiyuma nu therila aana unnoda manasu kashta padaadha madiri paathukaren, seriya? Nee daily oru letter ezhudhu maa avaalukku. Nee paaren seekirame unakku Madras romba puduchu poidum." She looked up at him and wiped the tear that escaped her eyes. He looked at her lovingly and said, "Enna nambariya?" She nodded. He asked, "Vaaya thorandhu solla maatiya?" In the same base voice that made her blush yet again and she looked away. He pouted saying, "Appidina unakku enna pidikkale" to which she immediately gasped and looked up saying, "Achacho appidi solladhengo, enakku ungala pidichirukku" and she bit her tongue realizing what he had made her do and the couple sat there laughing in front of the wide opened suitcase.

Brinda Subramanian