Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Chakka pradhaman

Arun asked, "Seri ippo edhukku indha suitcase a thorandhu vachundu paathundu irukke?" Seetha sighed and replied, "Illai kalyanathukku apparam modhal sadhya ku porom illiya adhu thaan endha podavai katikkalaam nu paakaren." Arun glanced at the suitcase and pointed at a blue saree, "Idhu kattiko." She smiled and nodded, immediately pulling the saree out. Not that Seetha had a box full of sarees or anything but she it definitely was more than what she was used to.

She suddenly gasped. Her eyes widened and she said, "Achacho Neenga keezha pongo." Arun was confused because they still had at least a couple of hours before leaving and Shanthi akka was just next door. He said, "Enna achu?" Seetha replied, "Keezha periyava ellam thappa nenachukka pora. Neenga baatukku inge enkooda ukkandhu irukkele adhu thaan." Arun smiled and sat in a more comfortable position saying, "Unna enga amma edhukku pathayiram vaati maadi ku anupara nu puriliya? Unna keezhendu Appo kooptaale adhu madiri enna koopta naan poga maatena? Edhukku tumbler a un kaila kuduthu maadi ku anupina?" Seetha looked at him confused. She placed a finger on her chin as if she was thinking and asked, "Edhukku?"

He chuckled at her expression and said, "Unakku idhu ellame pudhusu illiya? Namma rendu perayum thaniya vitta thaane nammalala pesikka mudiyum. Keezha ellarum irukkum podhu nee pesa koocha poduve nu amma ku theriyum." Then he pouted and said, "Ippo Unna inge thaniya vittuttu ponna enna thaan thittuva parava illiya?" Seetha nodded her head saying, "Illai vendaam vendaam. Neenga ingeye irungo." Arun smiled at his accomplishment.

He then asked, "Aama unakku ennenna pudikkum?" Seetha quickly closed the suitcase and smiled brightly. She was clearly excited to share that information with him. She started off, "Ennaku indha ulagathuliye romba pidichadhu pillaiyar" then she anxiously asked him, "Madras la pillaiyar kovil irukkum illiya?" Arun nodded, "Aathu pakkathuliye irukku. Namma oorukku poi serndha annike Unna kootindu poren seriya?" Seetha was pleased to hear that. Then she placed her finger on her chin and thought for a second again before asking, "Aparam enakku chakkai (jackfruit) maampazham rendume romba pidikkum. Adhu kedaikkuma unga oorla?" He smiled scratching his eyebrow, "kedakkum maa. Unakku chakkai avvalo pudikkuma?" She clapped in excitement saying, "Ayo aamaam. Idi chakkai yarundhaalum seri pazhthadha irundhaalum seri enakku romba pidikkum. Chakka pradhaman thaan ennakku romba pudicha payasam kooda."

Arun nodded, "Oh appidiya?" Then Seetha asked, "Ungalukku romba pidicha payasam edhu? Irungo Naane kandu padikaren. Hmmm... paalpayasam thaane?" She said happily and he nodded in affirmation. Then she continued, "Ungalukku chakka pradhamanum pudikkum illayo?" she asked in a worried tone fearing he would say no but Arun said, "Unakku pudikkum na enakkum pudikkum" which instantly brightened up her face.

They had been chatting for a while now. Arun was glad to see that a girl who was shy and scared the previous day, was getting comfortable and chatty with him. Arun was known to be an introvert in his family but it seemed like he could talk to her for hours. He was fascinated by how animated her expressions were. He was spontaneously imitating her expressions and he could not take his eyes off her when she spoke. Her smile warmed his heart. It was an innocent as the smile of a baby yet her eyes made his heart flutter.

Arun left the room to give her some privacy when she wanted to get ready. She stepped out of the room in the MS blue saree that he had picked to wear. He was already waiting for her in the hall in his crispy white veshti and well ironed light blue full sleeve shirt which was folded neatly up to the elbow. His hair was well combed and vibuthi on his forehead completed the look. Seetha looked gorgeous in the blue pattu saree. Her hair was plaited and the kumkumam on the center of the parting was bright. The round kumkuma pottu on her forhead, between her eyebrows brought out the "new bride" glow and the mai on her eyes made them sparkle. Every time she took a step, the golusu jingled and brought a smile to his face. They excused themselves from the rest of the family to walk next door to Shanthi Akka's house where they were invited with aarathi first.

After a few minutes of pleasantries, the banana leaf was placed. They had cooked all of Seetha's favourites and she was thrilled. She had been too tensed at the wedding and couldn't enjoy the food there but was looking forward to the food cooked by her mom and sister. Although Seetha and Shanthi had a Tom and Jerry relationship, they were very fond of each other and Shanthi enjoyed cooking Seetha's favourite dishes for her. So she started serving chakka pradhaman, vadai, vazhakkai thoran, mampazha pachadi, avial, rice, nei, paruppu, sambar, rasam, thayir, nellikkai urugai, pappadam. Seetha was thrilled to see the spread.

She tasted the payasam first and said, "mmmm... chakka pradhaman pramaadham." She then looked at Arun's banana leaf and said, "Neenga enna payasatha thodave illiye. Saapdungo." Arun nodded and obeyed his wife. While Seetha asked for more payasam which meant Arun was served the payasam too. After a sumptuous meal, it was time for Seetha and Arun to leave. The young couple took the blessings of everyone. Shanthi akka offered the thambulam along with a brand new saree for Seetha and veshti for Arun.

Once they returned, Arun excused himself saying he wanted to rest a bit. The ladies decided to sit on the mat and chat for a while. Pankajam asked Seetha about what was served and Seetha happily mentioned everything but finally when she told them about the chakka pradhaman, they all gasped. Parvathy asked, "Arun payasam chaapattana?" Seetha nodded saying he did. The ladies were shocked. Then Parvathy explained, "Arun ku chinna vayasu lerndhu chakkaiye pidikkadhu. Avanukku othukkavum othukaadu. Kozhandhaiya irukaruppo chakka chaaptu vayaru vali la thudichu poitaan. Iru naan kashaayam pottu tharen. Nee poi kudu." Seetha was shocked. She wasn't sure if she should feel guilty or be angry with him.

She quickly took the kashaayam upstairs to find him lying on the bed holding his stomach. She shut the door and asked, "Neenga yen enkitta oru vaartha kooda sollale" handing the glass of kashaayam to him which he quickly gulped down. She noticed that he was in pain and her eyes moistened, "Naan oru paithiyakaari. Unga kitta oru vaarthai Ungalukku enna pudikkum pudikkadhu nu therinjukalai. Aana Neenga yen sollale? Naan unga kitta pesamaaten." He smiled and gestured her to come sit beside him.

She walked up sniffling and sat beside him, "Maa nee unnoda Appa amma, kudumbam, kovil, ooru ellathayum vittuttu enakaaga enkooda avvalo dhooram vara. Unga amma kaiyala saapadardhukkooda nee adutha vaati oorukku varumpodhu thaan. Appidi irukarche nee aasai padara chinna chinna vishayatha unakku kudukkanum nu nenachen. En mela thaan maa thappu. Naan andha rendaavudhu vaati vendaam nu soleerkanam. Ippo unakku pidichadhu edhu nu enakku theriyum aana naan unkitta modhalliye chakka othukaadhu nu soleerndha nee unga amma kitta sollirpa aparam adhu unakku kedachirukaadhu. Idho Naan thaan kashaayam kuduchuttene. Ippove seri ayiduthu paaru enakku."

Seetha was still upset. Arun smiled, "Kochukaadhe maa. Seri enna paaru." She refused to look at him. "Maa paaru maa" he begged. She slowly looked into his eyes. He said, "Yaarukaagavum Unna sandosha paduthara vishayangala vittu kudukaadhe. Adhu Naana irundhaalum seri." He extended his palm asking her for hers. She looked at his palm and then placed hers on it saying, "Appona neengalum enakkum edhukaagavum yaarukaagavum Ungalukku pidikkadha vishayatha pannapdadhu. Ungalukku seri na enakku seri." He smiled and held her palm.

He then cleared his throat and said, "Eppidiyo unnoda kaiya ennoda kaiyoda korthundutten" and they said together "Achacho"

Brinda Subramanian