Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Enroute to Madras

Seetha was anxious. Arun noticed that she wasn't herself and seemed to be preoccupied. She packed and unpacked only to pack again. He noticed all this and finally told her, "Maa, nee venumna unga akka aathukku poi Ava ellaru koodayum konja neram irundhuttu vaa maa. Namakku rathri thaan train. Nee romba padhattama irukke nu puriyardhu. Nee thaan eduthukka vendiyadhu ellam eduthundutiye. Vera edhavudhu irundhudhuna naan paathukaren. Nee poitu vaa maa."

Seetha had tears in her eyes when she heard his words but with a trembling voice she said, "Aana aathula mathava ellam thappa nenachukka maatala naan appidiye kelambi poiten na?" He smiled at her kindly and said, "Mathavaala pathi kavala padaadhe. Amma kitte naan sollikaren. Mathadhellam Amma paathuppa. Nee adhellam vachuttu en kooda vaa." He held his hand out for her to hold to get up. This time she held his hand without hesitating.

They went down to the kitchen and Arun gently called for his mom, "Amma oru nimisham inge vaayen. Seetha va naan konja neram ava akka aathuku venumna poi Ava kooda irukka soleerken. Paavam modhal thadava ava amma Appa va vittuttu Madras poganum illiya? Unakku onnum prachanai irukkadhu aana mathava edhavudu sonna nee paathukariya?" Parvathi smiled and touched Seetha's cheek, who was looking down at the floor in anticipation but she looked up at Parvathy who said, "Nee poitu vaa. Unna yaarum onnum solla maata. Unakku eduthukka vendiyadhu ellam eduthundoote illiyo? Naan namakku vandi la eduthundu pogathukku saapadu aparam bhakshanam ellam paneendu irukken. Nee poitu vaa kozhandai. Sayangaalam anju mani kulla vandhudu. Namakku 6 manikku aatha vittu kelambanum, seriya?"

Seetha smiled and nodded. She thanked her mother in law and then looked up at her husband and nodded. Their eyes met and, for the first time, Arun noticed a twinkle in her eyes for him. It was short lived though as she ran out the door to get to the next door as soon as possible. Arun smiled and  sighed. For some reason, her longed to see that smile on her face always. He could not tolerate to see her sad. He was happy to have brought that smile back.

Seetha was extremely grateful for the few extra hours she got to spend with her parents but did not realize that for the major portion of that time she spoke only about how kind and understanding her husband was. She could not stop talking about him until, at one point, Shanthi had to take the credit by saying, "Paaru dee unga akka unakku eppidi patta maapillai paathirukken nu" for which Seetha glared at her but Raji held Seetha's hand and said, "Seetha kutty, ava ellarume nalla manishaala theriyara. Unnoda maamiyar nalladhu kettadhu sonna adhe kettukko. Amma sthanathula irukka. Nee thaan mariyadhai yoda nadandhukanam seriya? Edhavudhu Unna thittina nee adha thappa eduthukaadhe. Naan thittardha nenachukko. Aparam innoru vishayam...." Raji hesitated. Then she grabbed Seetha's hand and pulled her into the other room for privacy.

She then sat Seetha down on the bed and shut the door slightly. She came back to seetha, sat next to her and said, "Maapillai romba nallavar aa theriyaraar. Porumaisaaliyum thaan nenaikaren aana nee konjam purinju nadandhukko. Nee kozhandhai illai unakku ippo kalyanam aayachu. Aangalukku sila vishayangal la oru alavukku thaan porumai irukkum. Naan sollardhu puriyardha?" Seetha wasn't sure what her mother was talking about. It was a little awkward and embarrassing for Raji to explain but she had to so she said, "Seekirame Unna prasavathukku aathukku kooteendu vara maadiri anusaranaya nadandhukko." Although Seetha still wasn't sure about how that entire process happened, she understood what her mother meant and she nodded awkwardly.

She spent a few hours but was happy to head back to her husband. When she got back she noticed that everything was packed and ready to go. She ran up to her room where she found her husband reading a book. He smiled at the sight of her, "Ippo sandhosham thaane?" She smiled at him and said, "Romba sandhosham" she then grabbed her change of clothes. She wanted to have a quick shower before leaving. She was about to step into the bathroom but she stopped and walked up to him, "Ippo enakku Madras varadhukku poorna sammadham". He smiled back and she quickly rushed in.

When she came down to leave, she noticed a taxi outside the house. Arun and his mama were loading the trunk. After the regular goodbyes to people outside both houses, Arun took the passenger seat next to the driver. Parvathy and Seetha took the back seat. As the taxi started to move, everyone started waving to each other. Seetha looked back at her parents, waving at them. Her heart broke to see her mother wiping her tears while waving at Seetha. She felt tears trickling down her cheeks as well but wiped it quickly with her pallu.

A coolie quickly ran up to their taxi to help unload the belongings. Arun paid the taxi driver and they followed the coolie. Seetha held Parvathy's hand as they approached the train. Arun checked the name list stuck outside the train to double check the seat numbers. He directed the coolie to their seat, unloaded the luggage from the man's head and paid him generously. The coolie thanked him and wished them a safe journey.

They soon settled down. Arun stepped out of the train only to come back to the window, asking if Seetha or Parvathy needed anything since he was going to get a magazine. Parvathy yelled at him saying, "Dei onnum vendaam. Nee modhalla ulla vaa daa. Vandi kelamba pordhu." Seetha gave him a worried look but Arun smiled and ran to the magazine shop. While he was still at the shop, Seetha and Parvathy felt a jerk which meant the train was moving. Seetha looked at Parvathy worried, "Amma vandi kelambara madiri irukke. Ivar enna naa innum andha kadaila nikkarare. Enakku bayama irukku."

Parvathy yelled from the train, "Dei Arun vandi kelambardhu daa. Seekiram vaa" but he could not hear her. The train started to move and the two women started to panick. Seetha grabbed the railings of the window and was looking for him vehemently. She was almost having a panic attack when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She quickly turned around to find Arun sitting next to her smiling. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Yaara thedarey.

Seetha wasn't sure if she should be relieved or angry. She was literally trembling and sweating. She looked into his eyes and said, "Naan eppidi bayandhutten theriyuma? Neenga vandi vittutelo nu nenachen. Innime ippidi velayadaadgeengo. Ennoda kai ippo kooda nadungardhu theriyuma?" He quickly held her hand to feel it only for her to pull back realizing that Parvathy was sitting right in front of them. Seetha mumbled a "Achacho" while Arun smiled mischievously.

Brinda Subramanian