Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Kannu padum

Early in the morning there was a slight knock on the door. Arun woke up to the sound and smiled seeing his wife fast asleep. He arm was still around him and she had snugged closer. It had rained at some point in the night and the room was cool. He gently removed her arm and got up and walked to answer the door. Parvathy was outside and she gestured him to slowly step out. He opened the door as gently as possible and stepped out.

Parvathy whispered, "Dei Arun, neram aayachu. Naan kelambaren. Seetha va ezhuppadhe. Paavam pudhusa kalyanam aana ponnu naalu naala bayathula irundhiruppal. Innikki thaan seriya thoongara. Thoongattum paavam. Neeyum vaasa kadhava pooteetu poi paduthukko. Seriya? Aparam aval chinna ponnu. Paathu nadandhukko." Arun knew exactly what that meant. (Unlike this day and age, people did not understand the concept of consent. In fact, physical relationship happened even before a verbal interaction because women believed that it was their duty to keep their husbands happy and satisfied.)

Arun smiled, "Avala naan badhrama paathukaren amma. Nee kavala padaama poitu vaa." He waved to her as she stepped inside the rear seat of the white ambassador car, right beside Saroja. Arun then closed the gate and came back in after locking the front door. He snuck back in bed and gently placed her arm over his chest. Through all this Seetha was fast asleep.

Seetha woke up to an empty bed. She looked up at the clock which said 5:30. She gasped, "Achacho Amma 4 manikku kelambaren nu sonna. Che naan thoongi poitene." She tied up her loose hair in a bun and quickly adjusted the pallu which was almost falling off. She then mumbled, "Ivar enge poitaar? Seri naan seekirama poi kulikkaren." As Seetha walked towards the bathroom she heard some footsteps in the terrace. She smiled, "oh avar motta maadi la irukaar pola irukku. Idhuvum naladhu thaan. Seekirama kulichu room ulla poi podavaya kattikaren."

Seetha tied up her wet hair with a towel. After wearing the saree, she stuck the pallu in her waist. She then walked out to the verandah. She grabbed a mug which was there next to the hand pump. She filled it with water and splashed it on the concrete slab outside the gate. She then used the broom the sweep away the excess water. Then she too the kola maavu that was being held by the shell off a grated coconut. She bent down to draw a beautiful kolam. The sun was just beginning to rise and all the ladies in the neighborhood were beginning to do the same. She then walked up to the kitchen to find two bottles of milk waiting for her. 

She started chanting the suprabadham, "Kausalya supraja rama" and emptied the milk into a vessel and started to boil the milk. Just then she heard the sound of water. She tiptoed to peek out of the window and she gasped. There he was, next to the well. Arun's bare body became visible in the early light of the sun. Arun had a well toned body. His broad chest and firm biceps was proof of an active man. He pulled the water from the well and poured it over his head. He then grabbed the soap from the little box and started to lather. Here, Seetha's heart was literally pounding, "Achacho Seetha unakku Vekkame illai. Yen di appidi paakare? Achacho modhalla avarukku dhrishti suthi podanum. En kanne pattirukkum. Aparam ippidi kenathu pakathula kulikka vendaam nu sollanum. Yaarodu kannula ellam padardho. Pillaiyar appa." She smacked her cheeks  but she couldn't help taking another peek. She chuckled seeing him is soap lather.

Just then the milk began to boil, threatening to over flow. She quickly switched off the gas and started checking on the filter. The sound from the well had stopped but Seetha couldn't help but blush thinking of her husband. She quickly made the coffee and took it to the bedroom where Arun was drying his hair. He was wearing a fresh veshti but he was still bare chested. Seetha walked in with a tumbler. Arun looked up at her and smiled, "Nanna thoonginiya maa? Amma Unna ezhuppa vendaam nu sonna adhunaala thaan koopadle. Naan 5 ku ezhundhirundhu motta maadila Surya namaskaaram panni konjam weight thookuven. Edho Nammalaala mudinja exercise. Apparam sayangaalam walking poven. Neeyum venumna kooda varalaam."

Seetha looked at him but looked away saying, "Indhango kaapi kudingo." Arun took the cup from her and said, "Neeyum kudi maa." She turned around and said, "Naan adukolai la vachirukken" but she stayed there without moving ahead.  He looked at her and left the tumbler on the dressing table and asked, "Edhavudhu sollanuma?" She nodded a yes. He walked close to her and said, "Hmmm...sollu" in his base voice. She gasped at his proximity, "Neenga modhalla sattai pottundu vaango." He smiled, "Yen? Ennachu?" She whispered, "Kannu pada pordhu." Although he heard her clearly, he pretended like he didn't, "Ennadhu? Seriya kekkala." By now her back was touching the wall and he was close to her trying to hear what she was saying. She quickly touched the kajal from the corner of her eyes and touched his chin, placing a tiny black dot. She blushed saying, "Kannu pada pordhu. Adhukku thaan indha mai itten."

Now he wanted to tease her, "Oho, yaarodu kannu padum? Nammathu Kenathu adi inge endha aathulendhum theriyadhu. Appo adukolai lerndhu nee thaan kannu vachiya?" Seetha looked away embarrassed, "Appidi..... appidi onnum illai. Naan poren enakku vazhi vidungo?" Arun chuckled, "Nee modhalla oru vishayam sollu. Nee thaan ara adi thaane irukke. Unakku etti paatha thaane kenathu adi theriyum?" Seetha's face turned crimson, "Acho enna vidarela yaaravudhu paaka pora." Arun came closer as Seetha closed her eyes. His cheeks were brushing her skin making her have goosebumps. He whispered, "Yaarum paaka maata. Inge thaan yaarum illiye."

Seetha blushed with her eyes still closed and all she could do was gasp and whisper, "... ippo enna panna porel?" Arun chuckled and whispered back, "Naan onnum pannale aana thookathula nee thaan enna kateende" and slowly moved away only for her eyes to open widely with a, "Achacho".

Brinda Subramanian