Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Monkey mind

Seetha was thoroughly enjoying the "ungal viruppam" songs playing on the radio. Once she finished cooking and covered the vessels, her stomach started to roar indicating that she needed to have something. She looked around to see what she could make that would be both easy and filling. She decided to make some podi arisi kanji (broken rice porridge). She poured it in a tumbler and took it to the hall. She switched on the fan and drank it, relishing the combination of rice, milk and sugar. Just as she was finishing the last few sips, she heard the sound of the front gate being opened.

She peeked out to see Saroja walk in. She called out, "Seetha, Seetha". Seetha placed the tumbler on the floor and walked up, "Vaango mami ulla vaango." (Please come in) but Saroja stood between the gate and the front door and said, "Illai illai ulla varalai. Naan appidiye pin pakathaala Anjaneya kovil ku poren, neeyum variya? Naan ippidiya ungatha suthi pinnadi varen. Nee kadhava mooditu vaa. Nammal Rohini aathu vazhiya poitu vandhudalaam. Illaina suthi poganum. Orey veyil aa irukku. Ippidi pona appidiye nezhal la poidalaam." (no that's ok. I was planning to go from the back side of the house to the Hanuman temple. Why don't you come along. I will go around your yard. You lock up and meet me at the back door. We can take a short cut via Rohini's house. It is too hot to go around the street. There will be some shade this way.) Seetha smiled and nodded, "Idho orey nimisham naan tumbler alambittu appidiye pin vaasal vazhiya varen." (just a minute. Let me wash this cup and I will meet you at the back entrance)

Saroja walked towards the side of the house to the back entrance while Seetha quickly took the empty tumbler to the kitchen and washed it. She then quickly adjusted her saree. The walked up to the front door and latched it from within. She picked up her slippers and key that was hanging on the key ring. She then picked up her little purse from the kitchen and walked to the back door. She shut the wooden door and locked the iron door, dropped the slipper, wore it and joined Saroja who was waiting near the small wooden gate that led to Rohini's back yard. She quickly plucked a few roses from the branch right next to the gate. Saroja yelled to no one in particular, "Naan thaan Saroja. Kovil ku porom." (It is me Saroja. Going to the temple) They heard a muffled voice from inside the house that sounded like an okay.

The Anjaneya temple was small. It was more like a prayer hall. It had an idol of Ram, Lakshman, Seetha and Hanuman and also a separate Hanuman idol. The priest was a young boy, probably about 17. He was of wheatish complexion. He was chanting Hanuman chalisa loudly. He had a sweet voice. Seetha noticed a couple of young girls, around 15-16 years of age. They were clearly there at the temple to seek the blessings of the young priest rather than Lord Hanuman himself. They giggled as he passed on the kumkumam to them. He did not look at the girls though but they were blushing as he walked past them. When he saw Saroja, he smiled and nodded. Saroja said, "Enna paa Narayana, eppidi irukke? Amma Appa ellam sowkiyama?" (hello how are you? Are your parents doing well) Narayanan nodded in affirmation. He was still chanting and was almost finishing up. Saroja said, "Nee mudichuttu vaa. Unkitta konjam pesanum." (I need to talk to you once you are done)

Narayanan nodded. Seetha looked at those girls and wondered if Rohini would have visited the temple at the same time that her husband did. Although she had to pay attention to the God, her mind wandered, "Avar dhenamum Rohini aathu vazhiya thaan vandhirupaaro? Appo avalukku therinjirukkume. Avalum pinnadiye vandhiruppalo? Indha ponngal rendu per madiri thaan avalum ivara paathu pal ilichirupaalo?" (he must have come via Rohini's house everyday to the temple. She would have known that too. Would she have followed him? Would she have giggled at him like these girls?) For some reason, all these unnecessary thoughts kept coming up and she was getting annoyed for no particular reason but her thoughts continued, "Avar madhyanam vandha aparam kekkanum." (I have to ask him about this once he gets home) She went around the idols and did her namaskaram. Narayanan walked up to her with the arathi plate. Seetha placed the roses and opened her purse to put some money on the plate but the purse was empty. That's when she remembered that she had paid the vegetable vendor in the morning. She felt embarrassed but Narayanan just moved on to the next person.

Once they finished and sat down, Saroja went up to talk to Narayanan, "Adutha velli kazhamai vadamaalai saarthanum. Aaru manikku varalaama?" (Can we do a vadai Mala next Friday at 6 pm) Narayanan looked up at the Mathrubhumi calendar that was hanging on the wall. He said, "Ooo besha pannalaame. Anniki kaarthala innoru vadamaalai irukku. Ippo vandhuttu ponaale oru akka thangai. Avaathulendhu podara. Neenga sayangaalam thaane kettel. Pannalaam." (Yes sure. In the morning those girls's family are doing the same but you can do it in the evening) Saroja thanked him. Seetha was already sitting on the temple platform lost in thought. For some reason she felt a turmoil within. She could not believe that she did not have money in her purse. As long as she was in Palakkad, she would always grab it from her father's wallet or chithappa's wallet but now she was not sure how to ask Arun for money. She had never asked because she has assumed that it was hers but now things were different.

Seetha was quiet on her way back home. Although Saroja was talking non stop Seetha was barely paying attention. Once they returned to their back yard Saroja asked, "Arun vandhuduvan nu sonniye samayal ellam mudichacha?" (you said Arun will be home so have you finished cooking?) Seetha answered, "Ellam aachu mami. Chadam maathram vadikkanum. Ulla vaangolen kaapi pottu tharen" ( Yes I just have to keep some rice. Why don't you come in I will make you some coffee) but Saroja nodded, "Illai maa vendaam. Naan aathukku poitu mama ku sadam podanum. Naan dhenamum kovil ku poven. Neeyum venumna kooda vaa. Seri naazhi aagardhu. Naan kelambaren." (no that's ok. I have to go home and feed my husband. I go to the temple everyday. You can come along if you like. Ok it's getting late. Let me get going) She quickly went around the house while Seetha left her slippers near the back door and unlocked as she stepped in.

She quickly made the rice. It was ready just on time when she heard the sound of the scooter and then the gate. Arun was sweating because of the heat. He took off his shoes in the porch and then walked straight to the bedroom to change. He took off his shirt and pant and changed to a veshti which  he folded up. He walked bare chested to the well to pull up some cold water to splash on his face, hands, chest and underarms. He then poured the remaining on his legs. He grabbed a towel to dry himself and placed the towel on his shoulder as he walked in. He flashed a smile looking at Seetha but she did not respond the same way. He noticed that she seemed to be lost in thought. He realized instantly that something was bothering her and he had to fix it sooner rather than later.

Brinda Subramanian