Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Unakku mattum

Arun cleared his throat and said, "Maa enna edho yosichundu irukke? Appidi enna ulaga maha prachanai unakku?" (Why are you lost in thoughts? What the problem?) Seetha looked up at him and sighed. She quickly went to the bedroom and grabbed a sleeveless baniyan (vest) and handed it to him, "hmmm indhango idha pottukongo." (here wear this) Arun tried to contain his smile, "Yen maa? Naan sattai podalaena unakku vekkama irukka?" (why? Do you feel shy to see me shirtless) She glared at him, "Ennoda pecha Neenga madhikkardhe illai?" (You don't listen to anything I say) She looked away as tears were threatening to pour down her cheeks. The last thing she wanted to do was cry about something silly. In fact, she was getting mad at herself for this sudden emotional roller coaster. Anger always made her cry and she hated that.

Arun was confused, "Enna maa sollare? Naan enna panninen? Kaarthala office ku poitu ippo thaane varen? Unkitta pesa kooda illiye? Bayangara veyyil vera...." (What are you saying? I left to office in the morning and am returning just now. I have not even spoken to you. It is so hot outside) Seetha interrupted him, "Unga kitta ethana thadava sollardhu ippidi poi kanathadi la nikkadhengo nu. Andha Rohini aathu adakolai lerndhu namma kenaru nannave theriyum. Avalukku vera unga mela oru kannu. Neenga adhukku mela" (How many times do I tell you not stand like this near the well. Rohini can see you from her kitchen and she has her eyes on you.) and her voice began to quiver so she stopped speaking. Arun had no idea what was going on.

He took a deep breath and said, "Edhuva irundhaalem enna paathu pesu maa. Konjam thirumbu maa." (Look at me and say whatever it is. Turn around) Seetha stood still. Arun walked up to her and gently tapped her shoulder, "Oiii... ennachu ennoda Seethu ku? Seri innime naan kanathu pakkame pogala seriya? Vaa saapadlaam. Enakku romba pasikkardhu maa. Inniki canteen la tiffin kooda irukkala. Kaarthala aathula kudichu kaapi oda seri. Thirumbu maa. Enna paaru Seethu." (what's wrong with my Seethu? Ok from now on I will not go near the well. Come let's eat. I am very hungry. I did not get anything in the canteen today so all I have had is the morning coffee. Turn around and look at me Seethu) He was calling her Seethu for the first time and her heart fluttered but her heart broke to imagine that he poor husband had not eaten all morning, "Achacho... irungo naan chaapadu eduthu vekkaren. Neenga ukkarungo. Naan oru muttal. Ungaloda pasi kooda purinjukkama ennenavo peseendu irukken." (Wait let me get you the food, you sit down. I am so stupid. I am ranting away without understanding that you must be starving)

He smiled as she quickly warmed up the food. He grabbed two plates and washed them before setting them on the floor. (for those who don't know, there was no concept of sitting at the dining table then. People sat crisscross on the floor and ate). Seetha placed the rice, keeramolagootal, rasam. Puli inji, pappadam, thayir and nai on the floor. Then she placed a little bowl with water. There was a concept of madi or vethu kai alambal which meant when you served food that was cooked, the person serving would dip their hand in water before touching un cooked food such as thayir or ghee.

Seetha started to served Arun. As she extended her hand to pour the rice in his plate, he held her hand. She looked up at him. He smiled and said, "Neeyum ukkaru maa. Unakkum pasikkum. Neeyum saapdu." (you too sit down. You must be hungry too. Let's eat together) Seetha nodded, "Neenga modhalla saapdungo. Naan kaartthala kanji kuduchen Neenga thaan onnume saapadliye. Pesaama saapdungo. En kaiya vidungo." (You eat first. I had porridge in the morning. You have not had anything yet. Let go of my hand and eat.) He let go of her hand while she served. He quickly mixed the molagootal with rice. Then he took a little bit of the puli inji and a piece of pappadam and made a ball. Then, in his base voice, he said, "Seethu aaa kaatu." (Seethu open your mouth) In spite of her mood swings, Seetha couldn't help blushing, "Ayyo velayadadhengo. Saapdungo." (Don't play around. Eat.) Arun frowned, "Nee en kaiyala oru vaai eduthunda thaan naan saapduven. Ippo naan sollara pecha nee kekka poriya illiya?" (I won't eat until you take a bite from me. Are you going to listen to me or not) She nodded and opened her mouth for him to feed her.

He smiled and took a bite saying, "Aahaaa pramadhama irukku. Nee romba nanna samaippai nu theriyum aana unakku ootittu saapidum podhu adhu innum amrithama irukku. Ippo marupadiyum aa kaatu? Unakku oru vaai enakku oru vaai." (Wow it tastes so good. I know you are a good cook but when I feed you and then it, the food is tastier. Now open your mouth again. One mouthful for you and one for me.) Arun managed to feed her while he ate as well. This also calmed Seetha a little. After lunch Arun helped Seetha clean up although she kept pushing him to go relax. This was all new to her. She had never seen the men in her family help out in the kitchen. It was not that hers was a male chauvinist family or anything. They respected the women in the house and paati had more say than Thatha but this was just not a practice.

Once they sat back to relax and Arun noticed that Seetha was in a better frame of mind he asked, "Inniki naan office pona apparam enna panine?" (what did you do after I left for work) Seetha told him about the vegetable vendor, her chat with Saroja mami and the temple visit. Then her face fell and she said, "Unga kitta onnu kekatta?" (can I ask you something) Arun smiled, "Kelu maa." (Ask away) Seetha hesitantly asked, "Neenga dhenamum anjaneyar kovil ku poven nu sonnele appo.... Naanum Saroja mami yum pona maadiri Rohini aathu vazhiya thaan povela? Appo aval ungala paarpalo? Avalum kovil ku varvaala?" (Did you always take the short cut via Rohini's house when you went to the temple before? Would she look at you then?would she go to the temple too) Arun started to chuckled and pulled his wife close to him saying, "Eii Makku Seethu. Nee yen ippidi ellam yosikkare. Naan ennoda life la oru ponna paathadhum appidiye vizhundhenna adhu indha Seethu va paathu thaan. Unna ponnu paaka varum podhu unnoda indha kozhi mutta kannala enna paathiye appove ennoda pechu moochu ellam ninnu pochu theriyuma? Nee engeyavudhu enna vendaam nu solidiviyo nu bayandhunde irundhen. Indha Arun oda kannu, pechu, moochu ellame indha Seetha ku thaan. Apparam naan avaathu vazhiya pogave maaten. Eppovum suthi thaan poven appo thaan oru walking madhiriyum irukkum nu. Andha Rohini ya enakku perusa theriyave theriyadhu. Nee modhalla andha kavalaiya vidu. Seriya?" (Oh my why do you think this way. In my life the only girl I have ever fallen for was you. When I came to see you for the first time you glanced me with those doe eyes my life, my soul surrendered in your feet. Also I never took the short cut by their house. I always took the long route so that it would be a walk as well. I don't even know Rohini. You first let go of that thought ok?)

Seetha looked at him and smiled. She blushed at the thought that her husband fell for her when he first saw her but what Arun said next warmed her heart. Even without her mentioning he said, "Aparam kaarthaliye pannanum nu nenachen aana marandhutten. Nee saapadu soodu pannum podhu paathen unnoda purse kaali ya irundhudhu. Adhula konjam rubai potirukken. Aparam dressing table ulla oru cover liyum konjam vachirukken. Unakku kekkarthukku sankojama irukkum. Nee eppo venumnaalum ennoda purse lerndhu eduthukko seriya. Idhu ellame Unnodadhu thaan... mukkiyama naan. Adhula unakku ennikum sandegam varapdadhu seriya?" (Also I wanted to do something in the morning but I forgot. I have placed some money in your purse in the kitchen and have also left a cover inside the dressing table. I know you might feel hesitant to ask but please take money from my wallet whenever you need. Everything here is yours, especially me. Never doubt that.)

Seetha nodded and smiled. Arun pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her and whispered, "Kenathu adi la seri aana ippo, aathula, un kooda sattai illama irukkalaam illiyo?" (I understand that you don't want me to stand bare chested near the well but now it is just the two of us here. What about now?) Seetha blushed whispering, "Achacho"

Brinda Subramanian

How do you like it guys? Do leave a comment and don't forget to vote. I will be away for the weekend so no updates for 2-3 days but hang in there. I shall return soon. Can't stay away too long from our chella kutties Seethu and Arun.