Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Parting ways

Seetha had over slept so she was flustered in the morning. She opened up the idli steaming container. The steam hit her face and she looked away. She grabbed the cloth, with the help of which, she took one plate out. The fresh smell of kozhakattai reached her nose. She quickly took out a steel plate and place 4 steaming hot Kozhakattais in it. She blow her fingers that burnt during the transfer. She mixed the chutney bowl with a spoon and then added a couple of tablespoons of it on to the plate. She then used her pallu to pick up the plate and paced up to the bedroom.

She left the plate on the dressing table and immediately tended to his extended arm to fix his cufflinks. Arun noticed her hurrying and saw that the plate was steal steaming. He said, "Maa paathu maa paathu. Ippidi Suda Suda thatta eduthundu variye maa. Kai Suda pordhu maa." (Be careful darling. The plate is hot. It will burn your fingers) She started to mumble, "Che adhu eppidi naan thoongi poiten nu therila. Ennala ungalukku neram aaga pordhu ippo. Naan oru seriyaana mutual. Inime ippidi nadakadhikki paathukkaren." (How could I over sleep. You are going to be late because of me. I am so stupid. From now on I will make sure this doesn't repeat) Arun held her hand and noticed her burnt finger. He took it up to his mouth and blew on it. Then he kissed it and said, "enna paaru Seethu maa." (Look at me) She looked up worried, "Nee modhalla moocha izhuthu vidu. Enakku neram ellam aagala. Ippidi veral ellam sutukalaama. Eppidi sevandhirukku paaru. Oru naaliki unnala tiffin panna mudilaina naan canteen la vaangipene. Seri nee modhalla enna paathu azhaga Siri. Ippidi azhara maadhiri moonji ya vachukaadhe." (take a deep breath. I am not late. Why did you have to burn your fingers. See it is red. If you are not able to make tiffin once in a while, that's fine. I will find something in the canteen) Seetha instantly smiled and Arun cupped her face.

As he sat down to eat, she quickly went to the Swamy room for the chandanam. She then, as usual, placed it on his forehead. Arun looked up at her and said, "Inniki naan permission pottu 4 manikku varen. Adhukapparam central station la poi mama mami ya kooteendu varalaam seriya? Nee ready ya iru. Naan office car a vara sollaren. Adhuliye poitu vandhudalaam." (I will get back early today so that we can pick up your parents from the station. Be ready. I will arrange for the office car. We can use it for the trip.) Seetha nodded. Arun noticed that Seetha was not her usual self so he pointed to his cheek reminding her about the regular kiss. Seetha looked into his eyes and said, "hmm... enna paathu ukkarungo." (Look at me) Then she stood in the gap between his legs. She first kissed his left cheek, then his right cheek and then his forehead. Arun chuckled, "Habba love ellam inniki balama irukke?" (I get extra love today) Seetha blush, "Chumma irungo enna kali aagadhengo. Naalelerndhu idhu ellam irukaadhu naan ooru lerndhu thirumbi vara varaikkum. Naalikki inge Appa Amma iruppa. Avalukku nera ellam ippidi panna mudiyadhu." (be quiet and don't tease me. From tomorrow all this will not happen. I can't do all this in front of my parents.)

Arun gently placed his hands on her bare waist and pulled her closer. She was almost about to fall on him. She gasped and held his shoulders, "Oru maasam indha muttai kanna paakaama eppidi irukka poren nu therila maa. Unnoda indha golusu satham kekkama indha veede ennamo madhiri irukka pordhu. Adhu eppidi nee ore maasathula enna ippidi mayakki vachirukke?" (for a month I will miss these eyes and this house will miss the sound of your anklets. How have you been able to magically control me) Seetha tapped his cheek fondly and chuckled, "Naan oru mandhira vaadhi aakum theriyumo? Ungala vasiya padutheerken" (I am a magician and I have hypnotized you) and they both laughed out loud.

Arun waved to his wife and headed off to work. Seetha was ready to go to the station when Arun returned. The car was a good idea. Seetha was elated to see her parents and that night Arun slept alone but could barely shut his eyes. He heard Seetha's giggles from the next room. He knew she was happy but he missed her already. The next day was even more hard. Although his wife was around, he missed their intimate moments. It was a time when a girls parents did not spend more than a day at their daughter's house even though Arun insisted that they stay back for a few more days. Seetha's father said, "Mappillai, engalukkum aasai thaan aana aadi maasam thodangardhukku minnala avala oorukku kooteendu ponam." (We would love to stay too but we need to reach the town before Aadi begins) Arun nodded.

The next evening Arun and Seetha could barely look at each other. Seetha was afraid she would cry if her eyes met his so she pretended to be busy with something or the other. Finally it was time for them to leave. Seetha and her parents took the back seat in the ambassador car. Arun sat in the passenger seat next to the driver but, through, the mirror he kept glancing at her. Finally Seetha looked up and saw his reflection in the mirror. Their eyes met and neither of them dared to even blink. Their eyes spoke thousand words. The break of the car coming to a halt broke that conversation. Arun, with the help of a coolie, carried the luggage and placed it in their compartment. Arun made sure that their seats were comfortable.

They stood outside for a few minutes but then Seetha's parents excused themselves so that their daughter and son-in-law could have a few moments of privacy. As soon as they disappeared Arun and Seetha's eyes met. Arun knew that she was in the verge of tearing up so he smiled at her, "Maa oru maasam odi poidum maa. Unakaaga ange ellarum kaathundu iruppa. Unna thanga thattula vachu paathupa. Unakku neram pogardhe theriyadhu paaru. Aparam unnoda friend Jayanthi iruka. Mukkiyama nee manikanakka unnoda pillaiyar kitta kadhai kadhaiya pesalaam. Unnoda deal ellam podalaam" (one month will fly by. Everyone is waiting for you there. Time will fly by. Your friend Jayanthi will be waiting to meet you and you can spend time with your fabourite Pillaiyar and make new deals with him.) he chuckled but the threatening tears poured out of her eyes, "Aana Neenga inga thaniya irupele. Neenga udamba paathukongo. Nerathukku chaapudungo. Aparam... aparam enna marandhudaadengo. Indha aadi maasam ellam yen thaan varadho. Ippidi pirichu vekka yen kalyanam panni vekkara. Enakku kovamum varudhu azhugaiyum varadhu." (but you will be alone here. Take care of your health. Eat on time. And then.. don't forget me. I don't know why we newly wed need to be separated. Then why even get married. I am sad and angry at the same time) Just then they heard the train's whistle.

Arun looked at her and said, "Nee poi Jennal pakkama vaa." (You go and come next to the window) He then quickly picked her up and placed her inside the train. She hurried to the seat and he was standing right outside the window. The train screeched and slowly pulled up. Arun held Seetha's hand and said, "Nee sandoshama iru maa. Naa seekirama vandhu Unna thirumba kooteendu varen. Ippo enna paathu azhaga Siri maa. Indha sirippula naan oru maasam ottuven." (be happy. I will be there soon to pick you up. Now give me a beautiful smile. That will keep me going for a month) Seetha quickly wiped her tears and flashed a smiled at him just as the train started to move. Arun paced along until he had to let go of her hands but she turned around and yelled, "Aparam naan illadha podhu andha kanathadi la kulikkaadhengo. Rohini kannu vekkapora." (don't bathe near the well when I am not home. Rohini might eye you) Arun instantly burst out laughing although he felt like a piece of his heart was being ripped away.

Brinda Subramanian