Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Still my daughter?

Seetha was quiet and lost in thought during the train journey. They had packed some thayisadam and mango thokku for their dinner but Seetha refused to eat. Seetha, who was very fond of food and never skipped a meal, did not have an appetite. Although Ramani and Raji had barely spent two days with their daughter and son-in-law, they did not fail to notice how lovingly their daughter was being taken care of but there was something that bothered Raji. She did not know what it was but she had a gut feeling that they weren't "husband and wife" yet. Of course, a mom always knows. After all, a child is an extension of the mother. The 9 months of bonding is what is expressed as a mother's instinct, but Raji decided to find a better time and way to talk about it to Seetha.

Seetha curled up and dozed off. The train reached olavakode station on time. They took an auto home and were welcomed by chithi and Meena akka. They were thrilled to see Seetha and were showering her with thousands of question, "Seetha eppidi irukke? Maapillai eppidi irukkar? Unna nanna pathukaraara? Nee avara nanna paathukariya? Madras eppidi irukku?" (Seetha how are you? How is your hubby? Are you taking good care of him? How is Madras?) None of these questions seemed to reach her. She just looked at her uncle and said, "Chithappa nee office pora vazhila avarukku oru telegram anupeedu. Avar kavala paduvaar illai na." (Uncle please send him a telegram. He will be worried) Seetha carried her bag and went up the stairs to her room. She shut the door before anyone else could follow her and, out of nowhere, she started to weep. A man, who she barely knew for a month, had become her priority. A household of people that she had lived with, her entire life, seemed like strangers. She could not understand this emotion but she needed to let it all out.

After a few minutes she started to feel better. She decided to have a shower and go see pillaiyar. When she got down, she noticed that the house was buzzing with activity. Her grandfather heard her anklet and called out to her, "Seethalakshmi, inge vaa kozhandai. Nee ponadhulerndhu aarume enakku English paper vaashichu thara maatengara." (Come here child. After you left no one reads the English newspaper to me anymore) Seetha held Thatha's hand and said, "Thatha naan kulichuttu odi vandhu padikkaren" (Let me have a bath and come) and she fondly pinched his cheeks. She noticed Rangu and Meena Akka's kid playing with choppu saaman sitting on the aatukattil (long swing). She smiled and passed them. In the kitchen she noticed Paati, Amma, Chithi and Meena akka gossiping. Seetha smiled as she overheard Raji saying, "Thangamaana manishan maapillai. Namma Seetha va oru kozhandai madiri paathukaraar. Enga kitta romba mariyadhaiya nadandhundaar."(He is a wonderful man. He treats Seetha like a child. He was very respectful to us.)

Seetha skipped her way towards the bathroom and couldn't help smiling at the sight of the well. She quickly filled the bucket with water and took it to the bathroom. After a nice shower she stepped out to the kitchen to find her Paati stirring the sambar. Seetha went and hugged her and she touched her cheeks saying, "kozhandai nethi ku ittundu, swami namaskaaram paneetu vandhu, indha thengaiya thuruvi thaa." (Wear the kumkum in your forehead and prostrate before the temple.then help me grate this coconut) Seetha quickly went and did as told and as she was coming back to the kitchen, she noticed her mother whispering something to paati and then quickly went to the backyard to wash clothes. Seetha was a little confused by the behavior but she went to help paati.

Paati handed her a cup of fresh filter kaapi saying, "Indha modhalla idha kudi." (Here first drink this) Seetha smiled and took a sip, "Paati oda kaapi thaan first class kaapi. Madras la kedakkara kaapi podi namma ooru madiri illai." (Grandma's coffee is the best. The coffee powder in Madras isn't like the one we get here) Paati smiled and continued with her work, "Aparam Seetha kutti, Madras pattanam ellam eppidi irukku? Maapillai Unna nanna paathukarar illayo?" (how is madras city? Does your husband take good care of you?) Seetha smiled at the mention of maapillai, "Paati avar enna romba nanna paathukaraar. Avar enna beach ku kooteendu ponaar aparam pillaiyar kovil ku. Oru naaliki mazhaila la nenanju enakku pani vandhudhu. Avar Doctor a aathukke kooteendu vandhaar. Avarukku enna romba pidikkum paati" (He takes good care of me. He took me to the beach and even to pillaiyar temple. One day I got drenched in the rain and fell ill. He brought the doctor home to treat me. He likes me a lot) then she blushed and said, "Enakkum avara romba pidichirukku." (I too like him a lot)

Paati smiled as Seetha was grating the coconut. Then Paati's face turned serious, "kazhandhe un kitta onnu kekkanum. Nee ingendhu eppidi poniyo appidiye vandhirukara madiri irukke nu enakkum amma kum thonardhu. Nee.... Maapillai kooda anyoonyama irukke illyo? Avar unna sandhoshama vachukkara madhiri nee avara sandhoshama vachukariyo?" (I want to ask you something. You seem like you have returned exactly as you left this place. Are you being close to him ? Are you keeping him happy?) Seetha looked at her confused, "Enna paati ularare? Naan avarukku ellame samachu kudukaren. Avarukku naan enna paninaalum pudikkum." (What are you blabbering? I cook for him and he loves whatever I do) Then she whispered, "Paati inge vaa yen. Unakku onnu theriyuma? Naan avarukku kaarthala aapis pogarthukku minnale kannathula mutham kooda kuduppen." (Come here. I even kiss his cheek every morning before he leaves for work) Paati smacked her forehead, "Ellam unga amma va sollanum. Kalyanathukku minnala unakku kathu kudukka vendiya vishayatha kathukudukaadhikki anupeerka. Iru." (It is all your mother's fault. She was supposed to teach you everything before marriage) Then paati called out, "Raji inge vaa. Vegam vaa." (Raji come here quickly)

Raji promptly landed in the kitchen, "Nee kalyanathukku minnala indha Seetha ku ellam cholli kuduthiya illiya?" (Didn't you explain everything to her before marriage) Raji replied sheepishly, "Shanthi Adhellam paathukaren nu chonadhunaala naan vittutten. Yen? Ennachu?" (Shanthi said she will take care of it all so I didn't bother. Why what happened?) Paati sighed, "Unnoda ponnu mapillai ku kanathula mutham kuduthaalaam. Nee nenachadhu seri thaan. Aval innamum unnoda ponna thaan irukka. Avarukku pondaati aagalai." (Your daughter apparently pecks her husband's cheek. You are right. She is still you daughter. She hasn't completely become his wife) Seetha scratched her hair, "Ayo Neenga pesardhu enakku onnume puriyalai. Indhaango Ungaloda thengai. Naan poi thatha ku English newspaper padichuttu appidiye kovil ku poitu varen." (I have no clue what you ladies are blabbering. Here you go. Take your grated coconut. Let me go and read the English newspaper for grandpa and then head out to the temple).  She skipped her way towards thatha leaving amma and Paati looking at each other in shock.

Brinda Subramanian