Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Jayanthi's reluctance

It had been over a week since the letter had arrived. Seetha and Jayanthi were seated on the back porch of Jayanthi's house while she was busy grinding maavu in the aatukal (Grinder) while Seetha sat beside pushing the ulundu into the center part as the spilled out. Jayanthi's mom, a soft spoken lady, told Seetha, "kovil lerndhu eduthundu vandha chandanamum boori pansaarai prasadamum vachirukken. Marakkaadhikki aathukku eduthundu po, seriya? Naan namma pillaiyar a paathuttu namma kovil mama kitte pesittu vandhudaren." (I have kept the temple prasadam there please take it home without fail. Let me go to see pillaiyar and meet the priest) Seetha smiled and nodded.

Jayanthi peeked to see her mom leave and then said, "Enakku maapillaiya konjam kooda pidikkale dee. Aana avaathu kaaraalukku enna romba pidichirukkam. Guruvayoor mama thaan indha jaadagatha anupina. Romba nalla kudumbam nu sollara. Avaathula ponnu illai, moonu per anna thambi adhula ivar naduviltha aalu. Mootha Anna kalyanam panikkalaiyam. Edhunaala nu therilai. Ivarukku oru thambi. Maamanar maamiyar nalla manishala thaan theriyara." (I don't like the groom but his family really likes me. The uncle at guruvayoor sent the horoscope. Nice family. They are 3 sons in their house. No daughters. The older brother is unmarried and I don't know why. He has a younger brother. In-laws seem like nice people)

Seetha listened carefully and said, "Apparam ennadi unakku? Yen pidikkalai?" (Then what's your problem? Why don't you like him?) Jayanthi thought for a second, "adhu vandhu...avar vaideeha kudumbam. Vedam paduchavar. Ange Veda paatashalaila Padam nadatharaar. Ivar kudumi ellam vachundu irukkar dee. Moonji ellam orey meesaiyum dhaadeeyuma. Unga aathukaar epidi Gemini Ganesan madiri azhaga crop veteendu, pant shattai ellam pottundu irukkar? Ivar sadhaa panjakachathoda sutharaar dee. Enakku ennamo avar seriyana mushuda irupparo nu thonardhu. Avar enna seriya kooda paakama kalyanathukku sammadhicha madiri irundhudhu. Ippo kooda Guruvayoor kovilukku avaalum vandhirundha. Ennamo Kaila chandanatha neetitu, "hmm... indha ittuko" nu sonaar. Azhaga kooda pesa therilai." (They are a family of priests. He teaches vedas. He has a kudumi. He has mustache and beard which I don't like. See how your husband looks stylish and wears pant and shirt? This man wears a dhoti everywhere and seems grumpy. I feel he said yes without even looking at me properly. He was there at the Guruvayoor temple too. He stretched his arm to give me the chandanam and couldn't even say it nicely) Jayanthi pouted.

Seetha chuckled, "Aana avaathu manisha unkitta eppidi nadandhunda?" (But how did his family treat you?) Jayanthi thought for a second, "Avaa ellarum nanna thaan pesina. Amma kitta varadhakshanai edhuvume vendaam nu solitta. Kovil liye vachu kalyanatha muduchudalaam nu soleerka. Ippo kooda amma adha pathi pesa thaan poirukka." (They seem like nice people. They did not ask for any dowry and have agreed for a simple wedding. Even now my mom has gone to discuss this with the priest) Seetha smiled, "kalyanam aana aparam paaru, ippo edha ellam korai nu sollariyo adhuve unakku azhaga theriyum. Pazhaga pazhaga ellam seri ayidum dee. Seri unga amma varadhukulla unkitta oru vishayam sollanum." (After you get married you will start liking the same things that you are complaining about. Once you get to know him things will get better)

Seetha told Jayanthi about the "love letter" that she had received from her husband and about her prompt reply to him. Then she said, "unkitta oru mukkiyamana vishayam sollanum." (I have to tell you something important) She looked around and gestured Jayanthi to come closer to her and whispered, "Nee Annikki onnu sonniye thalagani mandhiram nu adhu enna nu theriyuma?" (Do you know what that pillow chant is that we spoke about the other day) Jayanthi looked at her confused. Seetha sighed. She felt like the ellam therinja medhavi (know it all). She believed that she had some very important information that she needed to share with her friends. She whispered, "Kozhandhai eppidi porakkum nu theriyuma unakku?" (Do you know how a baby is conceived) Before Jayanthi could answer, Seetha chuckled and said, "Odhattula mutham kudutha varaadhaam. Amma paavam enakku ukkandhu cholli thandha." (Liplock does not do it. My mother explained it to me) She then explained the process to Jayanthi whose eyes widened.

She stopped the grinder mid way saying, "Ayayo idhellam ennala mudiyadhu. Enakku kalyaname vendaam. Naan ingeye amma kooda irundhukaren. Ayo ennala nenachu kooda paaka mudila dee." (Oh no I can do this. I won't get married. I will just stay with my mother) Seetha was shocked and surprised by Jayanthi's reaction. Just then Jayanthi's mom returned to find her panic stricken daughter. Jayanthi yelled, "Amma enakku kalyanam vendaam maa. Naan ippidiye un koodave irundhukarene." (Mom I don't want to get married. I will stay here with you) The usually soft spoken lady glared at her daughter, "Ennadi pechu idhu? Abasagunama. Ippo thaan mama kitta pesi moonu nalla naal kurijundu vandhirukken. Idho paaru Seetha eppidi chamatha kalyanatha paneendu kudumbam nadatharanu. Ennavo indha ulagathula nokku maathram thaan kalyanam nadakkara madhiri peseendu." (What kind of thought is this. Inauspicious. I just returned with three good muhurtha dates. See how Seetha obediently got married and has set up her family. Stop talking  as if  you  are the only one in the universe getting married)

Jayanthi ran towards her mother, "Ayo amma nokku kozhandhai eppidi porakkum nutheriyuma?" (Mom do you know how a baby is conceived) Her mother glanced at Seetha knowing that the information transfer had happened from there. Seetha quickly ran towards the front door saying, "Jayanthi naan kelambaren dee. Paati edho bakshanam ellam undaaka poren nu sonna enakku eduthundu pordhukku. Naan poi edhavudhu venuma nu paakaren. Sayangaalam kovil ku porthe Unna paakaren." (See you later. My grandma was going to make some snacks for me to take back with me. Let me check if she needs help with that. I will see you in the evening at the temple) Jayanthi's mother watched as Seetha ran and then looked up at her panic stricken daughter who repeated the question, "Sollu amma unakku theriyuma?" (Do you know) Her mother glared at her, "Adiye makku , theriyama eppidi dee Unna pethen. Naane un kitta idha pathi azhaga sollalaam nu irundhen adhukkulla Seetha ve sollitta. Adhuvum oru vidhathula nalladha pochu. Idhukku ellam poi aaravudhu kalyanam vendaam nu solluvaalo? Nalla manishaala irukka. Namma nelamayum konjam purunjukko kozhandhey. Kalyanam kovil la vachu paninda porum nu chollara. Varadakshanaiyum onnum kekkalai. Ennakum vayasaagardhu." (Obviously I do since I gave birth to you. I was going to explain this myself but Seetha beat me. That is fine. This is not a reason to refuse marriage my child. You know our family situation. They seem like nice people and are not asking for dowry. They have even agreed for a simple wedding. I am getting old too.) Jayanthi understood her mother's predicament so she just nodded and kept mum. She hoped that her pillaiyar will only do the best for his children.

Seetha barely had a week more before she could head back to Madras but she was concerned because she had not received a letter from him. She remembered that he had mentioned about a couple of office trips he had to take but she did not remember the time frame of those. As usual Seetha and Jayanthi went to the temple in the evening and each had their own petition reminders. Seetha, with the new knowledge, was seeking blessings and courage while Jayanthi was asking pillaiyar to show her some good traits in her soon to be husband so that she can learn to grow fond of him. After all she hadn't really had a male figure in her life.

An auto rickshaw stopped outside Seetha's house. Ramani heard the sound and walked towards the front door only for his face to light up with a big smile. He yelled out, "Raji aaru vandhirukka paaru? Mapillai" (Raji look who is here. Maapillai) then he proceeded hastily to welcome him saying, "Vaango vaango maapillai. Dhideernu ungala paathadhum kaiyum odala kaalum odala. Oru telegram anupeerkalaame?" Arun stepped out of the auto. He looked charming in a well ironed cream color button down shirt with the sleeve folded at the elbow. He was wearing a crisp white cotton veshti. (Please come. Seeing you suddenly I feel perturbed. You could have sent a telegram) Just then Raji came running from inside inviting maapillai inside, "Vaango Vaango. Neenga ulla ukkarungo naan kaapi pottu eduthundu varen. Rangu va anuppi Seetha va kovil lerndhu kooptundu vara chollaren. Avan andha Jayanthi kooda peseendu thaan iruppal..." (please come inside. Sit down. I will make coffee for you. Let me send Rangu to the temple to get Seetha.) but Arun stopped her, "Illai maami Naane kovil la poi avala paathu kooteendu varen." (That's ok, I will myself go to the temple and find her and get her back home) He placed his carry bag in the front porch which Seetha's father picked up and took to the upstairs room.

Arun took off his slippers outside the temple and stepped in to greet Pillaiyar and meet his wife.

Brinda Subramanian