Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Off finally

Seetha stepped out of the bathroom with the towel tied on her wet hair and haphazardly worn saree. She went straight to the Swamy room to apply the kumkumam on her forehead and the sindoor. Paati saw her from the kitchen and said, "kozhandhe nee kuluchacha. Seri inge vaa. Indha indha kaapi ya kondu poi maapillaikku kudu. Adhukku aparam unakku eduthu vechukka vendiyadhu ellam eduthukko. Naan, amma, chithi ellarum chamayal velaiya paathukkarom. Mappillaiku vada payasathoda sadhi vattam vekkanam. Appavayum chithappavayum kolla pakkathula poi vaazha ellai ya vetteendu vara choleerken. Mapillai kitta kaapi kuduchu kulikka poga chollu. Pinna chaaptutu neenga erangikungo." (Have you had a bath? Here take this coffee to your husband. Then pack your stuff. The rest of us ladies are preparing a huge lunch to serve before you leave. Your dad and uncle are getting the banana leaves. Ask your husband to have a bath after drinking the coffee) Seetha nodded and took the tumbler and dabara from Paati.

She walked up the stair to the room where Arun was getting ready to go for a bath. Seetha walked in saying, "Indhaango indha kaapiya kudichuttu kulikka pongo." (Here drink this coffee and go shower) She placed it on the window sil and quickly went to apply kajal in her eyes but Arun wrapped his arms around her waist from behind her and the sudden jerk made the Kajal spread out. "Achacho enna pannarel? Naan kulichachu. Neengal vizhuppu. Enna thodadhengo." (oh no what are you doing. I have had a bath already. Don't touch me) Arun nuzzled her neck and mumbled, "Vizhippavudhu kizhippavudhu. Nethikki rathrithi enna ambo nu vittuttu ponadhukku thaan idhu. Rathiri muzhukka naan thoongave illai theriyumo?" (don't stop me. After what you did to me last night, I couldn't go to sleep. This is the punishment for leaving me mid way) She turned around to face him and, with concern, asked, "Yen thoongalai? Naan ellam keezha pona odane thalai thalagaani la pattadhu thaan theriyum. Udane thoongittan." (Why didn't you sleep? I slept really well) Arun glared at her, "Unakku enna nee thoonguve. Ennoda nelamai unakku enge puriya pordhu." (Of course you slept. Where would you understand my predicament)

Seetha chuckled and placed a dot with the Kajal on his dimpled cheek saying, "Appidi enna nelamai? Ippo enna vidungo. Aaravudhu paatha enna marupadiyum kulikka cholluva" (What ever was your predicament? Let go of me now because if someone sees us like this I will be asked to have a bath again) but Arun only pulled her closer peppering kisses on her neck. Although Seetha's arms automatically wrapped around his neck, she whispered, "enna pannarel? Enna vidungo. Indha Paati enna kaanalainu aal anuppa pora. Enna ippidi sangadathula maati vidaadhengo. Poi kulichuttu vaango." (What are you doing? Grandma might send someone. Please don't put me in an uncomfortable situation) Arun untangled the towel in her head and quickly pulled her for a quick peck on her lips and let go. He walked out leaving a blushing Seetha saying, "Unna Madras la vachu paathukaren." (I will take care of all this once we get to madras) She quickly covered her face whispering, "Achacho".

Seetha packed her clothes and all the snacks that Paati had made. After getting the vaazha ellai, Ramani had sat down to pack the kaimurukku, peruvalangai, laddoo, mysorepak and pokkodaam. He neatly packed 3 separate boxes of each. One to go to Madras and two for Coimbatore to be delivered to Shanthi and to Arun's mama. Meanwhile, Seetha, after packing her bags, dried up her hair and adorned it with mallipoo. Lunch was being served in vaazha elai a little earlier than usual as the couple needed to leave. The elai was filled up with ulundhu vadai, iduchu puzhinja payasam, puli inji, thayir pachadi, mampazha pachadi, pappadam, vaazhakkai mazhukkuperatti, avarakkai thoran, avial, rice, nei, paruppu, mathan sambar, seppankangu morkootan, moru and vadu mangai. The feast ended with the home grown banana.

Both Seetha and Arun thoroughly enjoyed the meal and cleared their elai. After getting blessings from all the elders, they took an auto to the bus stand and loaded the bus. Seetha dozed off in the bus ride. In a couple of hours they reached CBE and were welcomed by Mama and Mami. Shanthi was also thrilled to see her sister but was even happier to see all the bakshanams (treats). Although Arun was looking for every possible opportunity to get a moment with his wife, it was very difficult at his uncle's house with his aunt watching them like a hawk as Aadi maasam wasn't over yet. Arun was busy with his work but was more than happy on Friday. Finally they could head back to Madras.

Their train from Coimbatore to Madras was on Friday night. Thankfully, Seetha had not unpacked much of what she had brought and had managed with the sarees that mami had offered. So, as soon as Arun returned from work, it was easy to load the taxi and head to the station. They got the help of a coolie to help load their luggage to their seat and were relieved when, finally, covai express pulled out of the track.

Brinda Subramanian