Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Good news!

It was now almost a year since their wedding. Seetha and Arun were waiting at the doctors office. Seetha was visibly anxious. Arun looked at her a smiled. She smiled back nervously. He whispered, "Bayapadadhe maa." (Don't be scared)She nodded. Dr. Kamala gestured Seetha to follow her into the private area and asked her to lie on the bed. Arun was looking at them. The doctor closed the curtain as the couple's eyes met. Arun sat there breaking his knuckles.

A few minutes later, he heard the curtain open. Seetha adjusted her saree and walked back to sit next to Arun. The doctor followed her and sat across from them. She scribbled something on the prescription pad, ripped it and handed the piece of paper to Arun. She smiled and said, "Congrats sir Neenga Appa aaga poreenga. Moonu maasam ayirukku. Ellam normal aa irukku. Indha rendu tonic mattum saapta podhum." (Congrats you are going to be a father. It has been 3 months into the pregnancy. Everything looks normal. Just get this tonic and take it daily) She then looked at Seetha and said, "Bayapadardhukku onnum illai. Neenga eppovum pola ella velaiyum seyalaam. Weight mattum romba thooka vendaam. Matha padi nalla saapdu,venumgara alavu rest edu. Eppidiyum Ettavudhu maasathula ootukku kooteendu poiduvaanga unna. Appo ange poi doctor paatha podhum." (You can do allyoir regular activity. Just be careful with heavy things. Eat well, rest well. Anyway you will go to your home town during the 8th month. You don't need any check up until then) Arun hesitantly asked, "Doctor vera edhavudhu restrictions irukka?" (Any other restrictions)Doctor Kamala knew exactly what he meant. She smiled, "Moonu masam mudinju ellam nalla padiya irukku. Neenga rendu perum sandhoshama irukkalaam. Seetha arogyama irukka. Vera edhukkum bayapada vendaam." (Everything looks good and healthy so there are no issues with your regular physical activities) Seetha blushed understanding the message.

Seetha and Arun were elated. Unlike present days, there were no home pregnancy tests to blood tests to confirm when someone became pregnant. Seetha had, of course missed her periods. A few days later she had been nauseous, dizzy while waking up and a little more tired than usual. One day Saroja mami caught Seetha fast asleep on the sofa, when she came by while going to the temple. She had been out of town for a month and had just returned.

She called out to her, "Seetha, Seetha Ennachu ippidi pagal la thoongindu irukke. Odambu ku enna pannardhu?" (Why are you sleeping during the day) Seetha yawned and opened her eyes, "Onnum illai mami. Enna ne therilai ukkadhale thookama varudhu." (Nothing I am just so sleepy all the time) Saroja looked at her and whispered, "Kulichu ethana naal aachu?" (How long has it been since your last periods) Seetha replied, "Thalli poirukku maami. 15 naal aayachu. Pona vaaram poi rendu amma kitteyum truck call pottu pesheetu vandhom. Rendu perume sonadhu enna na ippidi thaan irukkum. Edhukkum moonu maasam pogattum adhukappam lady Doctor a poi paaru nu sonna." (I have missed my periods. I am 15 days late. I spoke to my mother and mother in law. They told me to wait until 3 months and then see a doctor) Saroja smiled, "Unnoda mugatha paathale theriyardhu undayirukkai nu. Ava sollara madiri 3 maasathukku ganama irukkara onnum thookadhe. Inge Dr. Kamala nu irukka. Romba raasiyaana doctor. Naan number tharen. Adhu varaikkum edhavudhu venumna cholli. Naan panni tharen." (Your face gives it away. Like they say, don't lift anything heavy for 3 months. I know a good doctor. I will give you her number. Let me know if you need anything. I will make it for you)

Seetha smiled, "Denamum maangai curry thaan thottundu chaaptundu irukken. Kaapi ye pidikka maatengardhu mami. Sa Adam vadikkardhu kulla komateendu irundhudhu aana ippo parava illai. Romba thookam thookama varudhu. Matha padi saadharnama thaan irukken. Unga kitte sollaliye nu thappa eduthukaadhengo. Amma thaan sonna moonu maasam varaikkum yaarukkum theriya vendaam nu. Adhu thaan" (I am just loving mangoes. I am not tolerating the smell of coffee. I feel like throwing up. I just feel sleepy all the time. Don't mistake me for not letting you know of this before. Amma told me to just keep it to myself for 3 months.) she hesitated but Saroja smiled kindly. "Amma sonnadhula thappe illai kozhandhe. Namma oorula ellam vala kaapu pannartha thaan solluva. Aaaram maasathula. Vayara paathu aalugal therinjupaale thavira Nammal aarukittayum solla maatom. Naan dhinamum sayangaalam vandhu dhrishti chuthi podaren. Scooter la ukkandhu engeyum pogadhe. Arun kitta auto la kooteendu poga sollu. Avasiyam irundha velila pona porum. Vaa en kooda kovilukku vaa."(Nothing wrong in what your mother said. We usually don't even say until the valakaapu ceremony in the 6th month. People will just look at your stomach and understand. I will do the dhrishti every evening to remove evil eyes. Don't sit on the scooter and don't wander out much. Come let's go to the temple now.)

Hence they had kept it just between them. The older music students had noticed the glow on Seetha's face but had just gone home and told their mothers. They had told the girls, "Appidiya? Naal thapeerkum aana neengal onnum kekkadhengo." (Oh is it? May be she is pregnant but don't ask anything) As days passed by Seetha's pregnancy news was just a well kept secret that everyone knew. No one asked anyone in the fear of jinxing it.

After the appointment, Arun and Seetha were thrilled. Finally, the doctor had confirmed it. They were going to have a baby. That night, while in bed, Arun was gently rubbing Seetha's stomach and Seetha was combing his hair with her fingers. During the conversation with both her mother and mother-in-law, they had instructed them "to be careful" so Arun had been very careful about keeping a safe distance. He would always caress her and kiss her. Sometimes she would want more than that but he was worried for her and for the pregnancy. Now that the doctor had given an okay, they were both happy and relieved.

Arun gently pulled Seetha closer and their lips met. Seetha reached out for his hand towards her chest and he obliged. She whispered to him, "Ungalukku enna kozhandhai venum? Ponna illai paiyana?" (do you want a boy or a girl) Arun was busy unbuttoning her blouse eagerly. He had contained himself for three months and was a little anxious but he answered his wife, "Enakku moonu kozhandhaigal venum. Rendu ponnu oru paiyan. Moonum udane udane pethukanum. Unakku?" (I want 3 babies. Two girls and a boy) Seetha gasped in pleasure as her hormones were extra sensitive to his touch and his kisses. She had missed it too much. Between the heavy breathing, she answered, "Ungalukku venumna naan 10 kooda pethukka ready." (If you want I am ready to have 10 children)

He looked up at her, pretending to be surprised and said, "Appidiya? Appo padinonna vachukalaam" (let's make it 11 then) making her giggled as she pulled him to a tight hug and their bare bodies clung to each other in eager passion.

Brinda Subramanian