Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Growing family

Arun whispered, "Sriranjani, Sriranjani, Sriranjani" on the right ear and did the same on the left one. The baby frowned and kicked him. She did not like the rapid change in position but just as she was about to scream, Arun kissed her forehead and held her close to his chest. She went back to sleep peacefully. The punyagam and naming ceremony was over. It had been ten days since the delivery. Seetha was feeling much better but still quite tired.

Once the puja was done, Paati instructed her to go lie down. Just then the baby started to get uncomfortable on Arun's arms and gave a loud cry. Seetha quickly took her from him saying, "Pasikardha irukkum. Thaango." (She must be hungry) A few minuted later Arun walked into the room to find both the mother and daughter dozing. Baby still latching on to Seetha's breast. Arun walked up to them and gently kissed Seetha's forhead. She opened her eyes slightly and smiled.

He whispered, "Nee thoongu maa. Naan kelambaren. 3 maasathula vandhu unnayum kozhandhaiyum kooteendu poren. Adhukulla udamba nanna thethikko." (Sleep. I have to leave now. In 3 months I will be back to take you both back home. Rest well) Seetha gently unlatched the baby and adjusted her blouse before sitting back up. She stood up and hugged him. They held on to each other for a few minutes without saying much. She then cupped his face saying, "udamba paathukkungo." (Take care of your health) He nodded and gave her a quick peck on her lips before heading out.

After three months of rest and good food both Seetha and baby Ranju were ready to go home. Arun came to pick them up. Through out the train journey he could not put his daughter down. She was now looking at his face and smiling. She had a head full of curly black hair and twinkling eyes just like her mother. She cooed to him non stop and he chuckled, "Unga amma madiriye neeyum arattai adippa pola irukke?" (You are talkative like your mother)

Baby Ranju had a personality right from a very young age. She was an extremely friendly baby but also very curious. She was fast. She crawled early, sat early and was walking by 7 months. Just like her mother, she too had anklets as she was a busy body. Her favourite person though was "joja paati". The biggest advantage for Saroja was that even though Ranju had two grandmas, the person she knew as paati was her "joja paati". She couldn't say Saroja so it became Joja.

When Ranju was 8 months old Seetha found out that she was pregnant again and 15month old Ranju welcomed her little brother Shivaram. Seetha went back to Palakkad for delivery and this time it was different. She was prepared for the long labor and delivery. After yet another four months of recovery, she was back in Madras with the babies. Shivu was a quieter child. He was exactly like his father, both looks wise as well as his personality. He clung to his mother. It definitely was helpful that Ranju literally grew up at Joja Paati's house.

Looking at the way Shivu was stuck to his mom and weaning him off her was such a challenge, Arun and Seetha had decided that their family was complete but what is meant to be cannot be changed. Five years later, after both Ranju and Shivu started to go to school, Seetha missed her periods. This time Seetha stayed back in Madras. She told Arun one night, "Rendu kozhandhaigalum school ku poga thodangiyachu. Ennoda paatu class la vera ippo neraya kuttigal irukka. Idhellam vittuttu ippo oorukku poganda. Ingeye aaspathiri la paathukalaam." (Both kids are now in school. My music class is also going well. I cannot leave all this and go so let's take care of the delivery here)

Arun agreed. By now Seetha knew what labor pain felt like. She was also now being checked by Dr. Kamala. Unlike the first two pregnancies, this time she had a monthly check up. The hospital was very close to home and when it was time, she went to the hospital early in the morning, leaving the two older kids with Saroja. She endured six hours of active labor and then came another baby girl. She was smaller than the other two but more difficult to push.

Later that evening Arun brought the two kids to meet their baby sister. Ranju looked at her sister and smiled. She looked up at Arun and said, "Naan thaan ivalukku peru veppen. Iva peru Sowmiya. Naan Sowmi koopduven." (I want to name her Sowmiya and will call her Sowmy) She then looked at her brother and said, "Dei Shivu nee sollu, Sowmy." Shivu promptly said, "Sowmy".

After 2 days of hospital stay, Sowmya was brought home. Ranju took the role of the "akka" seriously and became her mother's helper. From that moment, she also took up the role of a second mother to her sister. Shivu was a quiet and obedient child and always listened to the authoritative Ranju.

Hence 3 very different personalities started to grow in the Arun Seetha household.

Brinda Subramanian