Amara prema

CHAPTER-2 Tārāẏa rātri (Starry night)

The next day, Ari was all the more excited to go to the temple. the assurance that she will be there gave him immense happiness. He had something to look forward to. But as his motorcycle slowed down near the temple, his heart felt a slight drop. Her voice was nowhere to be heard. Maybe she was late, he consoled himself. He must have drove down earlier than usual because of his over enthusiasm. He hid his disappointment and parked his motorcycle by the wall. He pulled himself up the rope and seated himself on the edge of the wall to wait for her. time passed and there was still no sign. What if she was getting punished because of him? with each passing second, horror filled his heart. He threw the rope to the other side of the wall, preparing to investigate on his own, when he heard the faint voice. Neenga vandhuttingala? She asked. ah! Na vandhu romba neram aagudhu, he told her. oh, naa... ungalkaaga kathundirundhey, she replied. Ayyo enakaaga neenga kaathundurkka vena, he assured. Illa, kekka aal irukumbothu paada innom sugama irukku, she interrupted. Ari smiled to himself, padunga. She began her song. Ari peered up the window hole with an outstretched neck much like a giraffe to get a glimpse of her. but to no avail. The night winds blew, pulling the clouds apart and revealing the full moon. The winds had managed to trail the ends of her angavastra and her long locks through the window. The smell of ashwagandha and amla filled the air. Her face briefly appeared to pull her fly aways back in. but her face out shone the moon, reflecting off, before he could catch a glimpse. He sighed in dismay.

Veliya...veliya eppadi irukkum? She asked once she finished. Inga kaadu irukku medu irukku apro neraya kaattumirandithanamana aalunga irukkanga, Ari joked. His joke wasn't met with an equally positive response though. then it occurred to him, she hasn't seen a world outside of the temple. He realised that she actually meant what she asked. en kooda varingala? He asked. ye motorcycle la ungala ooru muzhukka suthi kaattarey. Solli tharradhu vida, neengale paatha nalla irukkum. He was once again met with silence. Varingala? He asked again. Mmm, nalaikku... he heard her reply softly. Mythrei frowned when she was met with silence this time. She slowly peeped through the edge of the window. She was met with his smiling face staring at the window. She immediately pulled away. Seri ma! He yelled back. the "ma" hit her in quite a weird manner. She found herself chuckling to herself. She leaned against the wall next to the window and rested her head behind. She clutched on to her chest in an attempt to calm her fluttering heart. she suddenly heard the rumbling of his motorcycle and peered back through the window. She watched with a sigh as he disappeared into the distance. Ari's motorcycle swung to the right and then to the left like a slithering snake, as he rode home today. he was humming to her songs, despite not chanting even a single prayer since childhood. He was falling in love with her, and he hadn't even seen her yet.

Mythrei ma?? Ari called out to her. he had counted the seconds until midnight. despite knowing the city like the lines on his palm, he was excited to tour the city today, perhaps more than her. and it would also mean, he would finally get to see her. aaah! Naa inga irukkey, she replied. He threw the rope at the window and she caught it. Adha engayachum nalla gattiya kattikkonga, he told her. aah, kattitey, ini enna panradhu? She asked. adha pudichu apdiya keela erangunga, he told her. ayyo Enakku bhayam, she exclaimed. Seri irunga, naa varey, he calmed her. he grabbed on to the rope and tied its loose end around his waist. He then began pulling himself up the tower. Kai kudunga, he said when he reached the window. He was greeted by a pair of nervous eyes, and eyes alone. She had draped the rest of her face with layers of white cloth and tied it tight, to reveal just her eyes. The disappointment on his face was apparent, but he quickly hid it. She seemed hesitant initially but eventually placed her hands in his. He pulled her up as she climbed out the window. Her voice quivered when she slipped a step but he quickly grabbed on to her waist. Bhayama irukku, she cowered against his shoulders. the locket on her sacred chain, which symbolized her status as a devadasi, poked into his chest. but the pain didn't bother him. Keela paakadhinga, enna paarunga, en kanna mattum paarunga, he told her. she slowly lifted her gaze into his eyes. this was the first time she was staring into anyone's eyes. she was so used to being ordered to lower her gaze, that she was honestly surprised that someone for the first time in her life had asked her to look straight into his eyes. Ari could swear the world had frozen that second. her eyes were so beautiful that he would have gladly drowned in them. there was a hint of fear and an ocean of innocence. he had exhibited the skills of a circus monkey in the past few days, when he had climbed the temple walls up and down multiple times to meet her. But now, all of a sudden, he was finding it difficult to concentrate. The kohl lining the corner of her eyes was driving him mad. She softly placed her hands around his shoulder, as he slowly lowered them. his emotions leaped like the bubbling Hubli. her touch felt like the petals of the lotus. he couldn't help but notice that she smelled of turmeric and sandalwood. it filled his heart, intoxicating him like bhang. When the night winds blew strands of her hair began to play with his face, but he had nothing to complain about. The air around them smelled like fresh thulasi leaves and jasmine, the winds carrying the fragrance of her hair near and far. Her anklets chimed when he finally placed her on the ground of the streets. He untied the rope around his waist and got on his motorcycle. He turned around to find her still standing on the side walk, looking at him and the motorcycle hesitantly. her fingers nervously fiddled with the locket on her neck. it was holding her back.  He closed both his eyes in assurance and pointed at her to get in. she gulped down, and got on the motorcycle. After a brief second of contemplation, she placed her hand on his shoulder. He smiled to himself and looked through the mirror to make sure she was comfortable before kickstarting his vehicle. he couldn't take his eyes of her wonder filled eyes. She kept staring at the streets and stalls and the buildings with the curiosity of a new-born. When they reached the outskirts, he noticed her still peering to get a better look at the buildings. He stopped by his most treasured part of the city. The river banks. she placed her feet one after the other on to the soft sand beneath her. he quietly chuckled when he saw her wiggling her toes against the mud. She trotted through the sand and into the water, splashing it all around her. he could hear her soft giggles, despite it being muffled under the layers of clothing. As she continued to hop around, the drapes around her face came undone. She immediately grabbed it and tucked it in tighter. She could see him peeping and quickly looking away when he saw that she noticed, from the corner of her eyes. she was coming to enjoy their little game there. She liked to keep him hanging. Vaanga! He called her out to a small boat. When she set foot, the boat began to wobble dangerously. She quickly stepped back, her eyebrows curling up in fright. Ari quickly got up and held his hand out. The moment she placed hers in, he firmly gripped over it. The courage emanating through his smile, was somehow rubbing on to her. she carefully sat in. he could see that her eyes seemed to be constantly searching something. She never looked straight at him unless asked. her gaze remained fixed on the ground. she would steal brief glances but never for too long. her fingers once again began to fidget with the chain.  He stopped rowing and leaned in. he placed his finger under her chin and gently raised it. Her frightened eyes looked nervously into his. Appo appo ye munjiyayum paarunga, unagalkaaga illa naalum, enakaaga, he smiled. Aprom...theva illama bhayapadathinga, ungalkku edhum aagathu. Naa pathukkarey.Ini acchum konjam siringa. Her eyes followed his, even as he sat back up. her hands gently brushed against the water, before sprinkling it on his face. Ey...he shielded his face with his hand. When he lowered his palm, he could see that she was looking at him with hopeful eyes. the fear in her brows indicated that she was worried if she had angered him.  but he quickly retorted with another splash and soon with a giggle she began to splash more.

Unga amma appa va paathurukingala?Ari asked. her face immediately fell and she slowly shook her head. Paakanum nuthonnadhilla? He asked. she didn't reply. Naama pora edam ungalkku rombapudikkum nu nenaikkarey, He didn't want to further dig into her wounds. He pulled the boat to the shore as it approached the banks and helpedher off. He led her off the banks into a curtain of vines. When the wines gave way, they stood at the foot of a plethora moonflower bushes, neatly planted in rows. They had bloomed to the full moon, and were emanating a wonderful fragrance. He looked at her and smiled before breaking into a run. she stared at him clueless as he ran through the bushes with outstretched arms, shaking up the sleepy fireflies. They erupted into the sky, like a thousand fireworks. Her eyes widened with amazement, glued to the breath-taking sight. She soon followed suit, running into the bushes with outstretched arms, giggling as more fireflies flared up. she tripped on a rock and fell forward only to be caught by Ari. She was panting from the run. her breathe cuddling the crinkles of his shirt. She stood back up and continued to jog deeper in. she twirled amongst the moon flowers, looking into the sky with a feeling of elation. This was the happiest she had been since she could remember. She felt liberated. She stood absolutely still; her face upturned towards the sky and and her eyes closed shut. her hands resting on the bushes on both the sides. The agitated fire flies were beginning to slowly settle down. They gently sat down on her arms and face. She lit up like the starry night, a sense of holiness radiating all around her. all of sudden she twirled around. The fireflies once again erupted into frenzy. She began to laugh her heart out. Coming from a place where even giggling a little loud was a sin, her heart prayed that this night never came to an end. But time had never been kind to her. Dawn was around the corner, and her life at the temple had come knocking back. with a heavy heart she dragged herself back. vidiyarthukulla thiruppi pogala na prechana aayidum, she mumbled to Ari. He nodded and led her back to the boat. Ari couldn't help but notice the lack of sparkle in her eyes as they made their way back. the curiosity was gone and the lingering sorrow had returned. When she got back into the tower, he held on to her hand for one last piece of advice before she ran off. Inga yaarum yarukkum adimai illa, andha kadavulkku kooda illa, nalaikku paapom, he told her before leaping back on to the wall and then on to the streets. oru nimisham! she called out before he took off. He looked back up ather. nalaikku navarathri, 8 manikku kovil kku vandhinga na...she trailed off. A smile appeared on Ari's face. He nodded and got on his bike.