The Arranged Marriage

Part 10

Deshapriya park was bustling with people. There were young mom pushing proms with their, few month old babies, taking a walk around the park. The college bus had just arrived and young girls in colorful salwar kameez and bell bottom pants were walking towards the puchka wala and the jaal moodi wala, who were yelling on top of their lungs, to invite people over. On the other end, you could hear a guy selling peanuts. Newspaper covers were transformed into cone shapes by both the peanut vendor as well a the jaal moodi vendor, to wrap their supplies.

Achchu and Sivu were observing all this while walking around the park. Suddenly, Sivu noticed a bunch of children in the middle of the park. They were sitting on the grass, in a circle. There was one kid holding a handkerchief. All of a sudden, in unison, the kids started chanting, "I sent a letter to my mother, on the way I dropped it. Someone came and picked it up and put it in my pocket, pocket, pocket" and the kid with the kerchief, dropped it behind one of the kid who was sitting and started running. The other kid picked up the hanky and started chasing the first kid until he sat on the spot where this kid had gotten up from. Sivu was watching these kids and suddenly yelled, "Dei seekirama poi ange ukkandhukko, odu, odu." Listening to this Achchu burst into a laughter, "vitta neeyum poi ukkaruve pola irukku." She frowned at him but looked away and went and sat on the wooden bench. He sat next to her and said, "sorry sorry kovichukaadhe." She immediately smiled and blinked at him.

Then she said, "andha college lerndhu vara ponnugal ellam azhaga irukka ilia? Salwar kameez ellam pottundu?" Achchu smiled and said, "Neeyum ippidi thaane college poiruppe." That's when she gave him a pouty look, "ayo Neenga vera. Enakku nenaivu therinja naal lerndhu enakku paavadai chettai pottu vitta, adhukku aparam vayasukku vandhadhu lerndhu kalyanam varaikkum dhavani adhuvum ennoda Appa irukaare, amma ku oru theiyal machine vaangi kuduthadhu thaan periya thappu. Amma oda pazhaya podavaiyum, chellamma oda pazhaya pudavai ellam eduthu enakku pavadai, jacket nu thechu tharuva. Illaina ennoda Meenakshi akka, Geetha akka ellarodum pazhaya dhavani thaan enakku" she sulked. He tried not to laugh at her complains but was curious so he asked, "Appo college ku?" She whined, "College kum adhuve thaan. Ayo che ivalellam paatha poramaiya irukku." He smiled and looked at her, "ippo enna? Unnaku salwar kameez thaane pottukanum? Naalikki sayangaalam kadaikku polaam. Unakku edhu pudichudho vaangikko." Her eyes widened and mouth opened wide, "Nejama va sollaren?" He smiled a nodded. She clapped happily. "Neenga pazhaya panjangam aa irupelo nu nenachen but parava illai" and she smirked. Her comment shocked him and he gave her a fake frown.

Sivu then continued, "Naan unga kitta innoru vishayam kekattuma?" He turned to look at her, she said, "Neenga yen enna per solli koopada maatengarel? Maa maa maa nu sollarele. Ennoda peru Sivakaami, appidiye koopadlame?" He cleared his throat and said, "Neeyum thaan enna Anandasivan nu koopadaliye? Nee enna enniki peru vechu koopadriyo anniki Naanum koopadren". She gasped in horror, "ayayo... naan eppidi ungala per solli koopuduven. Adhu thappu" and she tapped both her cheeks. He couldn't her but admire her cuteness. He decided to change the topic and said, "unnoda college days pathi sollu." She frowned again and said, "lady's college la poi B.Sc. Maths paduchen. Distinction and college first theriyuma naan. Enakku M.Sc paduchu oru teacher aaganum nu romba aasai aana palakkad maadiri oru gramathula porandhu valarndha oru ponnuku idhellam verum kanavu thaane. Adha ellam angeye mootai kateetu vandhaachu" she said. He nodded but did not respond.

Just then cloud started to form. Achchu had brought the umbrella fearing it might rain. He looked up at the sky and said, "mazha vara madiri irukku. Kelambalaam vaa." She got up and they started walking. They had barely taken a few steps when it started drizzling and within minutes, started pouring down heavily. Achchu opened up the large black umbrella for both of them. The walked hurriedly. As soon as they turned towards their street, there was a sudden twinkle in Sivu's eyes. She decided to step out of the umbrella and jump on to the puddle of water. Achchu yelled, "Ei enna pannarey? Ippo fulla nanaiyapore. Kodai kulla vaa maa" but she just laughed and looked up at the sky. She skipped and jumped and enjoyed the rain thoroughly but just before entering the building, she grabbed the umbrella from him and before he knew it, he was soaking wet too. She was laughing like a little kid. Although he got mad at her for making him wet, seeing her enjoying every moment brought a smile on his face.

They ran up the stairs and entered the house dripping wet. Since they had left the big window open, there was some rain water that had splashed inside the house. Sivu was too excited to notice that and slipped. To stop her from falling, Achchu held her by her waist. She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. They looked into each other's eyes and were lost in it. A strand of hair covered her face. He gently pushed the hair away. Both their hearts were pounding and before she knew what she was doing, she hugged him. She could hear his heart beating fast. His hand was still on her waist pulling her closer. She gasped but did not let go. The loud sound of thunder suddenly interrupted the moment and she quickly moved away from him but he held on to her hand. She was clearly blushing. What she did next took him by surprise. She pulled herself back and hugged him again. He wrapped his arms around her and said, "Mathematician ku English la onnu sollatumma? I love" before he could finish, she placed her palm on his mouth. He grabbed it and kissed it. She quickly pulled herself away mumbling, "Naan dress maathikka poren" and hurried away before letting her go he smiled and shook his hair, splashing the water from his hair on to her which only made her blush even more. She quickly ran to change and dry herself. He smiled and smacked the back of his head whispering, "I love you, Sivi"

Brinda Subramanian