Seetha Kalyanam Vaibohame

Prospective groom

Seetha was not bothered with marriage proposals for a couple of years. One evening, when she returned from the visit to her favpurite pillaiyar, she heard her mother and father discussing about how much to give the ponnu and maapillai since they were the sammandhi. Seetha got curious. She walked up to Raji saying, "Enna maa?" She there noticed the yellow kalyana pathirigai in her mother's hand, "Yaarukku maa kalyanam?"

Raji looked at Seetha and explained, "Coimbatore athai athimbair irukka illiya? Avaroda chithapa peranukku kalyanam. Nammala koopturka. Shanthi akka oda pukkam aache. Namma samandhi mariyadhaikku poganum. Naanum Appavum vyaxhakezhamai kelambi poi naythi kizhamai vandhuduvom seriya? Neeyum vaariya enga kooda?"

Seetha refused profusely, "Ayo Neenga poitu vaango. Naan ingeye irukken." Seetha did not realize then that this wedding would actually change her life completely. Her parents returned on Sunday, smiling brightly, only to claim that they had found a prospective groom from Seetha.

Jayanthi walked in a quick pace to finish her pradakshanam at the temple. She was supposed to meet her best friend Seetha but just when she was about to leave her house, her mother had assigned her some chore, which she quickly finished. In the 80's it wasn't easy for girls to just hang out so the visit to the temple was always an excuse so they had to first apologize to the God to forgive them for having used His house as an excuse.

Jayanthi smiled as soon as she noticed Seetha sitting on the temple platform. She was lost in thought. Jayanthi sped up and jumped up on the platform next to her friend, trying to catch her breath, "Haiyo odi odi moochu vaangardhu. Eiii unakku ennadi di aachu? Edhukku kovil la ippidi mooji ya thooki vachundu ukkandhu irukke?" Seetha didn't answer so Jayanthi tried pulling her arm. Seetha shrugged it away with a "Pch..Chumma iru dee. Naane veruppa irukken. Nee vera." Jayanthi wiped the raw mango that she had hid in the pallu of her half saree and held one out to Seetha, "Ummm.... Indha. Kovil ku vara vazhila Bala mama aathu marathulerndhu thirideendu vandhen." Seetha glared at her but Jayanthi immediately said, "Enna appidi paakarey. Unakku pidikume nu thaan. Vendaamna vidu naan amma kitta kuduthu manga chammandhi panni thara chollaren."

Seetha quickly grabbed it from Jayanthi's hand. She then jumped down from the platform and said, "Vaa kolathula poi nanna alumbittu chaapadlaam. Poochi puzhu edhavudhu irukka pordhu." The girls skipped down the steps towards the water. Their anklets synced in harmony with each skipping step. They sat on the bottom step and washed the mango. They then wiped it on the pallu of their half saree and took a bite. The sourness hit their palatte making them squint. The girls chuckled momentarily before Seetha sighed again.

The girls noticed their wet pavadai end so quickly climbed up a few steps and sat down. Seetha took another bite and said, "Jayanthi enga amma Appa enakku kalyanam nichayam paneerka dee." Jayanthi squealed, "Haiiii Nejama va? Yaaru dee andha manmadhan? Eppo kalyanam? Seriya sollu dee." Seetha glared at her friend one more time and said, "Enna thorathi vidardhuna enna sandosham ellarukkum. Seri kellu. Appa Amma pona vaaram Santhi akka oda pukkathula yaarukko kalyanam nu poirundha illiya?" Jayanthi nodded. "ange andha Santhi akka oda pakkathathu mami pechu kuduthirukka. Iva enna pesuvaalo edhu pesuvaalo therila. Ennoda peru eppidiyo adi pattirukku. Andha mami oda naathanaar pulaiyam. Ennakum Avanukkum jadagathula 10 poruthamaam."

Jayanthi scratched her hair, "Ayooo indha sondha bandham ellam irukattum. Enakku Appa amma akka anna va thandi nee edhavudhu sonnave puriyadhu. Idhula nee enna na oru list e podarey. Seekirama vishayatha sollu dee. Iruttardhukku munnadi naan veedu poi seralena enga amma enna konnuduva" she said impatiently.

Seetha sighed, "Seri Seri kelu. Naaliki enna ponnu paaka vara. Adhu thaan pillaiyar kitta vendeenden andha Mappillai ku enna pidikka koodadhu nu. 108 thenga lanjamum vechirukken" she smiled in pride but Jayanthi frowned in confusion. "adiye enakku onnume puriyala. 10 porutham na nalla vishayam thaane? Aparam enna?"

Seetha smacked her forehead saying, "Ayo enna Muzhusa pesa vidu dee. Indha mappillaikum enakkum 9 vayasu vidhyasam. Idhu varaikkum avarukku kalyanam aagalaina edho kolaar nu thaane artham? Idhula vera avar ONGC la manager udhyogam paarkaraaram. Nalla sambalamam" she sighed. Now Jayanthi was beginning to lose her temper, "Enga amma enna kola paninaalum parava illai dee. Naan Unna indha kolathula thalli vida poren ippo. Naana irundha udane kazhudha nee ti thaali kateendu iruppen. Unakku enna dee prachanai?"

Seetha looked at her sadly and said, "Avar Madras la irukaar dee. Madras ingendhu evvalo dhooram tberiyuma? Coimbatore lerndhu rathiri train pudicha adutha naal vidiya kaarthala thaan poi serum. Ange avaroda anna, manni, avaloda rendu kozhandaigal aparam avaroda amma ellarum kootu kuduthanama irukaalam. Naan eppidi dee athana dhooram poven. Enga Appa ammaku en mela konjam kooda aasai illai. Shanti akka enga athai pullaiya kalyanam paneendu idho inge irukara Coimbatore la irukka. Meena akka enna na mama pullaiya kalyanam panindu adutha gramathula irundhu enna paduthara. Naan maathram Madras varaikum ponamaam adhuvum ooru peru theriyadha oruthar kooda. Naan maaten. Ennala Appa amma, paati, Chithappa, Chitti, rangu va ellam vittuttu athana dhooram poga mudiyadhu."

Jayanthi gently touched Seetha and said, "Kalyanam nu onnu nadandha Mappillai aathu poga thaane dee venum. Unga Appa Amma indha varan unakku nalladhu nu thaane paathiruppa. Avalukku mattum Unna Madras varaikkum anuppanum nu aasaiya enna?" But Seetha was not convinced.

As the sun started to set, the two girls climbed up the stairs to pay pillaiyar one more last visit and muttered, "Pillaiyar Appa avar eppidiyavudhu enna pidikkala nu solla vai. Enakku theriyum adhu konjam kashtam nu. Yaara irundhaalum ennoda azhagula mayangiduva aana idhu un kaila thaan irukku. Enna kai vittudadhe pillaiyar Appa. Nee eppovume enakku edhu nalladho adhu thaan pannuve." As soon as she said that, she heard the temple bell going gong and she smiled. "aha sagunam nanna irukke." She quickly bowed down to prostrate before running out to the lady watching the slippers. She handed her the 25paisa and slid her feet into the slippers.

As the girls started walking home the street lights came up indicating the sun had set.

Brinda Subramanian