Prelude : A mix of real experiences and fictious imagination based on a one line taken from a ‘very short story’ that I had read long back
“ Dad !! Dad !! D…a…a…d !!”
“…..“
“oh..ok ok…sorry..appa1 ! “
“hmm tell “
“continue….”
“continue what ?”
“dad !! u forgot ? u left ur marriage story in mid way…you and your gang- thaatha2, appaayee3, meesa-thaatha4 etc ..all went to that place ..the place was wonderful-u guys were seated near a small falls, then…”
“haan…people there, were seeing me as if I’m some alien jumped into their groove….”
“ha..ha..ha”
“clock went on ticking but bride doesn’t look like coming out…..just then a man shouted – ‘how long will you ppl keep talking ? someone ask the bride to come’…I realized, tamil films are not at all telling fictitious stories..”
He continued…. “the bride came at last…hmm she was looking good..my mother whispered -‘if u want to speak to her alone, go ahead, I can ask..’ ‘ no ! no need’ I interrupted ……..then as usual all formality talks happened….other than the two most concerned, everyone else were talking all kind of craps………”
his mobile rang “just a minute da….. hello..yes speaking… oh ok ok…no no not today….today ?? where ?? ok..o..k..will be there…”
abimanyu realized that his father had to leave somewhere “sorry my son….i hav ”
“ok ok dad” after a stare from his father “oh shit…it just comes….ok appa you just carry on..i also need to finish some assignments, else that professor will bash me tomorrow”
“oh ok ..then we shall continue tonight..”
“no no ! tonight I have appointment with mother..she is also narrating, and her narration is on a different scene, I’m listening to both simultaneously “ this line ended with a proud smile from abimanyu
“oh okay..you are not leaving her either..is it ?? but don’t bother her too much da…she “
“hello Mr. ! I know you love your wife more than anything even at 51, don’t worry I will take care of her…..”
Saying this he ran away giggling before his father could try to catch him !
“ Dad !! Dad !! D…a…a…d !!”
“…..“
“oh..ok ok…sorry..appa1 ! “
“hmm tell “
“continue….”
“continue what ?”
“dad !! u forgot ? u left ur marriage story in mid way…you and your gang- thaatha2, appaayee3, meesa-thaatha4 etc ..all went to that place ..the place was wonderful-u guys were seated near a small falls, then…”
“haan…people there, were seeing me as if I’m some alien jumped into their groove….”
“ha..ha..ha”
“clock went on ticking but bride doesn’t look like coming out…..just then a man shouted – ‘how long will you ppl keep talking ? someone ask the bride to come’…I realized, tamil films are not at all telling fictitious stories..”
He continued…. “the bride came at last…hmm she was looking good..my mother whispered -‘if u want to speak to her alone, go ahead, I can ask..’ ‘ no ! no need’ I interrupted ……..then as usual all formality talks happened….other than the two most concerned, everyone else were talking all kind of craps………”
his mobile rang “just a minute da….. hello..yes speaking… oh ok ok…no no not today….today ?? where ?? ok..o..k..will be there…”
abimanyu realized that his father had to leave somewhere “sorry my son….i hav ”
“ok ok dad” after a stare from his father “oh shit…it just comes….ok appa you just carry on..i also need to finish some assignments, else that professor will bash me tomorrow”
“oh ok ..then we shall continue tonight..”
“no no ! tonight I have appointment with mother..she is also narrating, and her narration is on a different scene, I’m listening to both simultaneously “ this line ended with a proud smile from abimanyu
“oh okay..you are not leaving her either..is it ?? but don’t bother her too much da…she “
“hello Mr. ! I know you love your wife more than anything even at 51, don’t worry I will take care of her…..”
Saying this he ran away giggling before his father could try to catch him !
***********************************************************************************
“dear students, needless to say the pride history of this…….. “
“that was awesome singing by suha and group………”
“guys did you guys notice this rocking dance, we expect the same from you next year and……..”
“Dear students……our institution”
The stage couldn’t even breathe for a min , and so her watch ”I will kill that preethi …not able to escape from here , im standing here because of her..where is she? “ her angry eyes searched for her friend, but it found something else just to get terrified !
She saw a person staring awefully at her amidst a group of students, she couldn’t believe her eyes, and tears readily popped out as if they were waiting to see him !
***********************************************************************************
“dude you know what ? with this 18th it has been 15 months da since I saw her first”
“great achievement da ! my project is far better !! I still can’t understand why she hasn’t complained about you to the HR…sooner or later it will happen”
He was a very friendly guy , and there is no one in the IBU who doesn’t know him, but he was orthodox to his own, in principles, life style, and choice of girls to sight as well. It has been 3 years out of college, but no girl has impressed him like her , even in the college days . He knows almost everything about her, and one of his prime time hobbies is to somehow find time to see her. He did his mechanical engg. in Karaikudi AC Tech, and his parents hail out of Trichy. She is a conservative, typical south Indian girl and actually a rarety to see such kind of girls in the software industry. She is a civil engineer, out of MEPCO-sivakasi which is her home town as well. Both are passed outs of the same year, underwent training in mysore and Bangalore respectively, and got postings to Chennai . His eyes couldn’t find her for the first 10 months, but since then she became part of his life. He was hesitant to take any other step other than seeing her daily. His conscience many times had laughed at his silly deeds just to see her. Even some of his close friends who were aware of all this, would sometime terribly make fun of him, but nothing stopped him ! But reality had something else in store for him….
***********************************************************************************
“Mom…. Its already 11.30…any plans to sleep ?? “ abimanyu came out of his room giving his laptop a breather….
“hey I know da..waiting for your dad…he should be joining soon..
“ma, did you have your dinner? “
just a smile came as reply…
“ufff…. I seriously can’t understand this….to my living memories , I don’t remember an instance when you had dinner without dad !! no matter whatever the time might be…I got to know that three days back, you had been to hospital with prema aunty and had come back only by 2am…and poor dad didn’t have dinner till then, and he says this to me with pride..ridiculous ! you guys might be the best lovers but remember you are not just married…your body should yield to these kind of things……..mummy, are you listening ?? “
A much broader smile was the reply this time !
“hey abi…haven’t you slept ?? its 1 o clock…. “ abimanyu looked at his puzzled mom !
“this bugging assignment left me only now….so finally you both have finished dinner??…..clap ! clap !! “
“so has dad slept ? “
“no way..he is checking some mails…what about you ?? “
“me.. ?? leave that….you continue the story…you guys have been telling for a long time now…….”
“hmmm….ya..from…….?”
“the engagement function….”
“haan..the engagement function- it was the first day of the three day festival, I mean the marriage..i never know that there were so many relatives and friends to my father…as you know, he is a well known personality with so many contacts, so I expected good crowd for marriage but not 2 days in advance …. Dinner was served for around 1500 people…the actual”
“you ppl must be crazy…. So much money on food…..rather”
“listen..the actual function, took place in a small stage though, with only very few close relatives on either side….i couldn’t find the groom there, and everyone were busy at their own crap chats, and no one bothered what is running in the bride’s mind….”
“ha ha ha, I wonder even the usage of words is similar between you both…..then “
“I could only weep….”
A voice came from a distance, “abi..its getting very late..sleep”
“did you hear?? We can continue tomorrow..sleep sleep “ she whispered and almost started running out of the room !
“ma ..just finish this part alone….maaa”
Abimanyu could see the room turn into dark in a moment !
***********************************************************************************
She wasn’t in a mood to give a damn about any one inside the hall….her legs sprinted…tears went down in a hurry , nothing stopped her till she reached her room. She just couldn’t believe what she had just seen. Anxiety, anger, shock, surprise, everything was pricking her.
“was it he ?? “
“how ?? “
“how did he know that I’m here? “
“how could he stand in that group ? “
“how did he come here ?”
……. For None of her questions she could get any answer !
She closed all the windows, the door as well…..she took the remote in her hands and lied on the bed…music system slowly gave out the divine voice of MS –‘kurai ondrumillai…marai moorthy kanna…. ‘5…….Kannan ! Kannan ! this name started hurting her…she felt like she was on some burning furnace…. ‘kannukku theriyaamal nirkindraai kannaa…..’ she felt as if even the song was pointing to her ….for the first time ever, MS’s voice was hurting someone…
She switched off the system, and threw away the remote- the only thing which can take her anger now….she closed her eyes hard, tried her best to sleep, but that was close to impossible….she suddenly felt that she needed some fresh air…she got up and opened one window… he was standing down outside under the banyan, with a crooked smile….
***********************************************************************************
“dei ….dei”
“hmm tell da” his friend managed to say these from the poori filled mouth..
“stop eating and listen to me”
“hmm speak out”
“you know what, she came in saree the other day…sky blue…awesome is a lesser word….. “
“you know what, today is the last day to finish CCS e-learning…stupidity is a leser word….”
He was dumbstruck !
“have you gone mad….you know how many people are dejected because of their visa applications getting rejected !! you are one of the few of the lucky lot but rather than taking it forward you are doing all kinds of craps here….”
He put his head down…..
“ask sunil, he has completed all the related formalities for the same….do it right now ! don’t mess up anything….the other documents were “
“dei she is coming towards FC da…great” he giggled and blushed !
That evening his friends had a serious discussion
“ machan he is going deep day by day da..first I thought its just for fun but this is getting nowhere …”
“ dei this idiot is not brave enough to take the next step as well….he had put him into some bloody complex”
“dei leave it da….will get wiped off soon… or”
“no ..no way man..even I could see…he has done so many things for us..we must do something to get him out..can’t leave him like this da “
“ha ha ha..you ppl are not talking sense..the only good thing for him in this matter would be to convey this to her…and I hope we aren’t dumb enough to do that”
the very moment one of the guys’ eyes lit up “that’s a great idea bala”…
***********************************************************************************
“Hello…yes.. Kamal here ! oh that’s great ! thank you ! sure sure !yup…sure sure ! ok..ya bye”
“appa ! what a surprise !! you now ?? so soon to home??? “ abimanyu’s eyes lit up when he saw his father coming in..
“yes man…. Just to spend some time with my dear son !!! “ he almost giggled.
“appa..these kind of fabrication your lovable wife might believe..nah ! she knows you better than any one else, so neither she would…..hmm yes, now I understand …IPL semi finals today- Chennai super kings match, that should be the reason for your kind visit so soon.. ! “
Kamal’s giggle grew bigger !
“My dear Son..(opening the refrigerator) let me quickly make some chilly bajji and hot green tea before the match gets underway…mmm for your mother I shall make it when she comes back home…should serve hot for her…”
Abimanyu was watching him with a smile that couldn’t be defined….
“bajji ready !! hot green tea…have it “
Kamal switched on the television..the two captains were out there in the middle for the toss.
“ufff…god !!!”
Abimanyu couldn’t control his laugh..his loud laugh must have been heard by the people next door….”daddy..i pity you…” kamal too started laughing a bit.
“power doesn’t seem to come now…..(abimanyu was still laughing)…yeah this is the right time…continue continue the story..”
“hmm ok (with the tea cup in hands he started)… I used to wonder my son ! where these relatives were there all these days ?? they never come, or even know that were we alive these days, but just for the marriage, they involve themselves as if its their birth mission without even knowing the fact that bride and groom are happy or not..needless to say, just after marriage they vanish… exactly such kind of things were happening…people asked me –‘maapilla6 ! do you like upma or pongal ?’ but no one bothered to ask me –‘ do you like the bride?’… people were at their best doing arrangements….i didn’t call many of my friends as well, only very few close friends came, and they know that this marriage meant nothing to me , and I have accepted only because of the emotional torture by my parents…”
Abimanyu could feel the his father’s situation then. “But I made sure that, i should give a wonderful life to the new girl, and I won’t show any of my hatred to her, if at all. On that day, I somehow tried to sneak out of the marriage hall with my brother and few others….went straight into a theatre nearby. next day morning marriage- groom was in the cinema theatre…..god forsaken theatre it was, and it was the worst movie I have ever seen… that summed up my situation… mid way through the movie, my friend stood up and kept his hand on my shoulder “lets go to hall..come”
***********************************************************************************
She decided not to come out of the hostel at all ! but a question arose within her as well “for how many days i can stay inside? “
The rest of the day she spent inside the room. She knew she must go to class the next day. she woke up early and she must be one of the very few in the world to enter class room at 5am in the morning. She got fixed herself in the bench. Students started coming in,her bench mates pricked her, classes started, lecturers were at the top of their voice but nothing moved in her..she was in her own world. She didn’t make a note of the time at all. She felt some known voice calling her somewhere…a tap on the bench…couple of taps a bit harder this time…she came to her senses…just to get the shock of her life…he was just standing there before her.
It was lunch time then, and only very few were there in the class. With a feel of insecurity ,and shivering body, she stood up.
Kannan’s stare looked as if it will burn her there itself. After quite a few seconds of dangerous silence
“I want to talk to you..i expect you in canteen today evening 5pm….i repeat, you must be there !! “
In a fleeting moment, he disappeared from that place.
She didn’t eat at all since the previous day afternoon but more than her body, her mind was the weakest. She stood there perplexed. Sat down, thought for some time, took a pen !
***********************************************************************************
“you just doesn’t seem to understand the seriousness…I’m afraid that we will lose that idiot ….you know what ? the day when we were discussing what to do with him, he had seen a guy talking closely to her…that’s it ! he started building his own stories… he is not talking properly since then…on the other hand, you are one the damn idiot I have ever seen…you gave some dialogues then that you will make sure that he talks to her, etc etc what happened ?? “
“that’s what I was trying to tell you….all arrangements have been done…. Today 2.30pm @ foodcourt… she will be there..now its our duty to take our hero there… “
“what !!! I don’t believe this !! how did you do that ? “
“hmm quite some work..my project mates’ close friend’s lover is vaishnavi’s friend-colleague..i lost quite some hair before I could find this…..i could contact that girl and spoke everything …she was kind enough to lend a ear and she understood about our hero..suddenly just sometime back she called me up and said to come to fc”
They somehow made him realize that he is no more in dreams. His mind was as crowded as ranganathan street. With all the instructions from his friends, he entered FC. Arrangements were in such a way, that vaishnavi was sitting at a corner with heads down, where there would be hardly any people at that time.
His legs slowly moved towards her..he had plans to run away any time as well..never ever in his life he was tensed that much, and people who had experienced this before, can understand the feeling. At last he reached near her. He stood there. Heads down..No response still. He dragged the chair back and sat infront of her in snail pace..no response whatsoever. Actually one should appreciate his grit. He even looked around for any cameras as well. After some provoking silence..
he stammered “hel.ll.llo.”
she looked at him, with tears rolling down “when are you planning to talk to my father? “
***********************************************************************************
“mummy….. you know what ? today evening dad was telling the most interesting part of the story….just then Sulthan mama came….it was heights of desperation for me….my wait continues….. “
She laughed.
“atleast you complete mummy”
“engagement function right….. ya I didn’t have any of my friends around as well..i don’t want them to be there as well… I could just weep to myself on stage…after all the formalities I was taken back to bride’s room…I right away went inside bathroom, and I had the cry of my life….i wanted the sky to fall down immediately…I know its all in vain”
“ finally the day had come….the day of marriage…. It was electrifying atmosphere to say the least… before I could realize what was going around, marriage had got over…everything got over in a matter of few days….you won’t believe me, I was having lunch with the groom right after the marriage, but I didn’t feel like having a look at his face at all till then.”
“As usual advise river flowed across all directions, and even I started to believe that life is like that ! I could see that my parents were the happiest on earth, and I made up myself to dump me into this relation. “
“the next day we went into the new house that was bought specially for the married couple, and the marriage life began slowly. He was very kind to me, and something said in me that why should I punish him for my fate. Days rolled on… time was at its best to heal things…”
Abimanyu exclaimed “ what an entry to marriage for both of you……… who would have thought then that you both would be the best couple on earth down the lane”
She blushed. It was sweet !
***********************************************************************************
Kannan was very prompt in timings. He started waiting for her in canteen way in advance ! Clock showed 5…5.30..5.45 no traces of her coming ! Kannan expected this to happen !
When he just decided to start, a girl came towards him !
“Kannan ? “
“hmm yes”
“take this “ and she just vanished from that place handing over him a note book !
Kannan, sat down and started reading it…it went for many pages….the big story ended with “I can’t do anything opposing my father..sorry”he finished reading it
“idiotic girl..i know all these craps before..thats why I had come here ” his anger grew wild.
He felt its no point in wasting time here any more.
He took the next train, went to his home.
His mother greeted him “hey ! surprise ! you are here ?? no college ?? any vacation ?? “
He sat on the floor and his mother followed. He fell on her lap and just burst into tears. He said her everything ! she realized !
“maa..i cant live without her ma, and none other than me can give her good life “ tears poured down !
Soon after that, his father came inside.
He spoke with his father with greater control. His father listened to all this.
“paa…I’m talking to you !! are you listening ???“
***********************************************************************************
few hours before vaishnavi came to foodcourt-
two of her friends had called her up near coffee machine and had explained her in detail about everything. With wet eyes vaishnavi started “I know… I know…but one thing which none of you know is I love him more than anything else. It all started 2 years back, I saw him first in a lift, and my very first experience with him was very memorable, as his comment to one of his friend made everyone of us in the lift to burst into huge laughter….then I got to know about him through malathy ..and then …and then….” When vaishnavi finished her friends were absolutely stunned , it was bullet out of the blue from their conservative friend. She continued “ many a time when he looks at me, I would love to go and tell him everything , but but my family stood in front of me. You can’t see an orthodox family as mine. My father is deeply respected in that part of the world. He is very strict and I know how hard I pleaded to come to work. I could only cry to myself. Even when he met with an accident last year, I almost decided to rush and see him at his home, I couldn’t . Even couple of days back when my college mate had come to see me, I could find a sense of shock in his face, I could understand why, but I was helpless.” The girls looked at each other in severe shock, but vaishnavi’s eyes doesn’t look like stop pouring.
It was pouring still, and she again repeated “when are you planning to talk to my father? “ and wiped her tears.
He felt like someone was pulling him towards the skies, his eyes glowed, he wanted to run now to his favorite vinayagar temple, hug the idol and cry for hours !
She started describing about her 2 year old strong love, and just when she was about to complete it, he caught hold of her palms with both hands, took near his eyes….when maximum joy reaches your heart, drops of tears would pop out, and that is the ultimate happiness, nothing can replace that !
Months sprinted by….when you get to see a person who loves you more than anything in the world, you would feel you are the strongest in the world. He felt that along side vaishnavi. They weren’t like normal people who talk over phone for hours together, or go together to each and every place in the city , but they had started living together by heart. Time and again , she would fear about her family, their aachaaram, anushtaanam7 etc and he would bring all the words in the world to console her. One weekend vaishnavi started to her home town and so he to his. Both decided to open up the things with their parents. That Sunday when his father was alone , he opened up everything to him. After some pause “ dei will our relatives accept all these ?? “ frowned his father. He was silent. “will first case the girl’s family accept this ?? “ he got a glimmer of hope! The conversation ended there. Monday morning , he rushed to tell her the hope he had got from his father.
***********************************************************************************
“great achievement da ! my project is far better !! I still can’t understand why she hasn’t complained about you to the HR…sooner or later it will happen”
He was a very friendly guy , and there is no one in the IBU who doesn’t know him, but he was orthodox to his own, in principles, life style, and choice of girls to sight as well. It has been 3 years out of college, but no girl has impressed him like her , even in the college days . He knows almost everything about her, and one of his prime time hobbies is to somehow find time to see her. He did his mechanical engg. in Karaikudi AC Tech, and his parents hail out of Trichy. She is a conservative, typical south Indian girl and actually a rarety to see such kind of girls in the software industry. She is a civil engineer, out of MEPCO-sivakasi which is her home town as well. Both are passed outs of the same year, underwent training in mysore and Bangalore respectively, and got postings to Chennai . His eyes couldn’t find her for the first 10 months, but since then she became part of his life. He was hesitant to take any other step other than seeing her daily. His conscience many times had laughed at his silly deeds just to see her. Even some of his close friends who were aware of all this, would sometime terribly make fun of him, but nothing stopped him ! But reality had something else in store for him….
***********************************************************************************
“Mom…. Its already 11.30…any plans to sleep ?? “ abimanyu came out of his room giving his laptop a breather….
“hey I know da..waiting for your dad…he should be joining soon..
“ma, did you have your dinner? “
just a smile came as reply…
“ufff…. I seriously can’t understand this….to my living memories , I don’t remember an instance when you had dinner without dad !! no matter whatever the time might be…I got to know that three days back, you had been to hospital with prema aunty and had come back only by 2am…and poor dad didn’t have dinner till then, and he says this to me with pride..ridiculous ! you guys might be the best lovers but remember you are not just married…your body should yield to these kind of things……..mummy, are you listening ?? “
A much broader smile was the reply this time !
“hey abi…haven’t you slept ?? its 1 o clock…. “ abimanyu looked at his puzzled mom !
“this bugging assignment left me only now….so finally you both have finished dinner??…..clap ! clap !! “
“so has dad slept ? “
“no way..he is checking some mails…what about you ?? “
“me.. ?? leave that….you continue the story…you guys have been telling for a long time now…….”
“hmmm….ya..from…….?”
“the engagement function….”
“haan..the engagement function- it was the first day of the three day festival, I mean the marriage..i never know that there were so many relatives and friends to my father…as you know, he is a well known personality with so many contacts, so I expected good crowd for marriage but not 2 days in advance …. Dinner was served for around 1500 people…the actual”
“you ppl must be crazy…. So much money on food…..rather”
“listen..the actual function, took place in a small stage though, with only very few close relatives on either side….i couldn’t find the groom there, and everyone were busy at their own crap chats, and no one bothered what is running in the bride’s mind….”
“ha ha ha, I wonder even the usage of words is similar between you both…..then “
“I could only weep….”
A voice came from a distance, “abi..its getting very late..sleep”
“did you hear?? We can continue tomorrow..sleep sleep “ she whispered and almost started running out of the room !
“ma ..just finish this part alone….maaa”
Abimanyu could see the room turn into dark in a moment !
***********************************************************************************
She wasn’t in a mood to give a damn about any one inside the hall….her legs sprinted…tears went down in a hurry , nothing stopped her till she reached her room. She just couldn’t believe what she had just seen. Anxiety, anger, shock, surprise, everything was pricking her.
“was it he ?? “
“how ?? “
“how did he know that I’m here? “
“how could he stand in that group ? “
“how did he come here ?”
……. For None of her questions she could get any answer !
She closed all the windows, the door as well…..she took the remote in her hands and lied on the bed…music system slowly gave out the divine voice of MS –‘kurai ondrumillai…marai moorthy kanna…. ‘5…….Kannan ! Kannan ! this name started hurting her…she felt like she was on some burning furnace…. ‘kannukku theriyaamal nirkindraai kannaa…..’ she felt as if even the song was pointing to her ….for the first time ever, MS’s voice was hurting someone…
She switched off the system, and threw away the remote- the only thing which can take her anger now….she closed her eyes hard, tried her best to sleep, but that was close to impossible….she suddenly felt that she needed some fresh air…she got up and opened one window… he was standing down outside under the banyan, with a crooked smile….
***********************************************************************************
“dei ….dei”
“hmm tell da” his friend managed to say these from the poori filled mouth..
“stop eating and listen to me”
“hmm speak out”
“you know what, she came in saree the other day…sky blue…awesome is a lesser word….. “
“you know what, today is the last day to finish CCS e-learning…stupidity is a leser word….”
He was dumbstruck !
“have you gone mad….you know how many people are dejected because of their visa applications getting rejected !! you are one of the few of the lucky lot but rather than taking it forward you are doing all kinds of craps here….”
He put his head down…..
“ask sunil, he has completed all the related formalities for the same….do it right now ! don’t mess up anything….the other documents were “
“dei she is coming towards FC da…great” he giggled and blushed !
That evening his friends had a serious discussion
“ machan he is going deep day by day da..first I thought its just for fun but this is getting nowhere …”
“ dei this idiot is not brave enough to take the next step as well….he had put him into some bloody complex”
“dei leave it da….will get wiped off soon… or”
“no ..no way man..even I could see…he has done so many things for us..we must do something to get him out..can’t leave him like this da “
“ha ha ha..you ppl are not talking sense..the only good thing for him in this matter would be to convey this to her…and I hope we aren’t dumb enough to do that”
the very moment one of the guys’ eyes lit up “that’s a great idea bala”…
***********************************************************************************
“Hello…yes.. Kamal here ! oh that’s great ! thank you ! sure sure !yup…sure sure ! ok..ya bye”
“appa ! what a surprise !! you now ?? so soon to home??? “ abimanyu’s eyes lit up when he saw his father coming in..
“yes man…. Just to spend some time with my dear son !!! “ he almost giggled.
“appa..these kind of fabrication your lovable wife might believe..nah ! she knows you better than any one else, so neither she would…..hmm yes, now I understand …IPL semi finals today- Chennai super kings match, that should be the reason for your kind visit so soon.. ! “
Kamal’s giggle grew bigger !
“My dear Son..(opening the refrigerator) let me quickly make some chilly bajji and hot green tea before the match gets underway…mmm for your mother I shall make it when she comes back home…should serve hot for her…”
Abimanyu was watching him with a smile that couldn’t be defined….
“bajji ready !! hot green tea…have it “
Kamal switched on the television..the two captains were out there in the middle for the toss.
“ufff…god !!!”
Abimanyu couldn’t control his laugh..his loud laugh must have been heard by the people next door….”daddy..i pity you…” kamal too started laughing a bit.
“power doesn’t seem to come now…..(abimanyu was still laughing)…yeah this is the right time…continue continue the story..”
“hmm ok (with the tea cup in hands he started)… I used to wonder my son ! where these relatives were there all these days ?? they never come, or even know that were we alive these days, but just for the marriage, they involve themselves as if its their birth mission without even knowing the fact that bride and groom are happy or not..needless to say, just after marriage they vanish… exactly such kind of things were happening…people asked me –‘maapilla6 ! do you like upma or pongal ?’ but no one bothered to ask me –‘ do you like the bride?’… people were at their best doing arrangements….i didn’t call many of my friends as well, only very few close friends came, and they know that this marriage meant nothing to me , and I have accepted only because of the emotional torture by my parents…”
Abimanyu could feel the his father’s situation then. “But I made sure that, i should give a wonderful life to the new girl, and I won’t show any of my hatred to her, if at all. On that day, I somehow tried to sneak out of the marriage hall with my brother and few others….went straight into a theatre nearby. next day morning marriage- groom was in the cinema theatre…..god forsaken theatre it was, and it was the worst movie I have ever seen… that summed up my situation… mid way through the movie, my friend stood up and kept his hand on my shoulder “lets go to hall..come”
***********************************************************************************
She decided not to come out of the hostel at all ! but a question arose within her as well “for how many days i can stay inside? “
The rest of the day she spent inside the room. She knew she must go to class the next day. she woke up early and she must be one of the very few in the world to enter class room at 5am in the morning. She got fixed herself in the bench. Students started coming in,her bench mates pricked her, classes started, lecturers were at the top of their voice but nothing moved in her..she was in her own world. She didn’t make a note of the time at all. She felt some known voice calling her somewhere…a tap on the bench…couple of taps a bit harder this time…she came to her senses…just to get the shock of her life…he was just standing there before her.
It was lunch time then, and only very few were there in the class. With a feel of insecurity ,and shivering body, she stood up.
Kannan’s stare looked as if it will burn her there itself. After quite a few seconds of dangerous silence
“I want to talk to you..i expect you in canteen today evening 5pm….i repeat, you must be there !! “
In a fleeting moment, he disappeared from that place.
She didn’t eat at all since the previous day afternoon but more than her body, her mind was the weakest. She stood there perplexed. Sat down, thought for some time, took a pen !
***********************************************************************************
“you just doesn’t seem to understand the seriousness…I’m afraid that we will lose that idiot ….you know what ? the day when we were discussing what to do with him, he had seen a guy talking closely to her…that’s it ! he started building his own stories… he is not talking properly since then…on the other hand, you are one the damn idiot I have ever seen…you gave some dialogues then that you will make sure that he talks to her, etc etc what happened ?? “
“that’s what I was trying to tell you….all arrangements have been done…. Today 2.30pm @ foodcourt… she will be there..now its our duty to take our hero there… “
“what !!! I don’t believe this !! how did you do that ? “
“hmm quite some work..my project mates’ close friend’s lover is vaishnavi’s friend-colleague..i lost quite some hair before I could find this…..i could contact that girl and spoke everything …she was kind enough to lend a ear and she understood about our hero..suddenly just sometime back she called me up and said to come to fc”
They somehow made him realize that he is no more in dreams. His mind was as crowded as ranganathan street. With all the instructions from his friends, he entered FC. Arrangements were in such a way, that vaishnavi was sitting at a corner with heads down, where there would be hardly any people at that time.
His legs slowly moved towards her..he had plans to run away any time as well..never ever in his life he was tensed that much, and people who had experienced this before, can understand the feeling. At last he reached near her. He stood there. Heads down..No response still. He dragged the chair back and sat infront of her in snail pace..no response whatsoever. Actually one should appreciate his grit. He even looked around for any cameras as well. After some provoking silence..
he stammered “hel.ll.llo.”
she looked at him, with tears rolling down “when are you planning to talk to my father? “
***********************************************************************************
“mummy….. you know what ? today evening dad was telling the most interesting part of the story….just then Sulthan mama came….it was heights of desperation for me….my wait continues….. “
She laughed.
“atleast you complete mummy”
“engagement function right….. ya I didn’t have any of my friends around as well..i don’t want them to be there as well… I could just weep to myself on stage…after all the formalities I was taken back to bride’s room…I right away went inside bathroom, and I had the cry of my life….i wanted the sky to fall down immediately…I know its all in vain”
“ finally the day had come….the day of marriage…. It was electrifying atmosphere to say the least… before I could realize what was going around, marriage had got over…everything got over in a matter of few days….you won’t believe me, I was having lunch with the groom right after the marriage, but I didn’t feel like having a look at his face at all till then.”
“As usual advise river flowed across all directions, and even I started to believe that life is like that ! I could see that my parents were the happiest on earth, and I made up myself to dump me into this relation. “
“the next day we went into the new house that was bought specially for the married couple, and the marriage life began slowly. He was very kind to me, and something said in me that why should I punish him for my fate. Days rolled on… time was at its best to heal things…”
Abimanyu exclaimed “ what an entry to marriage for both of you……… who would have thought then that you both would be the best couple on earth down the lane”
She blushed. It was sweet !
***********************************************************************************
Kannan was very prompt in timings. He started waiting for her in canteen way in advance ! Clock showed 5…5.30..5.45 no traces of her coming ! Kannan expected this to happen !
When he just decided to start, a girl came towards him !
“Kannan ? “
“hmm yes”
“take this “ and she just vanished from that place handing over him a note book !
Kannan, sat down and started reading it…it went for many pages….the big story ended with “I can’t do anything opposing my father..sorry”he finished reading it
“idiotic girl..i know all these craps before..thats why I had come here ” his anger grew wild.
He felt its no point in wasting time here any more.
He took the next train, went to his home.
His mother greeted him “hey ! surprise ! you are here ?? no college ?? any vacation ?? “
He sat on the floor and his mother followed. He fell on her lap and just burst into tears. He said her everything ! she realized !
“maa..i cant live without her ma, and none other than me can give her good life “ tears poured down !
Soon after that, his father came inside.
He spoke with his father with greater control. His father listened to all this.
“paa…I’m talking to you !! are you listening ???“
***********************************************************************************
few hours before vaishnavi came to foodcourt-
two of her friends had called her up near coffee machine and had explained her in detail about everything. With wet eyes vaishnavi started “I know… I know…but one thing which none of you know is I love him more than anything else. It all started 2 years back, I saw him first in a lift, and my very first experience with him was very memorable, as his comment to one of his friend made everyone of us in the lift to burst into huge laughter….then I got to know about him through malathy ..and then …and then….” When vaishnavi finished her friends were absolutely stunned , it was bullet out of the blue from their conservative friend. She continued “ many a time when he looks at me, I would love to go and tell him everything , but but my family stood in front of me. You can’t see an orthodox family as mine. My father is deeply respected in that part of the world. He is very strict and I know how hard I pleaded to come to work. I could only cry to myself. Even when he met with an accident last year, I almost decided to rush and see him at his home, I couldn’t . Even couple of days back when my college mate had come to see me, I could find a sense of shock in his face, I could understand why, but I was helpless.” The girls looked at each other in severe shock, but vaishnavi’s eyes doesn’t look like stop pouring.
It was pouring still, and she again repeated “when are you planning to talk to my father? “ and wiped her tears.
He felt like someone was pulling him towards the skies, his eyes glowed, he wanted to run now to his favorite vinayagar temple, hug the idol and cry for hours !
She started describing about her 2 year old strong love, and just when she was about to complete it, he caught hold of her palms with both hands, took near his eyes….when maximum joy reaches your heart, drops of tears would pop out, and that is the ultimate happiness, nothing can replace that !
Months sprinted by….when you get to see a person who loves you more than anything in the world, you would feel you are the strongest in the world. He felt that along side vaishnavi. They weren’t like normal people who talk over phone for hours together, or go together to each and every place in the city , but they had started living together by heart. Time and again , she would fear about her family, their aachaaram, anushtaanam7 etc and he would bring all the words in the world to console her. One weekend vaishnavi started to her home town and so he to his. Both decided to open up the things with their parents. That Sunday when his father was alone , he opened up everything to him. After some pause “ dei will our relatives accept all these ?? “ frowned his father. He was silent. “will first case the girl’s family accept this ?? “ he got a glimmer of hope! The conversation ended there. Monday morning , he rushed to tell her the hope he had got from his father.
***********************************************************************************
Abimanyu exclaimed “ what an entry to marriage for both of you……… who would have thought then that you and Dad would be the best couple on earth down the lane”
She blushed. It was sweet !
“hmm ok mom continue…”
“Days rolled on , just more than 3 weeks had passed since marriage, but we were still treated as bride and groom. This new life was very new to me, and my life before marriage was still afresh in mind. In the mean time, he got to leave for pune for a short term project – 6 -9months, both our parents insisted on taking me with him as well. No one asked my concern, is a different issue ! though he was first hesitant, before he left he assured that he would first see a home for us there and then would take me before. But in pune…”
“may I come inside? “ it was Kamal with a sluggish smile
“yes please…but a wrong timing dad!”
“what happened !”
“nothing ….(she continued with a broad smile) I was just telling about our story…. By the way, freshen up..i will get some coffee for you”
“no no need ma..you continue , I shall make myself… I will get one for you as well “
“hey no way !you must be very tired, we were just chatting I can continue later….you “
Abimanyu yelled “hey hey ! excuse me ! will you both keep your romance some other time?”Both had a heavy laugh.
“now I want someone to finish off the story..i’m getting restless”
“kamal, you continue your part with abi,..heard that you are just out of cinema theatre (she smiled)..i shall be back soon with coffee and a surprise snack…also continue with my part of the story as well..hey abi ! no issues, appa can finish it off….will join you guys soon “
“ok dear I will take care…hey wait, where are you now ? “
“abi tell appa about it” she almost ran from that place.
“ya dad….you continue yours first..i will tell about that later” abimanyu has decided that he is gonna get the story completed today by any cost !After a reminder from abi, he started “the dejected walk by my friends towards marriage hall from the theatre told me that there is something wrong”
“Even after repeated questions from my side, those guys had their mouth heavily shut ! we reached the marriage hall, and it didn’t have the same festival mood it had earlier..one can understand that it was close to mid-night then but even the crowd had reduced to a greater extent. Almost everyone who saw me gave me an expression which was exactly similar to what even that legend kamal8 was given in the classic movie naayagan9 when people were hesitating to tell about the demise of his son” Nothing moved in Abimanyu…he could understand the metaphor.
“no one gave me a proper answer. When I felt it was crossing the limit , I shouted out with frustration –‘will someone break the ice?? ‘ “
***********************************************************************************
She blushed. It was sweet !
“hmm ok mom continue…”
“Days rolled on , just more than 3 weeks had passed since marriage, but we were still treated as bride and groom. This new life was very new to me, and my life before marriage was still afresh in mind. In the mean time, he got to leave for pune for a short term project – 6 -9months, both our parents insisted on taking me with him as well. No one asked my concern, is a different issue ! though he was first hesitant, before he left he assured that he would first see a home for us there and then would take me before. But in pune…”
“may I come inside? “ it was Kamal with a sluggish smile
“yes please…but a wrong timing dad!”
“what happened !”
“nothing ….(she continued with a broad smile) I was just telling about our story…. By the way, freshen up..i will get some coffee for you”
“no no need ma..you continue , I shall make myself… I will get one for you as well “
“hey no way !you must be very tired, we were just chatting I can continue later….you “
Abimanyu yelled “hey hey ! excuse me ! will you both keep your romance some other time?”Both had a heavy laugh.
“now I want someone to finish off the story..i’m getting restless”
“kamal, you continue your part with abi,..heard that you are just out of cinema theatre (she smiled)..i shall be back soon with coffee and a surprise snack…also continue with my part of the story as well..hey abi ! no issues, appa can finish it off….will join you guys soon “
“ok dear I will take care…hey wait, where are you now ? “
“abi tell appa about it” she almost ran from that place.
“ya dad….you continue yours first..i will tell about that later” abimanyu has decided that he is gonna get the story completed today by any cost !After a reminder from abi, he started “the dejected walk by my friends towards marriage hall from the theatre told me that there is something wrong”
“Even after repeated questions from my side, those guys had their mouth heavily shut ! we reached the marriage hall, and it didn’t have the same festival mood it had earlier..one can understand that it was close to mid-night then but even the crowd had reduced to a greater extent. Almost everyone who saw me gave me an expression which was exactly similar to what even that legend kamal8 was given in the classic movie naayagan9 when people were hesitating to tell about the demise of his son” Nothing moved in Abimanyu…he could understand the metaphor.
“no one gave me a proper answer. When I felt it was crossing the limit , I shouted out with frustration –‘will someone break the ice?? ‘ “
***********************************************************************************
Kannan repeated “paa…I’m talking to you !! give me some answer ???“
Just then his mom interrupted
“please look here. We are not going to do any good to our son in bringing him a life on which he has no interest. He feels she is the right person for him.”
His father has never seen his wife talking so boldly to him.. he couldn’t believe what was happening before him.
She continued “ Please don’t give a damn about our relatives, they are not even going to come near our children after marriage. It finally boils down to the two most concerned ones-the children. If they are 100% satisified their life would be great ”
Kannan hadn’t gone through Bagawad Geetha or Bible, but those lines looked to him on those lines. His mother looked like a goddess to his eyes.
With a sweet green signal from his parents, Kannan wasted no time, took a bus to her home. Continuous journey didn’t make him tired at all as he had a purpose before him. He reached her home. Kannan thought that she would be in college by then, but to his surprise she was there. She had a terrible shock on seeing him there as well, and she at once ran into the home. After a thought, Kannan too went inside.
***********************************************************************************
Monday morning , he rushed to tell vaishnavi the hope he had got from his father. He found that she hadn’t come to office yet. Infact she didn’t turn up the whole day. He found her mobile to be switched off as well. Tuesday, Wednesday, even Thursday same case. Friday morning, he went upto vaishnavi’s place and enquired about her with her team mates. No one had clue. Just when he was about to leave, her PL said “vaishanavi ?!! she called me up yesterday night pa ! she said that her marriage got fixed suddenly , so she wont be coming again to office. She said that sometime later she would come back to finish off final formalities if any !” thunder struck him right on his head. He just couldn’t believe what he had heard. He did all possible ways to contact her, but everything went in drain.
The Days that followed were the worst of his life. Nothing went right for him for the next few months. His parents and friends knew very well about what had happened and they did their best to bring him out. Luckily, he got an onsite opportunity and that was the best the healer TIME can give him. He flew.
***********************************************************************************
“no one gave me a proper answer. When I felt it was crossing the limit , I shouted out with frustration –‘will someone break the ice?? ‘ “
The bride’s father came running towards me and fell on my feet. Soon after I realized, what had happened to me is exactly the same which will happen to ‘America mappillaigal’10 in tamil movies. And ofcourse I was one. Heroine had run away with hero, making the groom a comedian. Infact everyone around me was trying to console me thinking that I had become a comedian there as well…but, though it was a great humiliation in one’s life, I didn’t get affected like how a normal person would’ve got. Family members on either side were dejected. Days rolled by and we all needed a change. Shifted the family to Chennai, and I went back to where I belong.”
***********************************************************************************
After a thought, Kannan too went inside.After an hour of animated conversation, her father said “will this be accepted by society ?”.
“sir, fear of society is like ghost inside castle. No one knows about it but everyone fears about it. I’m there for her, and she is for me. My parents are fine, and if you are okay, then lets not give a damn about any one else.”
Her father gave a deep sigh “fine ! If god’s will is that, then I abide by it. Let the studies get over. I shall talk with your parents then and do the necessary arrangements. This should have happened then… “ saying this he turned towards her daughter , and that look threw a question “are you happy ? “
A drop of tear answered “I’m blessed”
Kannan started back soon, and she accompanied him till bus stand.
She held his hands and with moist eyes “thanks ….thanks”
“podi loosu! 11 Meet you in college, and the coming year would be the most delightful after all those black days”
***********************************************************************************
Soon after he came to onsite from a forgetful vacation, he received a mail from a girl named Arasi.
“hi, this is M.Arasi. I’m vaishnavi’s close friend in sivakasi. She has told everything about you to me. After you both had decided to tell about your love to parents, when she came here, only shock and desperation was in store for her. Her orthodox father had arranged almost everything for marriage without her consent. When she arrived there it was just few days to go for the marriage. She did tell her parents but emotional tortures, frightening etc was the response she got. She had no other choice and she had to abide.
But after that so many things had happened, and she had got promise from me to never open anything to you. But my conscience could withstand the pressure of guilt only till now. She is a widow now. Yes she has lot her husband. Her husband met with a tragic accident just after three weeks of her marriage in Pune. Total family came to a standstill. She was shattered but soon she recovered..atleast tried to..she wanted to come out, so she studied for entrance exams and she has joined TAPMI, Manipal to pursue management studies now. Even her family has shifted to Kanchipuram. I have been trying long to get this id of yours, and hope I have got the correct one finally. I just wanted to tell you this. Do acknowledge. Bye !”
Shocks are not new to him and now he just knew what he should do. He somehow pulled out of this onsite assignment , came rushing back to india, and started preparing hard for the entrance exams.
***********************************************************************************
Abimanyu had no words to interrupt in between and his parents narrated everything that was left out .Kamal concluded,”….. and in this way finally the wedding of R.KamalaKannan and K.Vaishnavi held in a grand manner on the 14th of February,2011 at Vijaya Sesh Mahal, Chennai. “ Both Kannan and Vaishnavi clapped in unison.
Abimanyu’s reaction was different for both of them as he looked stunned because till then he had thought that his parent’s were just an arranged marriage and to confirm that the couple narrated the office and college episode only at the end. Both went near their kid who was facing the floor, and in a flash abimanyu gave a tight hug to both of them with a hand over each of them. He was sobbing. “you are great. You both are simply great. I’m blessed to have parents like you.”
“hey hey stop these senti” blushed vaishnavi.
“why you didn’t tell me all these years ?”
“You never asked man ! and we too felt its just the time to tell you”
It took some time for the couple to bring their kid in ground state.
“Dad… I want to write this as a story in my college magazine and portal, with all the suspense that you both gave while narrating ….(both were smiling)…haan..i will take care of that…but but I need a wonderful title for this wonder…tell me one…tell a short and crisp name…HOW TO NAME IT ?? “
“name it as ( Kamal walked near vaishnavi , put his hands over her shoulders and said )
“sir, fear of society is like ghost inside castle. No one knows about it but everyone fears about it. I’m there for her, and she is for me. My parents are fine, and if you are okay, then lets not give a damn about any one else.”
Her father gave a deep sigh “fine ! If god’s will is that, then I abide by it. Let the studies get over. I shall talk with your parents then and do the necessary arrangements. This should have happened then… “ saying this he turned towards her daughter , and that look threw a question “are you happy ? “
A drop of tear answered “I’m blessed”
Kannan started back soon, and she accompanied him till bus stand.
She held his hands and with moist eyes “thanks ….thanks”
“podi loosu! 11 Meet you in college, and the coming year would be the most delightful after all those black days”
***********************************************************************************
Soon after he came to onsite from a forgetful vacation, he received a mail from a girl named Arasi.
“hi, this is M.Arasi. I’m vaishnavi’s close friend in sivakasi. She has told everything about you to me. After you both had decided to tell about your love to parents, when she came here, only shock and desperation was in store for her. Her orthodox father had arranged almost everything for marriage without her consent. When she arrived there it was just few days to go for the marriage. She did tell her parents but emotional tortures, frightening etc was the response she got. She had no other choice and she had to abide.
But after that so many things had happened, and she had got promise from me to never open anything to you. But my conscience could withstand the pressure of guilt only till now. She is a widow now. Yes she has lot her husband. Her husband met with a tragic accident just after three weeks of her marriage in Pune. Total family came to a standstill. She was shattered but soon she recovered..atleast tried to..she wanted to come out, so she studied for entrance exams and she has joined TAPMI, Manipal to pursue management studies now. Even her family has shifted to Kanchipuram. I have been trying long to get this id of yours, and hope I have got the correct one finally. I just wanted to tell you this. Do acknowledge. Bye !”
Shocks are not new to him and now he just knew what he should do. He somehow pulled out of this onsite assignment , came rushing back to india, and started preparing hard for the entrance exams.
***********************************************************************************
Abimanyu had no words to interrupt in between and his parents narrated everything that was left out .Kamal concluded,”….. and in this way finally the wedding of R.KamalaKannan and K.Vaishnavi held in a grand manner on the 14th of February,2011 at Vijaya Sesh Mahal, Chennai. “ Both Kannan and Vaishnavi clapped in unison.
Abimanyu’s reaction was different for both of them as he looked stunned because till then he had thought that his parent’s were just an arranged marriage and to confirm that the couple narrated the office and college episode only at the end. Both went near their kid who was facing the floor, and in a flash abimanyu gave a tight hug to both of them with a hand over each of them. He was sobbing. “you are great. You both are simply great. I’m blessed to have parents like you.”
“hey hey stop these senti” blushed vaishnavi.
“why you didn’t tell me all these years ?”
“You never asked man ! and we too felt its just the time to tell you”
It took some time for the couple to bring their kid in ground state.
“Dad… I want to write this as a story in my college magazine and portal, with all the suspense that you both gave while narrating ….(both were smiling)…haan..i will take care of that…but but I need a wonderful title for this wonder…tell me one…tell a short and crisp name…HOW TO NAME IT ?? “
“name it as ( Kamal walked near vaishnavi , put his hands over her shoulders and said )
LOVE “
(Kamalakannan & Vaishnavi’s experiences ENDS )
Appa1 - father
Thaatha2 - Grandfather
appaayee3 - Grandmother (Dad’s mother to be precise)
meesa-thaatha4- Grandfather with moustache(normally a bigger moustache)
MS –‘kurai ondrumillai…marai moorthy kanna…. ‘5- M Subbulakshmi- a legend in carnatic music, and this is one the most popular song of her on lord Krishna !
maapilla6 - son in law or bride groom
aachaaram, anushtaanam7 -sacred principles and beliefs followed
legend kamal8 - Legendary Indian actor Kamalahaasan
classic movie naayagan9- A Classic Kamalahaasan starrer Maniratnam’s movie (Tamil)
‘America mappillaigal’10 - Bridegrooms who have their base at USA
podi loosu 11 - idiotic girl
(Kamalakannan & Vaishnavi’s experiences ENDS )
Appa1 - father
Thaatha2 - Grandfather
appaayee3 - Grandmother (Dad’s mother to be precise)
meesa-thaatha4- Grandfather with moustache(normally a bigger moustache)
MS –‘kurai ondrumillai…marai moorthy kanna…. ‘5- M Subbulakshmi- a legend in carnatic music, and this is one the most popular song of her on lord Krishna !
maapilla6 - son in law or bride groom
aachaaram, anushtaanam7 -sacred principles and beliefs followed
legend kamal8 - Legendary Indian actor Kamalahaasan
classic movie naayagan9- A Classic Kamalahaasan starrer Maniratnam’s movie (Tamil)
‘America mappillaigal’10 - Bridegrooms who have their base at USA
podi loosu 11 - idiotic girl
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