Topic started by K.BalachanderFan on Mon Jun 7 04:54:54 .
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Thiagu was in a fix.
He was hopelessly in love with Raymala. He should be in cloud nine, for Raymala was a wonderful person, who shared his passion for carnatic music and loved him in spite of his chain smoking habit.
But like a bad Tamil movie, there was a problem.
And the villain was her father - as is common in Tamil films.
He just didn't believe in "adolescent matters such as love." That was his precise words.
But Raymala was hopelessly in love with him. And it was for real.
He had tried to talk to his father, reason with him, but it was of no use. The old man was adamant. Rayamala would further her studies, abroad and when she returned he had the candidate all ready fo her, to tie the knot. No compromise.
"Vaazhkainaa vilayattu illa; unga maathiri chinna pasangakitta viduratharkku." Thiagu remembered the quavering finger. "Varusham kanakkaa, naanga paarththu valarththa ponnu iva, nee vanthu thattittu poaratharkku illei."
There was no other complications. Caste, religion, background - these were all immaterial. The old man was simply stubborn.
He had tried talking to Raymala. "Naan enna seiven Thiagu. Engappavukku romba pidivaatha gunam. Muyalukku moonu kaalun-u avar sonnaar-naa, kooda irukkira ellorum oththukanum, illatta avarukku kobam vanthidum."
"Appadinaa paravillei. Neeyaavathu en kooda vanthiden."
"Athu eppadi mudiyum Thiagu," she loved to mention his name everytime she spoke, "Avar sammatha illaama? Piranthathillernthu avar pechai naan thattinathillei. Unga kooda naan vanthutta, appura ennoadu thambi thangaigal gathi ennavarathu?"
Thiagu relented, "Athu enakku puriyuthu Ray. Aana unga appa konjam kooda vittu kodukka maatteraare, itharkku ennathaan mudivu?"
"Athu unga saamarththiam, Thiagu. Ungalai nambi naan ennaiya oppadaikka poren. Unga thiramaiyai kaattungalen."
So the ball was in his court again. Raymala was the typical Indian girl, who expected the man to have all the answers. Thiagu felt his head ready to split. Okay, he will consult with his friend. Raveen was a smart alec. He knew all the answers. He was an expert at cracking puzzles, with an IQ of more than 150.
"Raveen, naan ennada seiya? Neethaan enakku oru nalla vazhiya sollanum."
"Raymalavodu amma kitta pesi paarthittuyadaa?" Raveen asked.
"Avanga ammavaa? Ray-ai vida avanga periya bayyanthaakuli. Avar kizhicha kottu pakkamei varra maattaanga."
"What about her brothers and sisters?"
"Enna kindalaa Raveen? Avalukkey 17 vayasuthaan. Ava thangachi innum dollsoadu vilayaadittu irukkiraa."
"Appadinaa orey oru vazhithaan irukku. Nee eppadiyaavathu intha manushan manasai maaththa paarkanum."
"Athaan eppadi-nu unkitta idea ketkurein."
"Hmmm" Raveen sighed, "Avarukku unnai kandaaley pidikklai. Maybe nee plastic surgery pannikoa."
"Endaa ippadi pannara? En vethanai unakku oru joke aachu ille?"
"Sarida, kavalai padaathai. Naa oru nalla idea kodukkaren. Oru night, time kodu. Naalaikku unnai contact pandren." Raveen finished with a thoughtful expression.
Early the next morning, Raveen called Thiagu.
"Dei! Oru arumaiyaana thittem irukkudaa. Aanal unakku romba thunichal thevai. Mukkiyamaa Raymalavodu oththuzhaippu thevai."
"Solludaa. Ennavaanaalum seiyuren."
"Phone-le venaadaa. Neraa vanthu solluren."
Thiagu was in a mixed state of mind. He could depend on Raveen, but could his plan work? How was he going to overcome Ray's dad? What could he do that would be agreeable to the old man? Too many questions, but he had no choice but to wait for Raveen. His trusted dependable friend.
Raveen arrived, with a fixed grin.
"Dei joke pannatha. Ennaala thaanga mudiyaathu. Ippavey, tension aagi kizhey vizhunthura poala irukku."
"Bayappadathadaa Raveen. Nijamaa oru nalla plan-oaduthaan vanthirukkiren. As I told you over the phone, you need Raymala's utmost cooperation for ths plan to work."
"Ennadaa puthir podura? Seekiramaa sollu."
"Wait-daa. First, sila vishayangalai thelivu paduththanum. How much does Rayamala love you?"
"Ayyo kadavule! Enakkaaga uyirei koduppaadaa. Ennadaa plan? Athai muthala sollu."
"Okay, nee ready-na, solluren."
Both friends confided. At first Thiagu was shocked.
"Veru vazhi illedaa. Pidikka vendiya idaththil pidichaathaan mudiyum. Ponnu unakku kidaikkum. Intha sentiment fail aaga chance-ai illai."
"Ray oththukuvalaa?" Thiagu asked doubtfully.
"Athu unnodu thiramaiyila irukku. Neethaan convince pannanum. Ava unmaiyiley un mele paasam vachirunthaanaa, kandippaa oththukuvaa. Ithai vittaa veru vazhi illei."
With a rapidly beating heart, Thiagu met Raymala and explained to her on the plan. Initially Rayamala was totally against the plan, but once described the odds, she reluctantly agreed to play her part.
A week later, Raveen called. "Any news?"
"I have set the plan in motion. Poruththirunthu paarppoam."
The next week, Thiagu called Raveen. "Looks like our plan will work. Innum konja naalil ava appavai poi paarkanum."
"Bayangara killaadidaa nee. Okay, all the best."
A month later, Thiagu and Raymala entered the house together. The father roared when he saw them together.
"Nee enna muttaalaa enna? Oru thadavai sonna puriyaathaa? Ippadiyey en ponnu pinnaala suththuna, police-ai koopiduven."
"Atharkku thevai illei maama," Thiagu replied cooly, in a voice even he could not recognise. "Unga ponnum naanum kalyaanam panna mudivu senjuttoam. Inimel entha sakthiyinaalum engalai pirikka mudiyaathu."
Dad's immediate reaction was to pull Raymala away from Thiagu. Triumphantly, he looked at Thiagu, "Unnakku thimuru rombavum jaasthiyaachu. Nillu, nalla oru paadam kaththukodukkuren."
"Maama, naan enna solla varen-nu muzhusaa purinjukkunga. Atharkku appuram neenga entha mudivu edukkareengaloa, atharkku naanga rendu perum kattu paduroam."
Thiagu had managed to get the full concentration now.
"Maama, unga ponnu..... unga ponnu .... en pillaiyai sumanthu kondirukkiraal!"
Raymala's father was stunned. He slowly turned to face his daughter.
Raymala started to tear and than courageously looked up at her father and nodded her head in assent.
Like a man totally defeated, Raymala's father turned and walked away, with his head hung low.
The wedding preparations began in earnest. Thiagu contacted his mother back in his village and announced his wedding. Thiagu's mother raised a huckus and could only be calmed after his explaning the sitution. She would only be coming on the day of the wedding.
Raveen was exhilarated. He felt like a genius. On the wedding day, he felt like the man of the hour. He went around importantly, checking to make sure everyone was doing their part correctly.
It was almost time for the actual wedding ceremony. Thiagu called out for Raveen.
"Ennadaa orey tension-a irukkure? Today is the happiest day in your life. Sirichuttu irendaa." he said feeling magnanimous.
"Illeda, ammavai innum kaanum. Avanga illaama eppadi naa thaali katturathu?"
"Ithukkuthaan, oru vaarathukku munnadiyey vara sollirukkanum.
Athoa oru kaadi varuthu, unga ammavaa irukkumo?"
Thiagu squinted and then said excitedly, "Ammavey thaan. Nooru aayisu. Nee poi koodittu vaa."
Raveen hurriedly left the dais and went to meet Thiagu's mother.
"Vaangamaa. Naathaan Thiaguvoadu best friend. Muhurththa time-kku correctaa vanthutteingaley."
"Intha paalaa poana vandithaan karanampaa. Nalla neram paarththu punctureaachu...." Raveen was hardly paying attention as he led the mother to the dais.
"Inga vanthu nillunga. Engey Raymala vodu amma appavey kaanum. Konja irunga, poi koottittu vanthiduren." Raveen went in search of the in-laws.
They were busy presenting the thaali for blessings.
"Vaanga aunty, uncle. Thiaguvodu amma vanthirukkaanga, naan arimugam paduththaren. Sammanthiyai kalyaana medai-le mudhal-mudhala paarkira aatkkal neengalaa thaan irukkum," he laughed at his own joke.
Groom's mother's eye met with the bride's father.
"Neeyaa?"
"Neengalaa?"
"Amirtham, nee, nee Thiaguvodu ammavaa?"
"Aamaanga. Raymala unga ponnaa?"
Thiagu got up from the dais. "Appadinaa unga rendu perukkum oruthara orutharu theriyumaa?"
"Theriyumpaa Thiagu. Ivaru yaaru theriyumaa unakku?"
"Yaarumaa?" Thiagu suddenly felt a chill.
"Un appaadaa!"
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