Vasantham Marupadium

Konja naeram, kannaa pinnaa entru vaaykku vanthapadi nakkinaen. Piragu, naane en kaiviralgalaal aval pundai uthdugalai iliththu, ovvoru idamaay paarththu paarththu nakkinaen. Ammaa, poadhai aeriya kuralil, ennaip pirasaviththa vazhiyaik kaattu entraal. Naan en naakkai aval kuzhikkul nuzhaiththuk kaattinaen. Mooththira vazhi kaettaal. En naakku nuniyaal antha dwaaraththai thottean. Ull uthadu? Nakkik kaattinaen. Veli uthadu? Nakkinaen. Kanthup paruppu? Nakki nimindinaen. Rathi maedu? Mayir minugkum maettil muththam ittaen. Ammaa en thalai mudikkul viral nuzhaiththuk kulaiththu, than kaama paana paththiraththai en vaayoadu poruththinaal. Chuvaiththaen. Ilam pulippulla vazhu vazhu inba paanam!

- Enna, ammaavoda taste pidichchirukkaa?

- Romba romba romba romba pidichchirukku.

- En chellam. Appo nakku. Mukkiyamaa paruppula nakku.

- Aen?

- Aen'naa ammaavukku romba sukhamaa irukkum.

Appadiyaa entru purinthukondu, ammaavin paruppapaich chuvaiththu naakku nuniyaal nimindi nunu nunuththaen. Amma, thudiththuk kilukiluththaal. Avalin uyir naadiyaip pidiththuvittathu poal, aval paruppai, en naakkaal padaatha paadu paduththinaen. Aval, aaa uuu entru anaththi, aanandham kondaal. Idai idaiyae aval yoanip pilavukkul thuzhainthu thuzhaavi, ull uthattu mellithazhgalaik keezhum maelum nakkik kilarththi, mayir minungkum rathi maettil palkkuri pathitththu, en vaay vaelaiyaik kaanbiththaen. Appadich cheythu cheythu, aval paruppai nuni naakkaal nimindik kondiruntha oru kattaththil, ammaa en thalaiyaip pidiththuth than koodhiyoadu amukki, isivu kandaval poal vetti vettith thudiththaal. Aval koodhik kuzhiyil irunthu antha ilam pulipulla vazhu vazhu paanam pongki vazhinthathu. Avalukku enna aanathu entru koodap purinthukolla mudiyaamal, aval koodhich chunaiyin ilaneerai, thodarnthu nakkik kodirunthaen.

- Poathum'daa kannu, ammaavukku thrupthi vanthiduchchu.

Naan vaayvaelaiyai niruththi thalai nimirththinaen. Ammaa than kundikku andak koduththiruntha thalai anaiyai akatri ezhunthu utkaarnthaal. Ennaith thannoadu izhuththu anaiththu, thannai thrupthi paduththiya en vaayai anboadu muththamittaal. Appoathum viraiththu nimirntha en sunni aval thodaiyil idiththathu. Ammaa athaip pidiththu uruvikkondae en kannukkul aazhamaagap paarththaal. En sunnikku naeraaga than pundaiyaik kaatti, kaalai viriththu utkaarnthaal.

- Ammaa oattaikkulla vittu aattanum'nu aasaiyaa irukkaa, Raajaa?

- Aamaamma, please'maa! Please!

- Aanaa nee vantha vazhiyila vidurathukku oppukka maattaen.

- Ammaa please.

- Intha vazhiyila vaenum'naa vittukko.

Aval than kundi oattaiyaik kaanpiththaal. Thala thala entru aval kundi iruntha iruppukku angkaeyae oakkalaam poal enakkum aasai vanthuvittathu. Naan aasaiyaaga avalai nerungki utkaarnthaen. Aval kaineetti engkirunthoa oru kuppiyai eduththaal. Athaith thiranthaal. Vellaiyaaga oru kalimbu irunthathu. Athai valiththu en sunni maththu muzhukkath thadavinaal. Than kundith thulaiyilum ittukkondaal. Piragu munbu poalavae thalai anaiyai izhuththu kundikku adiyil ittu, kaalgalaith thookki viriththaal. Kalimbu itta aval kundi ottai en poolukku 'welcome' kaatiyathu.

- Sathak'nu kuththi irakkidaathae. Konjam konjamaa irakkanum. Un aayutham perusu. Ammaavukku kizhinjchidaamap paaththukkoa, enna?

- Sari, mellamaa cheyyiraen.

Amma manik kolusu kilungkum than kaalgalai en thoal meethu aetrinaal. En poolaip pidiththu than kundich chanthil poruththinaal. En kaigalai eduththu than mulaigalaip pidikkach cheythaal. Piragu, kannasaiththu, permission koduththaal. Naan azhththam koduththaen. Ammaa udambai irukkaamal thalarththi, than kundiyai viriththuk koduththaal. En nuni maththu vazhukki irangkiyathu. Ammaavin udambil oru nadukkam! Athu adangkukira varai naan aadaamal asaiyaamal porumaiyaaga irunthaen. Meendum aval udal sahaja nilaikku thalarnthathu. Aavaloadu, naan ammaavin mukhaththip paarththaen. Aval kangal asainthu permission koduththaal. En sunnikku azhuththam koduththaen. Maelum oru angulam irangkiyathu. Intha murai, ammaa tension aagavillai. Maelum ullae thallap permission koduththaal. Thallinaen. Thallith thalli aria neelap poolukku mael irakkivittaen.

- Paathiyaavathu ulla poyirukkumaa, kannu?

- Mmm, poayidichchu.

- Appo, konja naeraththukku, athai munum pinnum izhuththu aatti, oattaiyae elakku.

- Sari.

Arai neela aazhaththukku asaiththu oaththaen. Athuvae nantraaga irunthathu. Oru paththu irupathu adigalukkul ottai ilakkam koduththuvittathu. Naan en poolai maelum konjam konjamaagath thalli, muzhup poolaiyum ammaavin kundik kuzhikkul puthaithu vittaen. En kottaigal, ammaavin muthuguth thandu mudivil mutti anainthna. Ammaa en thoalgalil irunthu, than kaalgalai irakki en iduppil pinni ennai thanakkul izhuththaal. Naan aval mael sarinthaen. Aval en mudiyaip pidiththu izhuththu en vaayoodu vaay vaiththu urinjinaal. Ennai iyangka chonnaal. Naan aval mulaigalaip pidiththu amukkik kondae, chooththil nuzhaiththa en sunniyai uruvi choruki oaththaen. Sunnyai chuttri nalla irukkam! Chooththadikka sukhamaaga irunthathu! Pundaiyil oaththaalum athae position-il thaan oakkap poakiroam. Enna, oattaithaan oru angulam keezhae.

Piragu, thideerentru gnanam vanthavanaaga ezhunthu, aval kaalgalaip pilanthu vaiththu, kunthi irunthu oaththaen. Athil enakku aval pundaiyaip paarkka mudinthathu. Naan aval kundiyil kuththi izhuththu oakum poathu, aval pundaiyum, virinthu moodi virinthu moodi, 'Ennodu un poolu, inaivathu eppoathu?' entru paadiyathu.

Ammaavin koodhip paruppil naan en kattai viralai vaiththu theyththaen. Appadi aval koodhip paruppaith thaeyththuk kondae avalaik kundi adiththaen. Ammaavukkum sukham kanduvittathu. Aval koodhiyin mathaneer kasinthu irangki, en sunnikku masaku ittathu. Unarchchi pongki uchcham kitta, udal athirvu kolla, iru kaigalaiyum uyarththi, ammaa ennai noakki viriththaal. Naan udanae kaalneetich charinthu, aval meethu paduththaeen. Aval en vaayai vaayaal kavvi, iduppaith thodaigalaal irukki nadungkinaal; munangkinaal. Naan aval thodaigalaip piriththuvittu, en vaeghaththaik koottinaen. Aduththa ainthu nimishaththil en vinthu kazhantru aval kundikkul vizhunthathu. Naan uruvik kondu ezunthu kattilai vittu irangkinaen. Ammaavum ezhunthu kondaal. Bathroom-ukku ennaik kondupoay, ammaa, en poolaik kazhvi vittaal. Than chooththaiyum kazhuvik kondaal.

Antrilirunthu thinamum naan ammaavaik kundiyadiththaen. Athoadu, naan aval koodhiyai nakkuvathum aval en poolai oombuvathum thavaraamal nadanthathu. Naangal kaathalargalip poala cinema beach entru inainthu suttrinoam. En bike-il aeri mulai en muthugil azhuntha utkaarnthu varuvathu avalukku mikavum pidiththirunthathu.

Oru naal oru traffic signal-il, than thambi bike-il aeri vantha Vijilaa aunty englaip paarththuvitaal.

- Enna, ithu unga makanaa? Nallaa valarnthuttaanae!

- Engae kilambitteenga, akkaavum thambiyum?

- Veettulayae irukka bore adichchathu, oru cinemaavukkup poakalaam'nu...

- Daughter-ai kaanoam?

- School holidays thaanae, paatti veetula kondupoayi vittaachchu.

Appoathu, signal vizha, avargal bye chollivittup paranthuvittaargal. Naangalum cinemaavukkup poavathu entru mudivu cheythu oru theaterukkul othungkinoam.

Ippadi, engal naatgal inbamaaga kazhinthu kondirukkaiyil, en exam results vanthathu. Paas! Naan pass aanathukku, ammaa, enakku aethaavathu parisu kodukka virumbinaal.

Maru naalae, ennai ittukkondu, city-ku veliyae engoa chentraal. Nalla thooram poanathum, oaridaththil niruththa cholli, vandiyai oru puthar maraivil evar kannilum padaamal oliththu maraikka chonnaal. Cheythaen. Than pudavaiyai maattri, thaan kondu vanthiruntha bag-il irunthu oru lungiyai eduththuk kattik kondu, muali theriyaamal irukka oru thola tholaa shirt-ai poattuk kondu, oru thoppiyai vaiththuk kondaal. Irandu aanpillaigal poavathu poal, oru chavukku thoppukku oodaaga, ennai izhuththuk kondu nadanthaal. Maru pakkam, naangal chentru chaernthathu, oru paarai irakkam; irakkaththil virintha karuneelak kadal.

Anthap paaraigalil irangkuvathu danger. Aanaal ammaavuku sariyaana vazhi therinthu irunthathu. Irangkina pin parththaal, paarai neduga guhaigal. Konja thooram vadakkaaga nadanthu, oru visaalamaana guhaikku vanthaal. Anthak guhaiyil nalla velichcham irunthathu. Maelae ulla paaraip pilavu aetho ontrilirunthu, sooriya velichcham, paaynthu paravi irunthathu. Ammaa ennai ittukkondu antha guhaikkul nuzhainthaal. Tharai eeramaaga irunthathu. Madiththu eduththu vanthiruntha oru plastic payai viriththaal. Athan mael oru poarvaiyai viriththaal. Nirvaanam aanaal; ennaiyum nirvaanam aakkinaal. Iruvarum nirvaanamaaga athil amarnthoam. Oru packettaip piriththaal. Cakes. Chappittoam. Soft drink kudiththoam.

- Innum irandu mani naerathula, high tide start-aagi vidum. Athukku munthi naam kilambanum. High tide-la guhai nirambividum.

- Intha idam, intha vishayam ellaam unakku eppadith theriyum'maa?

- Un appaa kandu pidichcha idam. Irupathu varushamaa innum maaraama appadiyae irukku! Naeththu raathrithaan enakku intha yosanai vanthichchu. Nee pass aanathukku ingke vachchuththaan parisu kodukkap poaraen.

Ammaa, neettik kondu nintra en poolukku chinnathaa oru muththam koduththaal. Oombavillai. Oombinaal nantraaga irukkumae entru aasaippattaen. Aanaal, ammaa mallaakap paduththu thodaigalaith thookki viriththaal. Ippoathellam kalimbu thadavath thaevai illai. En poolu free-aa poakira alavukku aval kundi oattai virinthu vittirunthathu. Aadap poakiravan maedaiyai thottuk kumbittuvittu aeruvathu poal, naan en ammaavin pundaiyai kuninthu muththamittaen. Piragu, aval mael aerip padarnthaen. En poolaip pidiththu, than kundi oattaiyil vaiththuk koduppathu ammaa vaelai. Aval en poolaip pidiththaal. Aanaal aval vaiththuk koduththa idamoa vaeru. Antha idam satha satha entru kuzaivaay, katha katha entru choodaaga irunthathu.

Naan kuninthu paarththaen. En sunni amma pundaiyin eera uthadugalaip pilanthu kondu, yoani dhwaaraththul puthainthu nintrathu.

- Ammaa oattai maaridichchu'maa.

- Sariyaaththaan vachchuk koduththirukaen. Nee pass pannunathukku naan unakku kodukkira parisu en koodhi.

- Ammaa! Ketta vaarththai paesura'mmaa!

- Aen unakkuththaan varumaa? Unnaiae peththa koodhikku paesa varaathaa? En koodhiyila oakkanum'nu annaikku kenjunaiyila, ippo oaththukkoa!

- Pirantha vazhiyila pannak koodaathu'nu neethaanammaa chonnae?

- Chonnaen. Aen chonnaen theriyumaa? Odanae koodhiyek kaatti oalvaangunaa nalla irukkaathu. Konjam konjamaa usuppaeththi koodhiyek koduththaen'nu vachchukkoa, mavanae, intha sukhaththe un janmaththukkum marakka mudiyaathu.

- Great'maa. Ippo, intha un koodhi gift-ukku romba romba thanks! Nee chonnaa maathiri, ithai ennaala marakkavae mudiyaathu. Thank you very much!

- Your poolu is welcome.

Athu naal varai kanavu kandu kondiruntha en sorggaththil -- ammaavin pundaikkul -- en poolai nuzhaiththaen. Athu sorggamaethaan. Antha choodum vazhu vazhuppum vaeru engu kidaikkum?

- Un appaa poolai vida unnithu rendu madangu perusu, makanae!

- Nijamaalumaa?

- Pinnae? Emmaa aazhaththukkup poakuthu! Kazhuthap poolu, mavanae, unakku kazhuthap poolu!

- Unakku pidichchirukkaa'maa?

- Pidikkamaiyaa veedu kootturaa mathiri mulaiyek kaattik kaati unnai valachchu, innikku, koodhiyila poattirukkaen?

- Vaenum'nuthaan kattunaiyaa? Peththa makanaiyae oakkirathukku plan pannunaiyaa, ammaa?

- Enna pannuvaen chollu? Oal-thimiru pidichcha udambu enakku. Un appaa varushaththuku oru murai thaan leave-la varraaru. Veliyila evan kittayaavathu oalu vaagki, ambalam aayidichchunaa asingkamaap poayidum. Oru naal, nee thoongikkittu irukkirappo, ezhumbikittu ninna un poolap paarththittaen. Route poattuttaen.

- Appo, ini, appaavukku naan substitute-aa'maa?

- Neethaandaa main. Avaru substitute.

Ammaa paesina paechchu enaaik kilarththi veri kollach cheythathu. Naan aval koodhikkul irakkiya en poolai izhuththu, oangki idiththu oaththaen. Ammaavum aasai aasaiyaaga koodhiyai embik koduththu, ennidam kuththu vaanginaal. Mattumalla, en mukham ellaam muththi muththi, vidaamal ennaik konjik kondirunthaal.

Onnum kidaikkaathavan kai adikkiraan. 'Onpathu' kidaiththavan kundi adikkiraan. Aanaal, pundai vemmaikkul vennai-vayal uzhak kidaiththavan evanoa avanthaan piravip payan adaikiraan. Athuvum amma pundai yaanaal...aahaa!

Mallaanthu, madi ekki, en idi vaendum ammaavai, mulai patri, muttuk kuththi, naan oaththaen. Pirantha vazhip pilavil, en irumbuth thadip poolai aetri aetri oaththaen. Puyal vaeghaththtil aanju aanju adiththuth thakarththuk kondae, koodhikkul kuliththu velippadum en poolaattaththai kuninthu rasiththaen. Aahaa, ammaavin pundai uthadugal vindu madhuvadikka, en thandu athil nuzhainthu kindik kilangkedukka, aval nandup pidipoattu than kundi konaiththaatta, naan undu illai entru oal oaththu oaththu, mandai kirukiruththaen; vaay ulari, idi idiththaen. Ammaavukkum veri vanthuvittathu.

- Kuththudaa, kuththu! En koodhi kizhiyak kuththu! Imputtu inbam, makanae, unga appanum koduththathillai; oru suppanum kodukkap poarathillai.

- Ammaa!

- Oaludaa, oalu! En oattai ellaam oalu! Vitha vithamaa oakka vittu un poolai en pochchukku adimai aakkalae, thaayoali, un poolaip peththa koodhi illaidaa ithu.

- Ammaa!

- Soruvudaa, soruvu! En thondi viriyach choruvu! Pirantha vazhi soruvip pukunthu vilaiyaadu! Puthumaip pillai, en puthu maappillai.

- Ammaa!

Koovik kondae aval koodhikkul en kundaanthadi vaegaththaik koottinaenaa, aval udalilum antha inba nadukkam vanthuvittathu. Aval ennaip pinnik kondu, kadal ponguvathu poal pongkith thaninthaal. Naanum, uchchi muthal ullangkaal varai uruki irangka, en vinthu vellaththai, en janma bhoomiyil paaychchi, aval maar meethu charinthaen. Moochchu mutta, aval kai kaal pinaippukkul kidanthu, viyarththaen. Amma, en mukam, mudi, kazhuththu ellaam thodarnthu muththam ittuk kondirunthaal.

- Ammaa!

- Ennadaa, chellam?

- Romba romba sukhamaa irunthichchu'maa.

- Enakkumthaan. Nallaa oakuradaa, chellam.

- Nee ivvalavu ketta paechchu pasuvae'nu naan ethirpaarkkavae illammaa!

- Athuvaa? Athu un appavukku romba pidikkum. Oakkurappoa thaevadiyaa maathiri paesanum'nu avaruthaan chollik koduththaaru. Ingathaan.

- Intha guhaiyilayaa?

- Aamaa, intha guhailathaan un appa ennai seal udaichchaar.

- Nijammaalumaa?

- Ithae kuhaila nadantha pala oalugal'la onnulathaan unnai naan karuth tharichchaen. Appuramaaththaan kalyaanamae pannikkittaen.

- Nijammaavaa?

- Aamaam. Ippo ithae guhaiyila unnaiyum kondu vanthu en koodhikulla thirmba poattirukaen.

Chollivittup punnagaiththa ammaavin kanngal paniththana. Naan aval kangalai muththamittaen. Aval en kannangalaik killi, en thalaiyaik koathivttaal. Naan aval pundaikkul kidantha en poolai uruvaamal aval mulai anaiyil mukham puthaiththuk kidanthaen. Ammaa ennaith thoongap pannuvathu poal en muthugil thattik koduththaal. Aanaal thoonguvatharkup pathil, en sunni aval chandhanak kuzhaivukkul usumbik kondirunthathu. Athu usumba usumba, ammaa, than koodhi muscles-ai irukkith thalarththi athai maelum usuppaeththinaal. Antru, anthak guhaiyil, piragum oru murai oappatharkae engalukku naeram irunthathu.

Vidumurai mudinthu, naan kalloori maanavan aagi vittaen. Atharkkul ammaa chollith tharath thara, kaamak kalaiyin ellaa soothrangalaiyum kattruth thaerivittaen. Veettil ammaavum naanum kanavan manaivi poal, orumiththu, kaathalargal poal inbam anubhaviththu vaazhnthoam.

Naanku ainthu maathangkalukkup piragu oru naal, naan en kalloori vittuth thirumbi veettukkul nulaintha vaelai, phone ring aanathu. Naan haal-il iruntha phonai eduththaen. Athae samaiyam, bedroom-il iruntha parallel phone-ai ammaa eduththuvittaal. Paesiyathu Dubaiyil irunthu appaa. Nee nallaa irukkiyaa? Neenga nallaa irukeengalaa? Etc. etc. Naan phonai vaippatharku irunthaen. Appoathu paarththu oru interesting aana matter velivanthathu.

- Vijilaavai paththi neengka chonnathu sarithaanga.

- Sariyaap poachchaa? Eppadik kandu pidichchae?

- Oru naal aval veettukkup poanappo, neenga chonna maathri, calling bell adikkaamal, idukku vazhyaap paarththaen. Paarththaa, TV-la sound illaama padam oadikkittu irukku. Sofa-la, thambiya mallaaththi, akkaakaari aeri adichchukkittu irukaa! Naan moochchuk kaattaamath thirumbittaen.

- Paavam avathaan enna pannuvaa? Ava purushan paththu varushamaa Dubai-la kidakkaan. Athanaalathaan, athae maathiri oru yoasanaiye unakkum chonnaen. Eppadip poakuthu namma veettuk kathai?

- Super-aa pokuthunga. Vaazhkkaiyila vasantham thirumbi vanthaa maathiri irukkunga. Siru vayasup payyanaa vaera irukkaanaa, inbaththula kulippatturaan. Ayyo, athe eppadich cholrathunae puriyalai!

- Anubhavi. Un pillai. Unakkup poakaththaan ini oruththikki.

- Aenga, ini oru vishayam, koavappadak koodaathu.

- Naan un maela koapap paduvaenaa? Chollu.

- Unga pillai en vayiththula load aeththittaanga, ippo enna pannurathu?

- Peththukkoa. Enakku sammatham; santhoasam kooda.

- Nijammaavaa?

- Nijammaa. Kaekkurappavae thrilling-aa irukku, theriyumaa? Oru pillai enna oru dozen peththukko.

- Thanks! Aanaa, neenga angae irukkirapoa... ooru enna chollum?

- Kavalaip padaatha. Leave kidaichchaachchu. Aduththa maasam varraen. Ooru vaayai moodidalaam.

- Ungala maathiri oru husband kidaikkirathukku... I love you.

Enakkuth thalai suttriyathu. Ammaa phone-ai cut pannum varai kaaththirunthu, en receivarai vaththaen. En sunni, valikkira alavukku viraiththuvittathu. Araikkul irunthu velippatta ammaa, ennaik kavaniththu en arukil vanthu, vazhakkum poal, oru chinna mutham muththi, kitchen poakath thirumbinaal. Naan aval pinnal poay, en kuri viraippu aval kundi unara, avalai anaiththaen. Aval kazhuththai thiruppi, puruvaththai uyarththinaal. Naan aval kazhuththil uthadu pathithtu, en iduppai asaiththuk kaattinaen. Amma, than iduppukku mael thuni thookkik kuninthaal. Naan en iduppukkuk keezh thuni vilakki avaloadu inainthaen. Iruvarum asainthu inbaththil layiththoam. En appaavae plan panni undaakkiyathu engal uravu.

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