Chapter 3

Next day things went on normally... Ravi went to his coaching class; and Deepa helped her mother in her daily chores. The topic was never discussed even when Ratna wanted it desperately to be discussed with Deepa. Deepa was quite disturbed even to imagine what would happen when the topic was raised again at dinnertime. When Mani left for office, he seemed to be very happy, Deepa thought to herself, may be because of the wild fuck session he had last night with his wife. And even Ratna was radiating some freshness and Deepa noticed that she had bathed early in the morning which was clearly an indication that last night she had had sex.

The day wore off uneventfully. In the evening when her father returned from office, he brought a large packet of sweets which he mentioned that it was a gift from his Director in appreciation of winning a contract. In all, he was in a jubilant mood. Sensing this, Deepa thought it would be better to let the cat out of the bag.

At the dinner table, Deepa slowly started to talk. "Appa, I'm in love with..." and she could not finish.

"Appa, Amma, naan oruttharai konja naala virumbaren. Kalyaanam pannikkavum aasaipaduren."

"Ada, en ponnukku 'love' vandhuducha? Yaramma andha lucky 'guy'?"

"Summa irunga, vilayadurala? Kaadhalavadhu kaththirikkai avadhu? Indha vayasuleya kaadhala?"

"Suma, yen ivvalavu avasarapadare? Ippo enna ayidichu? Kaadhalnudhaane sollara. Keetupoyittennu sollaliye. Kobappadaame kelu. Nee sollumma Deepu. Yaara nee kaadhalikkire? Kooda padikkiravanaiya?"

"Summa irunga... Ponnu kaadhalikkiralam, appa paarattarar! Kandikka thuppillaama. Yaarudi adhu? Kooda padikkiravana ille..."

"Adhu vandhummaa, kooda padikkiravan ille, aana kooda... kooda..."

"Sooli tholaiyendi... yenn mennu muzhungarey? Yaar andha paiyyan? Yethanai naalaga pazhakkam?"

"Sumi, romba adhattaama pakkuvama kelu. Nee sollumma Deepu, andha paiyyan yaaru? Naano, un ammavo ille Raviyo paarthirukkoma? Yendha kudumbathu paiyyan? Yenna pandran? Kooda padichchavana?"

"Appa, avan nalla kudumbathu paiyyanthaan. Ungalukkum ammavukkum avanai rombavum pidikkum. Nalla azhaga sivappa ungala madhiriye iruppan. Kittathatta unga uyaram, niram, personality, yeann?, achchu asal ungalattama iruppan adhoda... ennoda kooda padichchavan illennalum, koodave... koodave..."

"Solli tholaiyendi mundam? Koodave bussile varravana? Ille kooda paritchai ezhudhinavana? Summa 'koodave... ' koodave... ' nnu izhukkiraye?"

"Deepa irumma... Ravi unakku theriyuma avanai? Nee avanai eppavavadhu paarthiya?"

Ravi started now, "Appa, naan sollaren..."

"Vendaam, Deepu neeye solludiyamma... enakku konjam kooda bayam kurayaile... Neenga enna samadhaanam sonnalum enakku ennaova maadhiri irukkunga... Deepu nee enna..."

Mani interfered... "Summa valavalannu pesittu. Sollumma Deepu."

"Illeppa... kooda padikkiravanthaan... aana collegele ille."

Ratna immediately, "ennadi sollare... kooda padikkira payyandhaan, anaa collegele illengiriye? Pinna vera enga padikkiravan?"

"Kooda padikkiravan mattum illamma... kooda... kooda... en kooda..." Deepa could not finish what she wanted to tell.

"Solli tholayendi... ennadhu kooda... kooda... nnnnu mennu muzhungarey?"

"kooda pirandhavanumthaan." And with this, she let out a great sigh. Ravi felt his muscles stiffen in anticipation.

"What! Yennadhu... kooda pirandhavanoda kaadhala? Ravi idhu nijamada?"

"Aamaamppa, Deepu sollradhu nijamdhaan. Enakkum ippo dhaan indha oru vaaramadhaan therinjadhu... enakkum avalukkum edho oru bandham adhu ennannu theiryale... aaana enga rendu per manasum orey maadhiri othupoyi romba naalachungra maadhiri irukku. Enakku Deepuvoda pazhagarapodhu, akka maadhiri theriyale... enakkagave pirandhava maadhiri irukku."

There was a silence hanging in the air. Mani slowly shook his head and he started talking.

"Deepu, Ravi, neenga rendu perum ippadiyoru gundai thooki poduveengannu naan kanavulakooda ninaichadu ille. Idhu... idhu eppadi indha maadhiri oru ennam ungalukku vandhadhu? Unga rendu peraiyum naan innum cchinna pasangannudhan ninaichirundhen... adhu thappunnu 'prove' pannitteengale... aiyoo, naanga idha eppadi jeeranikkiradhunnudhaan theriyale. Sari, nichayama idhu ungalukkulle 'infatuation'onnu kooda naa ninaikkiren. Edhai vechhu Deepa unakku Ravi mela kaadhalnu nee sollarey?" Mani asked so softly.

"Neenga onnu... valaavalannu pesikkittu... kazhudhainga rendu peraiyum katti vechhu udhaikkaama, vilaavaariya upadesham pandreengala? Edukkarendi thodappathai, unnai pinni edutha dhaan enakku kobam adangum..." Ratna was trembling with anger.

"Ratna... indha vishayathile kobapadaame, pakkuvamathan nadandhukkanum... adhuvum neeyum naanum idhule konjam 'positive'aa paakkanumnu naan ninaikkiren... adhanale konjam porumaiya iru, mudhalle avangalukkule irukkira 'relationship' ennannu therinjippom. Solluppa Ravi, Deepu sollradhellam nijama? Unakku ava mela kaadhala? Ille, 'just infatuation'aa? Enakku theriyum, kaadhal varradhukku kaaranam thevaiyillai... aanaa edhu unga rendu peraiyum 'attract' panniththu? Verum udambuthanna, ille adhu manasu sambandhapatta vishayama eppadinnu konjam yosichu paatheengala? Deepa, enakkum puriyumbadiya sollumma." Thus approached Mani to his children.

"Deepa mela enakku irukkiradhu 'just infatuation'aa enakku theriyalappa. Deepavoda naan pesumbodhum, koodave nadakkirabodhum ennavo enakkey puriayadha oru maadhiri irukku. Enakkulleye naan paladhadavi yosichchen... idhu thappana maadhiri enakku thonalai. Deepavum idhayedhaan yosikkirannu enakku therinjapodhu, appadiye vaanathile naan parakkira maadhiri 'feel' panninen. Indha vishayama pala dhadavai yosanai panni paarthuttu, neenga rendu perum Salem poyirandhapodhu, naanum Deepavum theevirama yosichudhaan indha mudivukku... adhavadhu naanga rendu perum kalyanam pannikkalaamngra mudivukku... vandhoam. Naanum avalum, manasaiyum nesikkirom. Neenga ninaikkira maadhiri idhu nichayama 'just infatuation' illeppa. Please, ennai nambunga."

"Aaamam appa, naan solla vandhadhaiye dhaan Raviyum ippo sonnaan. In fact, naan adhukku mela oru padi poyi, kalyanam panninal Raviyodadhaan... ille, naan oru 'Convent'ley serndhu 'nun' ayiduven... aana, adhukku enakku manasule 'strength' irundhaalum, ennoda udambula irukkumannudhan theriyale. Yeanna, ennoda udambu ippo oru aaann thunaikku yeangga aarambichiduchu. Idhu thappunnu therinjalum kooda, ennaala idhai thavira vera vazhiyile yosikka mudiyala... neenga engalai mannikkanum."

Both Mani and Ratna were dumbfound; Ratna after shaking her head as if coming out of some dream started to talk: "Deepa, indha vishayathile konjam avasarappadama nee yosikkanum... yenna, idhanala romba kashttapadaporadhu needhan... idhu yenakku mattumdhaan puriyum... yenna..."

"Ratna!" Manian immediately intervened, "rombe emotionala ayidadhey... enna pesaromnu yosichu pesu..." and cautioned her to remain silent for a while.

Both Deepa and Ravi were perplexed at the sudden outburse of their father... why should he react so violently?

"Deepa, Ravi, neenga rendu perum vayasukku vandha pasanga... ippo ungalukku konjam pazhaya kadhaiya sollanum aana adhukku munnale neenga rendu perum yeppovavadhu idhai yosicheengala? Ennada, namakku ammavoda sideleyum appavoda sideleyum sondhakkarangaley illaiye... thaatha, paati appuram maama, maami, atthai, ippadi endha sondhamum veettukku varadheyillaiye? Yennnu theriyuma?"

"Ennanga, ennai 'silent'a irunnu sollittu, ippo neengale edhayo pesarenngaley... venaanga... vidunga... mudhalle saapidunga. Appurama idhai patthi utkarndhu pesuvom..."

"Irumma Sumi, pasangalai yosikka vechchuttu saapidalaam... Naan sonna vishaiyaththai yosichikkitte neenga saapidunga... Saapadu eduththu vaiyumma, naan kaiya kazhuvittu varren."

Both Deepa and Ravi did not expect this turn of events... they were certainly aware that their parents would be dead against this idea. But, why did he asked this question about their relatives? Never had there been any relatives at their house, since their childhood. The frequent visitors were either appa's friends or amma's friends, either from the office or from the neighbourhood. Never even once the topic of their relatives was discussed at their home. 'They must have been orphaned at birth' thought Ravi.

They sat at the table and had dinner silently, each one had their own thoughts lingering in their mind. Deepa was very much worried... she could not even decided whether their love was right or wrong. The whole world feels 'incest' is a great sin, particularly more so within the siblings born of same parents. Their parents too would definitely have the same perspective. But what could be done to change it?

Ravi was thinking about some valid argument to make them accept their 'love' and help them to tie the knot. Neither of his parents was eating... they seemed to be transported to another world as they sat silently before their platter and their hands were just idling at their food...

Little did they know about their 'secret'!

Deepa and Ravi finished their dinner... Deepa addressed her father, "Appa, ennappa saapidaama appadiye ukkandhu enna yosanai pandreenga... ammavum saapidamale engeyo paathu ennamo yosikkiraanga. Sari, neega rendu perum seekiram saapittutu haalukku vaanga. Naan yennoda roomukku porren; neenga yosanaipannittu ennai koopidunga. Ravi, let them be alone... neeyum unnoda roomukku poyidu..."

"Hmm... Sari Deepa... engallukku konjam time kodu. Adhukku munnale oru unmayya sollu. Neeyum Raviyum endha alavukku poyirukkeenga? Manasu mattum dhaan parimaarikitteengala ille udambayuma?"