Chapter 6A

By the time, hearing the commotion, Ravi too came out of his room to see what's going on. He found no one in the hall. He went to the kitchen. Ratna saw him and ignored him when he greeted her with a "good morning, ma!" He sensed tension hanging in the air. Deepa looked at him and winked; she asked him, "Ravi, netthu raathiri nalla thoonginiya? Ille ennaiye ninacchittu irundhaiya? Naan nalla thonnginenda. Ammavum appavum kooda nalla thoonginaangannudhaan ninaikkiren. Nammalai patthi kavalaipattalum, adhukkaga avanga... avanga..." ["Ravi, did you slept peacefully last night? Or were you just thinking of me? I had a nice sleep. Hope, dad and mum too hade a nice sleep. Though they had concern for us, can they afford to lose their..."] and she did not complete. Ratna turned and looked at Deepa questioningly and after seeing her, Deepa completed "avanga thoongama irukka mudiyuma? Ille saapidamathaan irukka mudiyuma? Edhu nadakkanumo adhu nadakkathaaney seiyum aana adhu nallapadiya, ellarum santhosapadumbadiyaa irundha nalladhu. Illaiya? Sarida Ravi, oh, I am sorry Ravi, inimey unnai 'vaada podaa'nnu mariyadhaiyillame koopida koodathu illey? Yennanga Ravi, brush panniyacha? Coffee kudikireengala? ["... sleep. Could they? Or else can they forego their usual meals? Whatever is destined to happen is bound to happen. But it must happen to please everyone of our family. Sorry da Ravi, I'm supposed to address you with respect in future. Have you brushed your teeth? Care for a cup of coffee?"]

Ravi smiled and replied, "Innum illedi Deepa. Naan brush pannittu varren. Adhukkulle coffee ready pannudi. Kalyanam aagattum, nee appadi koopidalam. Ippodhaikku eppavum polave nee ennai 'vaada podaa'nney koopidudi. Naanthaan eppovum unnai 'vaadi podi'nnudhaan koopidaren. Sariyadi, chellam?" ["No, not yet. By the time I finish brushing my teech, keep the coffee ready. You may address me with respect after our marraige. But, for the time being, you be your usual self, darling."]

"Sarida, seekirama vaa... coffee aaridapogudhu. Edhuvum sooda irukkaracheye saapidanum. Yennamma, sariya naan sollradhu? Aaripoyittal andha rusi kettudum. Sari, sari poo." ["okay da, come quick before the coffee turns cold. You have take anything when it's quite hot. Otherwise, it becomes bland and tasteless. Go and brush your teeth."]

"Deepa, Ravi, neenga rendu perum adhigama vaayaada aarambichutteenga. Overaavey chellam kodutthu kettupoyi irukkeenga. Enna seiyaradhu. Enga thalaividhi appadi. Saridi Deepa, appavukkum Ravikkum serndhey coffee kalandhudu. Naan poyi kulicchuttu vandhurren. Appurama nee kulikka po. Solla marandhutten, appovoda office-kku phone panni avar innaikku office varamaatarnnu sollidariya?" ["Deepa and Ravi, you both are really spoilt to the core because of our pampering. Brew the coffee for Ravi and dad. After I finish my bath, you can have yours. Oh, I forgot, can you please inform dad's office that he won't attend office today?"] and without waiting for her reply, Ratna moved out of the kitchen to her wardrobe to gather her clothes.

Deepa watched her select a saree, petticoat, bra and a towel and moved towards the bathroom. She went near her and asked her, "Amma, nee veetile irukkumbodhu panties poda maatiya? Panties edukkaliye? Adhudhaan ketten." ["Ma, won't you wear panties when you are at home? As you have not taken your panties from the wardrobe, I thought so."]

"Chee podee, amma kitte enna ketkaradhunnu vivasthaiyillai?" ["Don't you feel embarrassed to ask such a question to your mom?"]

"Idhule enna thappumma? Adhoda appavum veetile irukka poraar. Oruvelai appa solliyirukkalamonnu ketten." ["What's wrong in this Ma? And, as dad is also at home, I thought he would have instructed you not to wear panies."]

"Appa enna 'solliyirukallamonnu' izhukkarey?" ["What do you mean... 'he would have instructed'?"]

"Illey, appa veetile irundha unnai panties podakkoodathunnu solliirupparonnu ketten. Yenna, Ravi enkitte appadithaan solli vacchirukkaan." [I mean, when dad's at home, he might have told you not to wear panties. Because, Ravi had said so to me."]

Ratna blushed and did not answer but shot a furious look at her daughter and said, "Idhu unakkey konjam overaa padalai idhu maadhiri ellam en kitte sollaradhukku? Podi, velaiya paaru. Naan kulikka porren." ["Don't you think you are crossing your limits by discussing this with me? Go away, let me have my bath."]

"Sari po, badhil sollaama porriye, appave enakku purinji pocchu... payyanai polavey appaavum... illey illey appaavai polave payyan..." ["okay, you simply escaped from answering... father is just like his son; I'm sorry, son is just like the father..."] and giggled and went again to the kitchen to make coffer for Ravi and Mani.

Mani was all listening to this conversation and silently cursed his daughter for her talkativeness. He sat on the dining table and started reading the newspaper while waiting for his cup of coffee. Ravi too joined him soon. Deepa brought three cups of coffee, and she too joined them in the dining table. Both the father and the son sat silently facing each other sipping hot coffee. Ravi was intently starting at his dad hoping that he would talk something to him. But Mani totally ignored him and after finishing the coffee, he lighted a cigarette and walked to the balcony. Ravi went to him room and switched on the TV and started watching the morning news.

Around 9.00, they all assembled again at the dining table for their breakfast. Ravi was the first to ask: "Amma, neenga rendu perum enga vishayatthaipatthi discuss pannitteengannu theriyum. Aana yenna decided pannineengannu ippo naanga therinjikka aasaipadurom. Adhu edhuva irundhaalum please sollidunga. Ennala suspense thaangamudiyala. Deepa unakku edhaavadhu theriyuma? Appa neengalaavadhu pesunga?" ["Ma, we are aware that you two would have discussed at length about our proposal last night. But, as we do not know the outcome, we would like to know. We cannot bear the suspense. Deepa, do you know anything about it? Dad, at least say something now."]

Mani cleared his throat and started talking. "Deepa, Ravi, nalla kettukkonga. Unga rendu peroda kaadhalala namma kudumbaththula evvalavu kuzhappam varumnu theriyuma? Nalla velai namakku relatives yaarum illai. Aana, namma 'family friends' nammalai patthi enna ninaippanga? Madhippum mariyadhaiyuma naama irukkom. Aana indha vishayathukku appuram enna aagumnu yosicheengal? Neenga unga mudiva matthikkonga. Neenga senja thappai naanum ammavum mannichhuttom. Aana, idhukku appurama ozhunga irukka paarunga. Konja naal kazhicchu, Deepavukku vera idathiley kalyanam pannidalam, nee unakku pidichcha maadhiri ponnu adhu yaara irundhalum naanga thadai solla maattom. Deepa, neeyumthaan, vera yaaravadhu unakku pidicchirundha sollu, nallapadiya kalyanam nadathidarom. Enakku idhukku mela very yosanai thonaley. Ammavum idhey mudivuleythaan irukka nalla yosichhu badhil sollunga." ["Deepa, Ravi, listen carefully. Are you aware of the problems that your love affair would bring with it? Luckily, though we do not have any relatives, we would lose our respect among our 'family friends. We do lead a very respectable life now. But, after this episode, have your ever realised what would happen to that status? I request you both to reconsider the decision. We have forgiven your 'misdeed'. But behave well in future and let us marry off Deepa to a nice guy and you choose a pretty girl for you. We won't stop you if you choose your partners. I don't know how to convince you both and Amma has also concurred with me on this decision. Think well and give me your response. No hurry at all."]

"Appa, enna dhideernu ippadi oru gundai thooki podureenga?" Ravi asked. ["Dad, we never expected such a bombshell from you."]

"Neenga rendu perum yenga thalaiyila potta gundaividavaa idhu perisu? Adhaiye naanga thaangikkalai?" Ratna countered. ["It's nothing when compared to the one that had been hurled at us by you both."

Deepa and Ravi stared at each other. They started to talk in unison... and Ravi let Deepa speak on his behalf too.

"Appa, neenga sollaradhai ennala ninaicchu paakavey romba aruvaruppa irukku. Naanum Raviyum endha alavukku pazhagi irukkomnu ungakitte sollitten. Adhai Ammakitte innumkooda detaila kaathaley sonnen. Adhukku appuramavum neenga ennai vera orutharai kalyanam pannikka sollradhu nallavey illai. Adhanaala, naan vera yaaraiyum kalyanam pannikka maatten. Ravikku eppaidyo theriyaadhu. Naan indha mudivila nicchayama urudhiya iruppen. Enakkum Ravikkum kalyanam nadantha sari, ille, naan pesaama naan padiccha convent'la irukkira Mother'tta solli naanum 'nun'aagiradhukkana erppadu senjuduven. Ennai patthina kavalaiyai vittutu, neenga rendu perum Ravikku vera yaaraiyavadhu kalyanam panni vacchudunga. Ravi, nee enna sollarey?" ["Dad, it's disgusting even to think of your 'marriage' proposal. Amma is aware of the physical intimacy between Ravi and me. In spite of this, it won't be decent if you decide to marry me off to another guy. I won't marry anyone else. I'm not sure about Ravi. I'm very stubborn on my position. If you allow me to marry Ravi, then it's okay. Otherwise, I will become a 'nun' in the Convent in which I studied. And, after that, if Ravi desires, he can marry some 'pretty' girl as you just now suggested. Ravi, what do you say?']