1083. What Scares the Valiant Veera?

When several people were bathing in the river, that mishap occurred.

While the river was shallow near the bank, it was deep in the middle. There were also vortexes there. 

If someone were caught in a vortex, he would be pushed deep down into the water by the force of the vortex. Even people who are good swimmers would find it difficult to extricate themselves from a vortex and come out alive.

In the past, a few people had been caught in the vortexes and drowned. Their bodies were recovered after several hours at places several miles from where they had been drowned.

Therefore, people bathing in that river were careful not to go near the middle of the river. If some boys strayed towards the middle, the elders bathing nearby would pull them back and reprimand them for their recklessness.

That day, Kandhan, a boy of twelve years, swam fast and strayed into the middle of the river without being aware of where he was heading. People bathing nearby shouted "Don't go there. Turn back" but the voices didn't reach him.

As feared by everyone, Kandhan was caught in a vortex. His head disappeared into the water.

While everyone was witnessing the mishap, feeling stunned, a young man swam fast and went near the vortex.

People who saw him going near the vortex shouted, "Veera! Don't go there! You will also be drawn into the vortex!"

But Veera didn't pay heed to the warnings. Presently, his head also vanished into the stream.

But within a few seconds, Veera's head surfaced above the water. The head of Kandhan, whom Veera was holding in his hand, was also seen. Veera had done the impossible act of entering the vortex and coming out, after rescuing Kandhan!

Once Veera reached a safe region in the stream, taking Kandhan along, others went near them and helped them reach the shore.

"Kandhan! Your coming out of the vortex alive was a miracle. Veera has rescued you from the clutches of death" said one of the persons, who witnessed the developments.

Another person asked Veera, "Hey, Veera? Don't you know what fear is?"

Veera smiled, by way of acknowledging the implied praise.

Kandhan was taken home. Veera and a few others accompanied him. Some of them narrated the incident that happened in the river to Kandhan's parents and told them how Veera rescued Kandhan, risking his own life. Apart from Kandhan's parents, Kandhan's elder sister Kanaka was also present in the house.

After sometime, Veera took leave of Kandhan's parents.

Kandhan's father told Veera, "Veera! After what you did today, you have become a part of our family. Please visit us often!"

After a few days, Kandhan's father met Veera on the street. He told him, "What Veera! I asked you to visit our home frequently. But you didn't come even once!"

"I will come sometime, sir!" said Veera.

After Kandhan's father moved away, Veera's friend Muthu, who was walking with him, told Veera, "See, Veera! Kandhan's father is asking you to visit his home, since he feels grateful to you for saving his son. Go there at least once, by way of respecting his invitation."

"I would like to go. But I feel scared!" said Veera.

"You feel scared! People have been hailing you as someone who don't fear even death. But you are scared to visit Kandhan's house!" asked Muthu, surprised.

"If I go to Kandhan's house, his sister Kanaka will be there!"

"What if she is there? Why are you scared of her?"

"I am not scared of her, but I am scared of her gaze! When she looked at me that day, her gaze pierced through my mind and made me feel uncomfortable. I am afraid to meet her gaze again" said Veera, but added, "I crave to see her all the same!"

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 109
Beauty that Torments

Verse 1083 (in Tamil):
paNdaRiyEn kURRu enbthanai ini aRindhen
peNdagaiyal pEramark kattu.

Meaning:

Till now I had not known about the existence of the God of Death. But now I know that he exists in the form of this woman with battling eyes. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'oru vIranin sangadam' by the same author.)

Verse 1084

Verse 1082