1087. A Veil to Cover the Beauty

When his friend Chinnaiyan asked Kathir to accompany him to the temple festival, Kathir was not enthusiastic about the idea. 

However, Kathir agreed to accompany Chinnaiyan, since he didn't want to decline his friend's request.

When Kathir went to Chinnaiyan's house to pick him up for the temple visit, a pleasant surprise was waiting for him. Chinnaiyan's cousin Sumathy, who had come to visit Chinnaiyan's family was also ready to accompany them to the festival.

Kathir had first seen Sumathy a couple of days ago, when she was passing by his house, along with Chinnaiyan. The moment he saw her, he felt attracted to her. However, considering that she had come to Chinnaiyan's house as a guest and that Kathir knew nothing about her background, he restrained himself from thinking further about her.

When Chinnaiyan introduced Kathir to Sumathy as his friend, Sumathy threw a smile at Kathir and said, "I have seen him already. He was standing outside his house, when we were passing by his house, two days back," 

Kathir felt an air of excitement flowing through his body. 

'She has also noticed me, just as I noticed her!'

Kathir proceeded to the temple festival in the company of Chinnaiyan and Sumathy, with a fresh sense of enthusiasm and excitement.

While witnessing the festival, Sumathy expressed her interest in Kathir at several moments. It appeared to Kathir that she expressed her interest in him through various gestures like throwing a direct gaze at him, smiling at him for no reason, making fun of him by taking liberties with him etc,

"This year, they have brought an elephant for the festival" said Chinnaiyan. 

"Oh, how exciting! But, where is it? We have not seen it so far" said Sumathy.

"Within a few minutes from now, the temple deity will be brought in a procession. At that time, the elephant will walk before the palanquin where the deity will be seated."

"But, where is the elephant now?"

"They must be decorating it at some place. It will be brought out, only after the decoration is over."

"They decorate the elephant too! Surprising!" asked Sumathy, in surprise.

"Why not? Do you think that only women should go for a make-up?" asked Kathir.

"If you want, you can also go for a make-up! Who is stopping you?" hit back Sumathy, and threw a mocking smile at him.

Chinnaiyan who was looking ahead, said, "Stop your spat and look ahead. The elephant is coming!" said with excitement.

"Oh, its gait is so charming!" shouted said Sumathy, excitedly. "Yes, as you had said, the elephant has been decorated. But, why is it that they have covered its forehead with an ornamental silk cloth?" she queried.

"It's a veil covering the elephant's forehead, from the top of the forehead to the top of the trunk" explained Kathir.

"I have heard that such a veil would be used only on wild elephants."

"It's true. They use a veil on a wild elephant to restrict its vision so that it won't run forward and attack people and properties. But they use the veil for decoration also."

"The forehead is one of the most beautiful organs of an elephant. Covering it with a cloth doesn't appear sensible to me" said Sumathy.

"Sometimes, beauty has to be covered. That is to stop the onlookers from turning wild or crazy, enchanted by beauty" said Kathir and looked at Sumathy with a cryptic smile.

Sumathy adjusted the top of her dress in an attempt to cover her breasts even more tightly.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 109
Beauty that Torments

Verse 1087 (in Tamil):
kadAk kaLiRRin mEl katpadAm mAdhar
padA lulai mEl thugil.

Meaning:

The garment that covers the firm bosom of this maiden resembles the cloth that covers the eyes of a wild elephant.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'azhagai mUdum thirai' by the same author.)

Verse 1088
Verse 1086