1094. A Song for the Occasion

Ramu was not enthusiastic about following the traditional practice of visiting the prospective bride's house to have a look at her and then decide whether to marry her or not. 

However, at the insistence of his parents and the parents of the prospective bride, he agreed to abide by that practice.

The girl was living in a village. Ramu was aware that some traditional practices were still in vogue in villages. But he had no idea what the format of the 'Seeing the Girl' event would be. 'Will it be like the way it had been shown in old Tamil films?' he wondered.

When Ramu and his parents reached the prospective bride's house, they found that several people had gathered here. It appeared that apart from the girl's relatives, some of the villagers were also present there. Ramu and his parents were introduced to the prospective bride's parents and her only brother.

The only thing that Ramu knew about the girl was that the her name was Kamu. On hearing the name Kamu, the first thought that occurred to Ramu was that her name rhymed with his! 

It was immediately followed by another thought that just as Ramu was a short form of his full name, Kamu was likely to be a short form of her full name. This thought was sought to be countered by another thought that whatever their full names were, the fact that both were shortened to rhyme with each other was an interesting coincidence. He brushed aside all these thoughts realizing that they were meaningless.

After a few minutes of initial conversation between the parents of Ramu and Kamu, the prospective bride made her appearance, carrying a tray of coffee tumblers. She first went to Ramu's parents and then to Ramu, offering them coffee. After each of them took a tumbler, Kamu went back and stood near her mother. 

When Ramu's mother asked her to sit down, Kamu sat on the carpet spread on the floor.

After this, Ramu's parents and Kamu's parents started talking about their family backgrounds, their financial status etc.

Ramu was feeling restless. He looked at Kamu's face a couple of times. He was reluctant to keep looking at her. But Kamu kept her face down and her gaze seemed to be focused on the floor. 

Their parents kept looking at both of them at frequent intervals evenwhile conversing with each other.

Suddenly, Ramu's mother turned to Kamu and asked her, "Can you sing a song?"

Kamu nodded her head sideways, indicating that she can't sing.

Kamu's parents looked at Ramu's parents with concern. They seemed to be apprehensive of the prospect of Ramu's parents rejecting the girl for the reason that she couldn't sing! 

Ramu cleared his throat and asked Kamu's father, "Can I sing a song?"

Kamu's father looked at Ramu's mother as if seeking her approval. Ramu's mother cast a look of disapproval at Ramu.

A few girls sitting near Kamu, presumably her friends, encouraged Ramu, saying, "Please sing Mr. Bridegroom!" with a burst of laughter.

Ramu's mother reluctamtly gave a nod of approval.

Ramu began to sing.

"Till yesterday, you and I were unacquainted.

From today, you and I are inseparable."

 

Till he completed singing these lines, there was complete silence. After he completed singing, there was a loud applause from every one.

"Through this song, the groom has conveyed his consent for marrying Kamu," declared one of Kamu's friends, in a loud voice.

During the first night after the marriage, the first thing Ramu asked Kamu was, "What did you think of the song I sang, when I came to your house to see you for the first time?"

"When I said that I couldn't sing, there was an uneasiness around. You stepped in to break that uneasiness. That was my first thought!"

"So, subsequently, you had a different thought, didn't you? What was that?"

"Since that song was sung by the romantic here Gemini Ganesan in the film, it appeared to me that you wanted to show yourself as a romantic hero!"

"My goodness!" exclaimed Ramu.

"But later, I listened to the song in full. When I contemplated the meaning of the song, I understood the reason why you chose to sing that particular song!" said Kamu.

"What was the reason, you thought?"

"When you were looking at me, I was looking at the ground. But when you were looking elsewhere, I looked at you furtively. You should have noticed it. That's why you sang that song!"

"Oh! does that song have lines carrying such a meaning?" asked Ramu.

"Of course, it does. Having deliberately chosen to sing that song, because it carried such a meaning, now you are feigning innocence. I thought I was being furtive when I stole a glance at you. Your wiliness is even more sriking than my furtiveness!" said Kamu, in a tone of mocking accusation.

"I will accept what you say about me, only if you sing the lines carrying the meaning mentioned by you," said Ramu, unyielding.

"But, even on that day, I had said that I couldn't sing!"

"Doesn't matter. You are not going to perform in front of an audience. You are going to sing in front of me only."

Before Ramu had completed the sentence, Kamu began to sing.

"When I gaze at you, you are gazing at the earth;

When I gaze at the sky, you are gazing at me!"

"Oh! You sing so nicely. But that day, you deceived all of us by claiming that you can't sing. What other deceptions do you have in store for me?" asked Ramu, teasing her.

"Our married life has just begun. You will have a taste of my other deceptions in course of time!" said Kamu, smiling. 

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 110
Reading the Cues

Verse 1094 (in Tamil):
yAN nOkkum kaLai nilam nOkkum nOkkAkkAl
thAn nOkki mella nagum.

Meaning:

When I look at her, She stares at the ground. When I turn my gaze, she looks at me and smiles gently.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'peN pArththa mAppiLlai' by the same author.)

Verse 1095
Verse 1093