1102. What Ails Gururajan?

"You are looking dull. Are you not feeling well?"

This was the question that several people who happened to see Gururajan had been asking him for the past few days.

"I am fine," was Gururajan's response to every one. However, he had been inwardly sensing a feeling of weakness.

Gururajan consulted a doctor. After examining him, the doctor said, "There is nothing wrong with you. Perhaps, a change of place for a few days may do you good. Sometimes making a short trip to some other place and returning will make you feel refreshed."  

A friend of Gururajan, living in a village had, since long, been asking him to come and stay with him for some time. 

Gururajan went to his friend's place, by way of following the doctor's advice.

The village atmosphere was pleasant. Spending time with his friend made Gururajan happy. But, Gururajan was still feeling some weakness.

Gururajan's friend told him, "You are looking dull. Are you not feeling well? There is an Ayurvedic doctor here. He will be able to diagnose you, just by checking your pulse."

The Auirvedic doctor, after checking Gururajan's pulse, said, "Since you have been used to live in a city, perhaps, the village life has made you feel dull. You will become normal, once you go back to your place!"

Gururajan controlled his urge to laugh.

Even after returning home from the village, Gururajan didn't find any improvement in his health. He began to worry that he might have been afflicted by some severe illness, which the doctors couldn't diagnose.

One night, when Gururajan was rolling in his bed, unable to get sleep, a thought occurred to him. 'Have I been deceiving myself all these days?'

The next morning, he left for his aunt's place, which was not very far from the place he was living.

"What a surprise! Last month, you made a sudden visit here, at a time I was thinking that that you had forgotten this poor aunt, your father's sister! Now, you have come again after a month. It seems you have begun to think of me more often, these days!" said his aunt, welcoming him heartily.

"I had lost my mother in my childhood. After my father also passed away, you remain my only relative" said Gururajan.

"That was my point. It is five years since your father - my brother - passed away. But you began to think of me only recently. Anyway, I am glad you have come."

After the lunch, his aunt went into her room, for taking her afternoon nap.

When Gururajan was sitting alone in the porch of the house, his aunt's daughter Vanaja noiselessly came near him from behind and touched his shoulder.

Electrified by Vanaja's touch, Gururajan turned back and looked at her.

"Vanaja! I came here only to see you. But till now, I couldn't find you in the house!" said Gururajan.

"Did you come to see me? Don't lie to me. You came to see your aunt!" said Vanaja, with a playful smile on her face.

"You ae teasing me, Vanaja. I had seen you as a little girl. When I had come to see my aunt last month, I was thrilled to see you as a grown up girl. I spent quite some time talking to you. Seeing you as a grown up girl and talking to you was an exhilarating experience. From that time, my mind and body have undergone some change. It was as if I was struck by fever. Everyone in my place kept asking me 'what is wrong with you?' I realized that I would become normal, only if I meet you again and exchange a few words with you!"

After that, the two were holding each other's hand and talking to each other, for a long time.

Gururajan regained his vigour and energy, after returning from his aunt's house.

Note: In Tamilnadu, South India, there has been a practice of a young man marrying the daughter of his mother's brother or father's sister. In fact, in ancient Tamilnadu, it was considered that a girl satisfying this relationship was called 'muRaippeN' (the girl who could be rightfully claimed as a bride, by the boy, having the qualifying relationship.) 

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 111
The Joy of Being Together in Love

Verse 1102 (in Tamil):
piNikku marundhu piRaman aNiyizhai
than nOykkuth thAnE marundhu.

Meaning:

Various medicines serve as remedies for various ailments. But, for the ailment caused by this girl wearing jewels, she herself is the remedy.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'gururAjanukku vandha nOy' by the same author.)

Verse 1103
Verse 1101