1111. A Flower that Blossoms by Touch!

"I see a difference between how you were, when we were lovers, and how you have been, after we got married" said Sarala.

"What difference? Has my love for you gone up or gone down?" asked Velan.

"Your love remains the same always. But your concern for me has gone up."

"How do you say that?"

"When I am walking, if I stumble a little, you rush to support me, fearing that I could fall down. When a leaf from a tree fell on me, you immediately took out the leaf, threw it down and blew air through your mouth on the spot where it fell, as if I was injured!"

"What you say is true. My concern for you has gone up, from where it was earlier."

"What is the reason for this sudden concern?"

"It is not sudden. It was only last night that I knew you completely."

"You shameless fellow! What is the connection between our first night and your having more concern for me?"

"Last night, I realized how tender a person you are. That is why I want to look after you with more care."

"You say I am tender. Can you explain how tender I am?"

"There is a film song, penned by the lyricist Kannadasan, in which a man describes a woman as 'whiter than the milk and softer than the snow.' That description could be fitting on you."

"In the context of the story of that film, that line describes the innocence of a young woman. It doesn't describe her tenderness."

"Whatever the intended meaning of that line might have been, I consider it the description of the tenderness of a woman. But, if you won't accept it, I will think of some other way to describe your tenderness. Can I say that you are tender like a flower? Yes, that will be an apt description. Of all the flowers, the Anichcham flower is said to be the most tender. It is so tender that it will wilt, if someone inhales its fragrance. You are even more tender than the Anichcham flower. But, there is a difference!"

"What difference?"

"If someone even goes near the Anicham flower and smells it, it will wilt. But if I touch your tender body, you bloom more, becoming prettier and brighter. That has been my experience!" said Velan.

Sarala laughed hearing what Velan had said and Velan saw the blossoming of a flower, in that laughter.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 112
In Praise of Her Charms

Verse 1111 (in Tamil):
nannIrai vAzhi anichchamE ninninum
mennIraL yAm vIzhbavaL.

Meaning:

Oh, Aniccam flower, the best and the softest of all flowers, may you be blessed, but my lady has even more tenderness than you.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thottAl malarum pU' by the same author.)

 Verse 1112
Verse 1110