1113. The 'Chimera' that Appeared in the Dream!

"Why should we work so hard to crack the GRE* and go to the United States, for pursuing higher education? Is it not better to settle down India, by getting a good job, after completing our Engineering degree?" asked Ravindran.

"For the past two years, you have been talking about going to the US. Why are you changing your tune suddenly?" asked Veena.

"The arduous task of preparing for the GRE makes me think like this. Preparing for the GRE requires that we learn new words in English. They say we should develop a vocabulary with at least 3000 words. We have not even learnt 300 words, till now."

"That's why we have been learning words, by going through the word list of important words. Starting in the alphabetical order, we have come to the letter 'C' now. If you get discouraged even at this stage, how can you progress? Since learning the words by studying alone could be difficult and boring, we have been learning together. Is this process a problem for you?"

"About 'learning together,' I enjoy the 'together' part. What can be more exciting than doing something together with you? But, it is the 'learning' part, that is challenging to me." 

Ravindran smiled at Veena and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Take your hand off my shoulder."

Veena gently pushed down his hand from her shoulder, smiling. "See what the next word in the list is."

"It is 'collage.' Have they misspelt the word 'college'?" asked Ravindran, sounding innocent.

"No way. 'collage' means an art piece made from diverse materials like cloth, paper etc. It is pronounced 'collash.' I have made collage paintings myself."

"Oh, I have seen you splash a few colours on a sheet of paper, stick some rags and paper bits on it and call it an art. So that is called collage!"

"Your ignorance is not confined to vocabulary, but covers the aesthetic sense as well."

"Bear with me, Miss Artist. After our marriage, I will definitely try to appreciate your creations you dare to claim to be pieces of art! Don't throw an angry look at me. Can we go to the next word? Please read the next word."

After looking at the word list, Veena asked him, "You have skipped some words, coming before 'collage!'"

"That is the style of studying, I and my friends have been following. While studying a lesson, we skip some topics. If any question on those topics is asked in the examination, we will skip it and choose some other question to answer!"

"In the GRE, there is no option to choose a question. You have to answer all the questions. If you can't, you have to give up your aspiration to go to the U.S for higher studies. Let us be a little more serious. We will take up the words skipped by you. The next word is 'chimera.' Do you know the meaning of this word? Don't say it is a typo and it should be 'camera!'"

"You are one who is holding the book. Look at the answer and enlighten me!"

"'Chimera' is an animal created with organs of different animals. This is to be pronounced 'kimera.'"

"This also appears to be a kind of 'collage.'"

"'Collage' is a beautiful art piece. Do you think that an animal created by combining the organs of different animals will be good to look at? It may look ugly or monstrous."

"Not necessarily. A chimera created by a good artist like me can be good-looking!" said Ravindran.

"I think today you are not in a mood to study. You have been making frivolous remarks. We will stop our study today and resume it tomorrow."

Veena closed the book.

"The moment you closed the book, I got into a good mood. I have the mood to chat with you" said Ravindran.

"Leave this place, now!" said Veena, in mock anger.

The next day, when they met to resume their studies, Ravindran told Veena, "Veena! You may not believe what I say. Last night, I saw the figure of a chimera in my dream. It was the image of a beautiful woman."

"How can a chimera have the image of a woman?"

"It was a woman, alright. Her shoulders were like a gently curved bamboo pole. Her torso looked like a creeper. Her teeth were like pearls. Her eyes, highlighted by the black dye on the edges, had the sharpness of a lance. A pleasant fragrance was emanating from her body..."

"How horrible! Because we had discussed the word 'chimera' yesterday, such a creature seems to have appeared in your dream!"

"No, Veena. That woman was very beautiful. I have already seen her."

"You have seen her! Who is that damsel? Do I know her?" asked Veena, somewhat perturbed.

"How do I know whether you know her. I have her photo in my mobile phone. I will show it to you. Check whether she is known to you."

Ravindran took out his mobile phone. 

'You have her photo in your mobile phone and you have the temerity to tell me that. See what I am going to do to you!' thought Veena, a wave of anger rising in her mind.

But on seeing her own photo shown by Ravindran, Veena's anger turned into exhilaration.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 112
In Praise of Her Charms

Verse 1113 (in Tamil):
muRimEni muththam muRuval veRinARRam
vElunkaN vEyththOL avaTku.

Meaning:

Her body is supple; her teeth are pearls. She is fragrant. Her eyes, that have dyed edges, dart forth glances like a lance. Her shoulders gently curve as the bamboo. O! what a varied charm my beloved has!

*GRE - An Entrance Test for getting admission to master's programs in US universities.

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