1134. Avvai Shanmugi!

Two palace guards hauled up a young man, with his hands tied by a rope, before the Chief of Security.

"Chief, when it was getting dark, this young man, dressed as a young woman, was walking surreptitiously, hiding himself now and then. We thought that it was a woman in danger and went near the person, intending to escort the person to a place of safety. Only when we went close to the person, did we realize that it was not a woman, but a man. When we questioned him about the reason for his disguise, he refused to answer" said one of the guards.

"Tell me. Why did you disguise yourself as a woman? Are you playing the role of a woman in a play? Even if it were the case, you would be getting the make-up done at the theatre" the Chief queried the suspect.

"Sir! You may not believe what I say. I was going to meet my lover" said the young man.

"Why did you put on this disguise, while going to meet your lover?"

"Sir! A few days back, some of my friends and I had taken a pledge that we would remain unmarried and serve the country, by joining the army. But, after meeting a girl, I instantly fell in love with her. I proposed my love to her and she accepted it. If my friends come to know of this, they will make fun of me and mock me for taking a pledge to remain unmarried and serve the country. So, I decided to meet my lover, disguising myself as a woman. My lover also likes this arrangement, since she doesn't want people to see us together and gossip about us. Please set me free. My lover will be waiting for me."

"Where will she be waiting?"

"In the park at the end of this road."

"Okay. Our guards will come with you to the park. If your lover is there waiting for you, they will set you free. Otherwise, you will have to come back here" said the Chief of Security. 

"My lover will be definitely waiting for me there, even if I were to arrive there late. Please ask your guards to take me to the park" said the young man, confidently.

The Chief told the guards, "Get his name, his parents' names and his address and take him to the place he mentions. If his lover is not there waiting for him, arrest him and lock him up in the prison."

"My name is Shanmugam. I live in Avvaippatti Village" said the young man.

"Avvaippatti Shanmugam! Since you are disguised as a woman, the female version of this name will be appropriate to you - Avvai Shanmugi!*" said the Chief, laughing.

*Avvai Shanmugi is the title of a popular Tamil film, in which the hero (Kamal Hasan) disguises as a woman, deceives his father-in-law and takes up a job in his house, as part of a plan to win over his estranged wife, living there.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 114
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1134 (in Tamil):
kAmak kadum punal uykkuum nAnOdu
nallANmai ennum puNai.

Meaning:

The strong current called lust will sweep away the boats called masculinity and modesty.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'avvai shaNmugi' by the same author.)

Verse 1135 (Soon)
Verse 1133