1149. Where Love Has Gone

"I am unable to bear the gossip in our town about you and I seeing each other" said Kantha.

"What are the things they are saying in their gossip?" asked Ilamaran. 

"It is natural for people to gossip about lovers. But, when I hear some people talking that we have married secretly, it pains me."

"Shall we make it true?" asked Ilamaran, with a giggle. 

"What kind of a talk is this? Did I not tell you even at the time you expressed your love for me that we should get married only with the consent of the parents of both of us?" asked Kantha, in an angry tone.

"Don't worry. Very soon, I will come to your house with my parents and seek the consent of your parents for our marriage" Ilamaran assured her. 

"I have to tell you something about Ilamaran" Swarnamukhi told Kantha, hesitatingly.

"Shoot" said Kantha, who was feeling apprehensive that Ilamaran had not met her for quite some time. 

"I am sorry to break this news to you. But Ilamaran has left this place."

"He will come back, won't he?" asked Kantha, clinging to a faint ray of hope. 

"The reason for his leaving this place is to marry the daughter of a rich man in another place and settle down there."

Kantha was unable to say anything. It appeared that something had choked her vocal chords.

"People of our town are berating him for betraying you and running away" said Swarnamuki, hoping that it would give some solace to Kantha.

"I never expected him to deceive me" said Santha, in a voice so feeble that even she couldn't hear it.

"It will be better if you don't come out of your house for a few days" advised Swarnamukhi.

"Why?" asked Kantha, in a tone of indignation. There was clarity and firmness in her voice.

"At present, people of this town are sympathetic towards you. But that sympathy will evaporate in no time. After that, they will start blaming you for trusting Ilamaran and moving with him closely. Listening to such talk will make you feel distressed."

Kantha laughed loudly.

"Why are you laughing?" asked Swarnamukhi, feeling concerned that Kantha might have developed traces of mental derangement, upset by the shock suffered by her, as a result of being deceived by Ilamaran. 

"The man who assured me and consoled me, when I was concerned about the gossip of people about our love, has abandoned me for marrying another girl. After he has gone, why should I bother about what people gossip about me?" asked Kantha, in a tone that reflected her anger and disgust.

It appeared to Swarnamukhi that it would take some time for Kantha's mind  to recover from the emotional upheaval and return to a state of normalcy.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 115
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1149 (in Tamil):
alar nANa olvadhO anjal Ombu enRAr
palar nANa nIththak kadai.

Meaning:

When the man, who counselled me not to fear, left me, shaming me before others, why should I feel shamed by people talking about his leaving me?

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'en uyirth thOzhi kEL oru sEdhi' by the same author.)

Verse 1150
Verse 1148