“KettiMelam!!! KettiMelam!!!” the priest yelled at the nadhaswaram (i.e. traditional indian wind instrument ) band members, who were seated on the other end of the wedding hall. Swaminathan along with others blessed the new couple with Akshadai (i.e. holy rice used to bless the couple in wedding ceremony) in the midst of nadhaswaram and mirudhangam (i.e. kind of drum ) sound
“Ravi tied the knot just now. It took me to the day, when we both walked around the Agni performing our saptapadi. (i.e. rituals during the wedding) ”, Swami texted his wife.
“I can’t remember much as I was much tensed but you were so cool as if you had done 5 or 6 marriages before… :P “Anjali messaged back.
Swami and Anjali have been married for nearly 3 years now. This was for the first time he has left her alone at home and travelled far to a remote village for his team mate’s wedding.
“You were tensed? I don’t understand why were you? We liked each other and you knew me for more than 4 years before our wedding? Why??? Am curious”
“Hmm taking those seven steps around the Agni…felt like a journey of 1000 miles...lot of thoughts flashed on my mind. It’s a girl thing you can’t understand :P. Wish I can relive those moments again so can enjoy the ceremony and fun without anxiety now.”
“Bad, I wasn’t aware. Otherwise would have done something to ease you up on our wedding”.
“Yeah I wish you would have. In fact now I wish you had done something goofy, like you did on the vinayakar chakurthi (i.e. festival for Indian god with elephant head)…hehe the first time we met…it was so funny …..plz always be silly …..”
“Hahaha…it was way back but still feels like yesterday. By the way did your mom give our Taj Mahal?? Our symbol of our love :P”
“Yeah, she bought it yesterday evening finally. She was thinking am crazy to ask for such a large and old useless tea kettle. It was that kettle which brought us together…yeah our Taj Mahal”
Around 7 Years Back …..
“Knock!!Knock!!” Anjali opened her apartment door, seeing Swami she ran into the kitchen. “Who is there at door??” Anjali’s mom came asking from the kitchen. “Oh!! Raji’s son. How are you?”
“Am fine aunty. Amma asked to gives this vinayakar chakurthi prasadam (i.e. special food offered to god) and sweets to your home” replied Swami.
“Thanks!! If you don’t mind can you keep it in the pooja room (i.e. prayer room), my hands are covered with flour” smiled Anjali’s Mom.”Please do ignore my daughter’s behavior, she is very shy”.
Swami nodded his head and went into the pooja room. As he placed the plate down, he can’t stop from gazing at the image of Anjali on the Goddess Saraswathi’s* (hindu godess for art and studies) photo frame. Though he had stayed in this apartment from his school days he had never visited this No.406. Now smitten on Anjali he wanted to stay longer.
As Swami walked to the door slowly, he turned around hoping to have a glance of Anjali one more time. Anjali’s Mom was standing behind him and asked “Can you do me one more favor? “
“Sure aunty!!” nodded Swami with a smile.
“Can you fetch the large drum from the rack above” asked Anjali’s mom as she walked into the kitchen and pointed the rack to Swami.
Swami stood over a stool and tried to reach the drum but his focus was on Anjali. Though Anjali was cleaning the vessels, turning away from Swami. He was able to see her charming face reflecting on the shining plates which she had washed.
“Yeah!! Those drum only. Pull it down kid” instructed Anjali’s mom.
As Swami pulled the drum looking at Anjali….Dum!!Dum!!Dum!!...most of the vessels on the top of the rack fell over him and crashing him down to the floor.
“What? You never told me Vinayakar* (lord ganesh) is visiting our home on his Birthday” remarked Anjali’s Dad wittingly. Who has just returned home, after visiting the temple. Both Anjali and her mom burst into laughter after hearing the comment and looking at Swami, who emerged from the piles of vessels over him and a large tea kettle over his face.
Yeah indeed he looked like modern day vinayakar. While Lord Vinayakar had human body and elephant face, Swami had a human body and tea kettle face. The nozzle of the kettle had a resemblance to the elephant’s trunk.
Feeling embarrassed Swami moved out of the apartment quickly, after removing the kettle from his head.
After that goofy incident, Anjali giggled at him whenever they crossed each other at the apartment complex. Feeling confident one fine evening, Swami spoke to Anjali in the lift.
“Anjali,I am Swaminathan am doing my final year engineering…I am crazy about football, Rajini movies, and boxing…..like to eat different food…hate dishonest people...people who talk ill at back….and I knew everything about you…i would like to know your interest your dislikes..know you more. Like your eye, like your smile…like your nature…hope am right about your nature….am sure I will fall in love with you and will like you the same way after many many years to come…..so if you don’t mind …this slip of paper has my mobile number..Text/sms me if you like….this infatuation that I have on you will blossom to love only if we started knowing each other ...so please think and make a good decision” Swami opened his heart to her.
That very night his mobile beeped with a message from Anjali saying “Hmm...We can get to know each other first Modern Vinayakar :P”.
Present Day:
“Hey Swami!! Coming with us for drinks at the nearby bar?? And then to thalai’s new movie” winked Selva. “Selva!! He will not come with us for a movie and never for a drink. All these days in this trip, I have seen him often texting in his mobile” remarked John.”Never stayed this long away from my wife, that’s why keep texting her” smiled Swami. Both his teammates laughed at Swami, “Hey, after marriage one should hardly speak to his wife. Otherwise he will be giving more room for quarrel” advised Selva. “Yeah, don’t keep sending her text messages like college lover. The more the information you give the more the reason to start a fight” added john.”By the way why are you texting your wife, why don’t you talk to her? ” asked John. “Probably she is scolding him and he feels it better to get it has text messages…haha” laughed Selva.
“Had dinner??U there???” …..Swami’s mobile beeped with Anjali’s text.
“yeah…am there. My teammates were pulling my leg that I keep texting you ….and probably will have my dinner in few minutes.”
“haha J yes it had brought us enough trouble. In fact got us married. Even now my heart races when I think about the day my mom saw the text messages in my mobile”.
3 years earlier…
“hmm…her room is always messy and I have to clean this. Why doesn’t her Dad scold her, instead of screaming at me. No rest even on a Sunday evening cha….if I ask her to clean she just nods her head and vanish the next moment…..” mumbled Anjali’s mom.
Beep!!Beep!!! she took the buzzing mobile and saw message “Am right now in a fort near the beach but can’t enjoy its beauty and sunset without you. Probably we should come here for our honeymoon”
Anxious mom scrolled through her daughters messages,” hey kettle vinayakar!!When will you return from Goa?? Miss U da!!!”.
Through her daughter’s mobile she came to know Swami was inside her Anjali’s heart. She wasted no time, went downstairs and discussed with Raji about Anjali and Swami.
After her friend left, Raji immediately called her son.”Dei Swami never thought you will let me down. I always thought you will respect me and marry the girl I choose for you........never thought you will misuse the freedom me and your dad gave you!!!”. Swami realized what his mom was talking about and informed her that he is going to marry Anjali for sure.
“No way!! I will never let you marry her!!!”
“She is such a nice person….i like her…she likes me….what is the problem you see???”
“You know the reason very well and you still ask WHY??!!!”
“So what???...am gonna marry her for sure…..am in a good job….i can take care of her and manage our life…am sure without Anjali my life will be miserable……am gonna be with her for sure. Hope you understand” Swami hung up the phone.
Present day…..
“Got into the train. Will see you 2morrow morning. Take Care!!!
P.S. Can’t wait to see you”
“Have a safe journey. Come soon!! Good Night & Sweet dreams“
Next morning, Swami opened the door and walked into the apartment. He saw Anjali preparing breakfast in the kitchen, he hugged her from behind. As Anjali turned towards him with a smile, he said. “I missed you Anju “
Anjali gestured how much she missed Swami all these three days and folded her hands in shape of heart, to convey how much she love him. Swami has been long enough with Anjali to understand her feeling without the need of dumb people’s hand symbols/sign language.
No words….not even thousands, thousands of words
Can convey love
Can explain the nature of love
Love can only be felt and expressed ……….
Love does come knocking.....
unaware who are in each sides............
It is so true for this dumb girl who lost her speech in her childhood and can only express her unspoken love towards her Swami.
