"Romance" - A Short Story Contest

Courtesy - Jyo's mail

It’s a story of a Brahmin gal who loved(loving) a non-Brahmin and due to
father’s compulsion married a Brahmin guy and leading a perfect life with
little happiness!!
(Some tamil words included)

Hi folks, here's my entry to the much talked about short story contest. The
story is not short though, I apologise!
When I thought of this story, I envisaged it and almost started writing
this in Tamil but only then did I realise that my written Tamil is not upto
the mark. ( Well, am not claiming my English is excellent, but it's
relatively better than my Tamil) In fact, even after I finished writing it,
I still felt the story belongs to Tamil!! Will mail it to my aunt and get
it reincarnated in Tamil.
Pssst, the most operative name in this story, I ripped from Thevar Magan
;)It somehow signified a lot to
me!

Dearest Appa,
27th Jan'1965
Hope this letter finds you, Amma, Raji and Seenu in good health. The
weather here in New York City is icy cold. But Avar sollraar- I have
missed this winter's biting cold. I still wish I had seen the snow… But
then, I still wish I had not left Trichy at all. I do miss Trichy, Appa.
You, Amma, Raji, Seenu, pakkatthaathu Rama, Vikatan, Ucchi Pillaiyaar Koil,
filter coffee, Holy Cross College, the Physics Department and of course
Sakthi. I know you wish I hadn't brought his name in this letter.But not to
worry Appa, I understand that you got me married to Visu because you
thought it was best for your daughter. I still remember Amma wiping her
silent tears with her madisaar thalappu and you shouting at me the day I
told you about Sakthi. Later, when the initial shock wore off you patiently
listed umpteen reasons why I should not marry Sakthi. I agree Appa, that 20
is too young to decide, that Raji and Seenu would have been affected
greatly by my 'mistake', the Agrahaaram would have scoffed at you… a meat
eater was not a good match for someone who had never even tasted onion and
garlic. The reasons were innumerous. I knew you'd still have objected and
offered other reasons even if he had become a Dhigambara monk. Visu on the
other hand, wore a poonal, he is the son of Neelakanta Sastri, an Engineer
and he researched about computers which is what made you jump for this
alliance. Am not complaining Appa, Visu is a nice man.
Tell Amma that I could not try her kozhakkattai recipe this Pongal because
coconuts were too expensive and Avar nenacchar that it was ridiculous.
Anyway, we went out on Sankaranthi day and dined out. He thought it would
be a good idea to invite the Chatterjees also. But I didn't speak Bengali
and Mrs.Chatterjee spoke English in an accent that comes with living years
in America. Hence I made myself busy with the menu card. They ordered
various species of fish,shrimp and a lot more of items I had never seen in
my life. I ordered orange juice and a sandwich. The other diners thought it
was queer coming to a seafood restaurant and settling for a sandwich. That
day, I learnt that Avar prefer pannradhu beef, pork, bacon and seafood. Do
you know, Appa… Sakthi gave up meat because of me? I didn't ask, he just
did. But then, Sakthi is not Neelakanta Sastri's son and that made it
imposible for Subramania Iyer's daughter Kalyani to marry him.
I will keep you posted on what happens here. I don't think I can make it to
Seenu's Upanayanam. Tell Amma not to get me a pattu podavai for the poonal,
I don't use them here. I wore it once and felt like a clown here.

Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.


Dearest Appa,
20th Oct'1968
We are fine here. Gautam is speaking his first words and I swear they
sounded like 'Dosai'. But Visu claims it's just gibberish. From your
previous letter, I gather that pakkathatthu Rama is married and settled in
Jamshedpur. Nice to know that. Please find out her address from Saarada
maami and write it to me. I want to keep in touch with her. I hope Raji is
happy with her husband in Madras. I spoke to her last month, great to know
that she has a phone. Do tell Seenu to study well and prepare for his
school final exams. Raji also told me that Sakthi is married now. I wish
him good luck, but I could not convey the message to him. Raji refused to
be the messenger and I know you have severed ties with Sakthi's father,
your long term friend Sankaravel, thanks to me. I hear his wife is his
cousin… He must have succumbed to his mother's wishes.
How did Avani Avittam go? Visu's mother gave me a bunch of new poonals for
Avani Avittam but Visu was in Boston that day. He wouldn't have used it
anyway, I haven't seen him wear one in the last three years. Gautam is now
playing with the spool of thread- mere thread it is, what else can I call
it? Gautam will not even know what it signifies, I guess. Visu is making
sure Gautam grows up listening to English only. He says it will make his
life easier. But I do read out passages from Ponniyin Selvan and
Bharathiyaar's poetry when I am alone with him. It's more of reading to
myself, I guess. I actually got that poetry book as a present from Sakthi,
it still has his scrawling signature in the first page.
By the way, Visu saw that book and asked me about Sakthi, I told him. Hold
your breath Appa, he didn't throw me out of the house. He is a good man, no
question. He said it is okay and that he doesn't mind. And then he told me
of his American girlfriend whom he was once in love with, when he first
reached America- Amy, a fellow Researcher who was in a brief relationship
with Visu when she was in New York. They lived together for 3 months and
decided against marriage, somehow. Amy once dropped home when she was in
New York. Nice lady, she was.
Ask Amma to send me Sambar Podi for this whole year. My friend Sudha is
coming to Madras next week. Ask Seenu to catch the Rockfort Express and
give it to her. I will collect it from her here.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.


Dearest Appa,
3rd June'1974
We have arrived here safely. After two months in India, I find it hard to
adjust back to normal life here. Gautam and Ranjana demand vadai,paayasam
and vaazhai ilai here. Visu's relieved to be back in America. I left a set
of my books there. If it's not in Trichy it must be in Visu's parents'
place. If you find them, safeguard them until my next trip. They mean a lot
to me since they were gifts from Sakthi. By the way, Appa, I found out
Sakthi's present address in Madras from Rama and Saarada maami. I wrote to
him. I am extremely proud to know that Dr.Sakthivel is a cardiologist much
in demand there in Madras. He was thrilled to hear from me after so long.
You know what he has named his daughters? Kalyani and Raagamaalika.
He called me. You know what, he's still a practising vegetarian, Appa. He
didn't revert back just because he lost me… He asked me if I still sang and
whether Gautam and Ranjana could sing. I could see a proud father in him,
when he claimed his daughters could sing upto Ra ra Venu Gopala. That's
when I remembered that I was once a good singer. I wonder why I stopped
singing, wonder why I never exposed the kids to Music and Dance. But then,
I realize that I had buried all that deep inside me when I left Trichy;
after bidding farewell to my best Rasika, actually. Sakthi. After the call,
I tried singing 'Kurai Onrum Illai'. I could not quite reach Charanam,
because of the lack of practice and more importantly because of the tears
that filmed my eyes and the constriction in my throat. I sang to Visu and
the kids one of these days. Though Gautam was impressed, father and
daughter could not just wait for me to finish!
By the way, next time some friend comes to India, send me a Sruthi Box. I
would like to start singing again.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.

Dearest Appa,
14th Aug 1978
Just back after our tour to California. Find our photos, picture postcards
attached herewith. After you are done with showing all family
members,relatives, friends and neighbours, pass them to Visu's parents. It
was a welcome break for the four of us. But I missed my paattu class
students all along and was happy to resume the classes again last evening.
Did I mention in my previous letter, before we left on the tour - I finally
got my driving license here. I sent a few photos to Sakthi too. He has sent
me quite a few records and cassettes. I loved it! I'm reminded of AIR,
almost! I'm circulating them among my friends too. And of course, playing
them for my students too. They are picking up beautifully. Funny news is,
I, a Tamilian, is teaching Telugu and Sanskrit kritis to a cross section of
Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,Telugu, Marathi, Bengali students in an English
speaking nation.
The music sessions have resulted in a reborn Kalyani, Appa. Thanks to
Sakthi, really. I would have never taken it up had it not been for his
reminder. I am now thinking of what life would have been like if I had
indeed married him. I would have of course lost you and Amma. But right
now, with this life in America, Visu and these monthly letters to you,
Rama, Raji and Seenu what have i gained? I don't find an answer, Appa.
Neither do I think I ever will. Again, as I have always reiterated, Visu is
a good man, no complaints there. He is every bit the son in law you wanted.
Researcher, American Post Graduate Degree holder, a dutiful husband and
father,earning a comfortable income. I know it is too much to ask for
anything else. That is a fantasy I left midway in my life… Once upon a time
in Trichy with someone else.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.


Dearest Appa,
14th Apr'1984
Met Dr.Sakthivel after 19 years… He had come to New
York for business purposes and paid me a visit. Visu and the kids welcomed
him home with great pleasure. And they liked him too. In fact, they did
most of the talking initially. And of course, he got me a whole load of
books, cassettes, Mysore Paak and lots more.
Your loving daughter,
Kalyani.


Dearest Appa,
20th Jan' 1990
I just went through all these letters lying in my closet draw for years
together. These are letters I started writing to you and then decided not
to post. For obvious reasons. I could not mention Sakthi to you even though
I was itching to. Not because I was afraid to invite your wrath. I just did
not have the heart to hurt you, I know these letters would have hurt you.
Because deep inside, I know you were disturbed- you knew Sakthi was a good
man, you knew he was a man of substance, yet you didn't want to go further.
Society, I know. Family… I know… And all these letters would have only
wounded you more. Today, 2 years after your death, and 6 months after Dr.
Sakthivel's untimely death in a road accident, I somehow felt like
re-reading all these letters. To me, all these unstamped, unposted letters
mean a life that could have been.
Kalyani Viswanathan.

Why do we Yell in Anger?

A sage asked his mandalies ,'Why people yell at eachother when they are upset?'

The men thought for a while,'Because we loose our calmness,' said one.'we yell for that.'
'But, why to yell when the other person is at your side?' asked thesage. ' Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Whydo you yell at a person when you're angry?'

The men gave some other answers but none satisfied the sage. Finallyhe explained,'When two people are angry at each other, their heartsdistance a lot. To cover that distance they must yell, to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have toyell to hear each other through that great distance.'

Then the sage asked,' What happens when two people fall in love? Theydo not yell at each other but talk softly, why?Their hearts are veryclose. The distance between them is very small.'

The sage continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens?They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each otherin their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look ateach other and that's all. That is how close two people are when theylove each other.'

Then the sage said, 'When you argue do not let your hearts get distant,do not say words that distance each other more, else there will come a day whenthe distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.'

Tug Of War

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming pool behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother; in the house was looking out the window; saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother.

It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two.

The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived.

His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn't let go."

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic, But, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of our struggle, He's been there holding on to us.

He did not - and will not - let you go.

The Window

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash outside.

That laundry is not very clean, she said, she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.

Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said: "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows!"
And so it is with life: "What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge. "

And oh yes! I almost forgot….I see you today much clearer than I did yesterday…And you?

Night Watch!

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand.

The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.

All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength.

Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

"Who was that man?" he asked.

The nurse was startled, "He was your father" she answered.

"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"

"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me. I stayed."

The next time someone needs you...be there. Stay.

You'll be glad you did.

The Power of Thoughts

One day, a yogi and his disciple arrived to the big city. They had no money with them, but they needed food and a place to stay. The disciple was sure that they were going to beg for their food, and sleep in the park at night.

"There is a big park not far from here. We can sleep there at night", said the disciple.
"In the open air?" Asked the yogi.
"Yes", responded the student.

The yogi smiled and said: "No, tonight we are going to sleep in a hotel and eat there too".

The student was amazed. "How?"
"Come and sit down", said the yogi.

They both sat down on the ground and the yogi said:
"When you focus your mind intently on any subject, it comes to pass."

The yogi closed his eyes and started to meditate with full concentration. After about ten minutes he got up and started to walk, with his disciple following him. They walked through several streets and alleys, until they arrived to a hotel.

"Come, let's enter inside", the yogi said to his disciple.

They just set foot in the entrance, when a well-dressed man approached them.

"I am the manager of this hotel. You look like traveling swamis and I believe you have no money. Would you like to work in the kitchen, and in return I'll give you food and a place to stay?"
"Fine", responded the yogi.

The disciple was perplexed and asked the yogi: "Did you use any magic? How did you do that?"

The yogi smiled and said, "I wanted to show you how the power of thoughts works. When you think with full and strong concentration about something that you want to happen, and your mind does not resist the subject of your thought, your thought materializes."

"The secret is concentrating, visualizing, seeing details, having faith and projecting mental and emotional energy into the mental scene. These are the general prerequisites. When your mind is empty from thoughts, and only one single thought is allowed to enter, it gains a very great power. One should be very careful with what he thinks. A concentrated thought is powerful, and exerts a very strong influence."

The disciple looked at his teacher and said: "I see that I have to sharpen my concentration in order to be able to use this power."
"Yes!!", responded the yogi and smiled.

Relationships

You can’t stop loving or wanting to love because when its right, it’s the best thing in the world. When you are in a relationship and it is good, even if nothing else in your life is right, you fell like your world is complete.

The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and alwaysdelivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the House, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments,perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot wasashamed of its own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able todeliver only half my load because this crack in my side causeswater to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of myflaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So Iplanted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life

Relationships

Courtesy: My friends mail

Any type of relationship, whether it is between family members, people we work with, or friends, takes a lot of work to maintain and build upon. No two people are alike, or have the same exact interests. This must be taken into consideration when trying to maintain a relationship. Understanding and compassion also play a big role in improving a relationship that might be ending.

1. Understand that at times we come across as too needy and this is usually due to the fact that we don't want to be single. But sometimes spending time with ourselves is the best gift we can give ourselves. Being alone needn't mean being lonely.

2. Remember that the best relationships are based on living, loving and sharing. Sharing creates harmony in a relationship. Harmony and balance are a part of a good relationship structure.

3. Face difficulties and problems when they come up. Talk openly to each other without confessing ALL your sins. Avoid giving them your whole life story. Take time to get to know each other.

4. Be willing to take full responsibility for your own words and actions if you want your relationships to work.

5. Realise that relationships never really end - they just change. You are still in a relationship with each other it's just a different type of relationship. If you can accept the fact that you are now just friends - that too could be a very special kind of relationship.

6. Try to be more honest with them. Being more honest with them means that they will be more honest to you.

7. Spend more time with them. If they live far away, make a date with them at a place close to where they live.

8. When they are not feeling too good, offer to stay home with them to help them out.

9. Learn to be a good listener. When people can tell that you are truly listening to what they say (instead of pretending to pay attention until getting a turn to speak), they feel that you truly care and enjoy their company. Many of the most well-liked and cherished people are good listeners.

The Game

How can we balance

these lives we control

our reasoning means nothing

for judgment we await

good and evil

evil and good

no one balances out

as they should

because what do we know

of evil or good

our definitions are meaningless

we are only pawns in God's game

given a book of stories

containing rules to play

then we are forced into the game

just to await our judgment

but we're told judging is a sin

and sinning is against the rules

so is God not playing by the rules?

are we reading the rules wrong?

how can we understand

if understanding is beyond us?

The Best Thing

You are the Best Thing that ever happened to me.

Valentine's Day!

I heated the silver with my desire into the shape of a heart for you.

Then polished a golden one with my passion and wondered if it was bright enough.

I cut one of crystal, for the purity of the love within my soul and placed it on a shelf.

But the one I gave you, was cut from simple red paper,

with the words, "from My Heart to Yours" for valentines.

The smile on your face told me it was the only one you would have wanted, for you gave me one like it back....

2008 - New Year!

As long as we have Memories
Yesterday Remains,
As long as we have Hope
Tomorrow Awaits,
As long as we have Friendship,
Each day is never a waste,
As long as we Love,
We Cherish....