"I went to the town to buy gold jewels and other silver articles. Mom locked them in a safe, I actually wanted to show you!" Kuzhali said.
"I like surprises, I'll see them when you're wearing it for your engagement," Kathy smiled.
"Some good jewels of my choice and a few are for him. We had to tally and workout for the dowry that we're supposed to give,"
"Isn't dowry illegal already?"
"Yeah but depends. This ain't forced. In fact, he proposed that he's not interested in it. But, we forced from our side,"
"Why would you guys do that?"
"Because the society here would think that there's something huge to compromise if the guy's side isn't asking for dowry. So it can either be some dark past or health issues or anything. They believe that a guy who is capable will demand for dowry,"
"Things that we do for the 'society' gosh!"
"I know right!"
-
"Been really long! Glad that I could make it today," Kuzhali smiled.
"I should admit that I missed you. Folks from the organization also asked about you. I gave them an update about your wedding plans," Kathy said.
"The dates are advanced. Tight schedule now. His birthday is near, and so, we're working on the wedding dates,"
"But, why? How his birthday is going to change anything?"
"He'd turn 33, according to our customs we don't get the guy married when their turns an odd number. It differs according to the caste and other inter-related things!"
"I'd wonder always. People rush and run to finish things before they cross a certain age. As if, age is a disease. As if, being married before you cross early 30s is mandatory. Isn't life about doing what you want to do when you want to?"
"We've been brought up like this, I wish I had more time than to rush but still," she shrugged.
"You've no choice is it?"
"When you have less options, decision making becomes a lot easier Kathy," she said.-
"The couple next door were fighting. Looks like the guy suspects whether his wife was pure," Kuzhali said.
"Are you talking about the fictional thing called virginity?" Kathy asked. "I've read that in the older days, women use a leech down there to bleed and prove, just in case,"
"Oh my God! That's awful!" Kuzhali exclaimed.
"Yeah! It's funny how people associate pure with not having had sex with anyone. Like, dude, what's it about? You just get laid, shower and go ahead with work!"
"Come on. Sex definitely means something. It's soul connection. Its..its so pure, it's important..," Kuzhali fumbled to explain her take.
"You know? Go ask anyone who had had sex. They'll laugh at your soul-connection concept," Kathy shrugged.
"What if men had hymen? What if we could see if they bleed or something to know if it's their first time?"
"Too much to take. Why don't we have something simpler? Like chemistry lab tests. Litmus paper or brown ring test or something,"
-
"Dressed-up again, someone's marriage?" Kathy asked.
"Nope. A routine temple visit with the family," she chimed. "You would have heard. Brihadeeswarar Temple, 2 hours from my village,"
"I guess so! So what's the visit about? Again your marriage and sorts?"
"Not really. Temple visits bring in positivity!"
"Are you negative otherwise?"
"There are good reasons behind this. Temples back then were constructed based on the magnetic waves. It makes one feel positive. Women dress up and wear jewels, not to show off but the jewels attract the energy and it makes you feel a lot more positive,"
"Oww..kkeyyy," Kathy fumbled.
"Don't mess with a physics teacher, Kathy. I'm always in touch with my basics. That's why my village kids are doing good in their classes," she smiled.
"Thanks teacher, could you send some positive energy over Skype? I really need some. My boyfriend is messing my mind," Kathy grinned.
-
“My brother had come home.” Kuzhali cheered.
“I thought you only have a sister. Cousin?” Kathy questioned.
“No. Actually, my senior from college,”
“Brotherly love is it?”
“Frankly, No. People here question you a lot if you’re friends with guys. So, we just address them with the ‘brother’ tag just so people don’t talk behind your back. Call you characterless and sorts.”
“That’s weird!”
“Let’s just say that we take the line ‘All Indians are my brothers and sisters’ from our pledge very seriously,” she giggled. “But, you know what? Even big engineering colleges in big cities have this rule that guys and girls in the same class shouldn’t talk to each other. Even their parents don’t allow them to talk to the other gender,”
“That’s too much! This is so wrong,”
“Yes it is. Things that we’ve to do just so we’re not called names in here are really weird. You better checkout and keep someone ready from your country. I really think all Indians are my brothers. I need a Canadian husband.” Kuzhali laughed.
“My father lost his wife years ago. Are you interested?... Mommy,” Kathy laughed and Kuzhali joined her. “Even then I’d still call you by your first name, you don’t have to worry!”-
"Sorry, My friend and her girlfriend have come over, will call you in 2 hours," Kathy sent.
"His* girlfriend, hehehe.."
"Her only! They're gay!" Kathy sent.
*2 hours later*
"How is it even possible? How will they have kids? How can a girl fall in love with another girl?" Kuzhali hurried and whispered.
"Breathe! Wait. Why? To fall in love is natural. What has it got to do with gender or genitals? Will you program your mind to fall in love with those who have a penis and not vagina?" Kathy smiled.
"This is too much for me to take, Kathy!"
"Love is for all. It depends on one's sexual orientation,"
.
.
.
.
"How will they have kids?" Kuzhali whispered again.
"I'm just controlling myself from all the false weird answers I can actually give you right now," Kathy laughed.
-
"Kuzhali, I'm going for a vacation, I'm really excited!" Kathy rejoiced.
"That's great. I'd love to go on a vacation but we're about to buy a new plot near my place. So we're saving all our money!" Kuzhali mumbled.
"But.. you have a home already,"
"Yeah! This.. is for the future..generation," Kuzhali said.
"Oh okay! But why? Can't the 'future' buy for themselves?"
"They will.. buy for the next generation," kuzhali said.
"Kuzhi.." sighed Kathy.
"Kuzhaliiii," She corrected as usual and smiled.
-
"You're so happy that your eyes are sparkling like diamonds, what's the matter?"
"My dad approved and my sister would work towards joining her course,"
"Okay! That's wow. Convey my wishes to her. One part of me feels sad that you've got to fight for something as basic as education, but still.." Kathy fell out of words.
"True, but things are changing. I've been witnessing nothing but change in here. Which is a good sign!" Kuzhali affirmed.
"Mmmhmm!"
"What I like in here is the tradition. No matter what, that wouldn't change. We embrace and we're moving towards your culture. If not in my village, I know that big cities are moving forward and eventually my village would. But real success is going bi-directional, when you can embrace the ground traditions. When traditions meet progress, we'd shine!"
"Yeah. I like sarees even if it's uncomfortable. I like the full meals even if I can't finish it. And, I like you, My lovely friend, even if I can't pronounce your name properly!" Kathy smiled. "Do you know what's soul connection?"
"I don't know. But I guess you're trying to give a term for what we have between us!" Kuzhali told and they grew quiet.
-
#microseries #suspense
When He Remembered
Leaning over the boundary wall of the empty terrace, he thought he saw someone on the faux cobblestone ground of the hotel forecourt.
They were supine, with their limbs twisted in all the wrong directions, and a bright red liquid pooling near them.
Either the floodlights dotting the forecourt were too bright, or he was too drunk.
He would stop drinking so much. From the next day on.
He looked again. The forecourt seemed empty. Of both standing and supine humans.
And yet, he had a nagging feeling of deja vu- he had been here, seen this before.
-
Another Love Tale
Episode 7
Internet services resumed in her mobile.
Her message was delivered and his message was received.
She deleted her "Love you too" message for everyone.-