Lakshmi

Chapter 14 Of their kisses

The priest got up so early and freshened himself to go to the temple. Tomorrow night the festival would begin. And it would end on the next day morning, immediately after the  procession of god Perumal on the streets of the Thirumayam village. The king had ordered that the god visits each and every streets at Thirumayam. 

The priest in his mind organized the works on that day. This early morning, immediately after the dawn worship, he had to meet the festival organising committee at the Shiva  temple; the fort accountant, and elders from the villages.

 A selected group of priests from the Shiva temple would join, as well a group under his deputy in the peacock priests families' area. He had to  prepare the store rooms for bananas 

and coconuts and related  items next to the Shiva temple. He had to advise the east gate guards to check all the carts transporting festival materials inside the fort. He needed to ensure the jewels of god Perumal and Lakshmi in high security with the help of  the Shiva temple head priest.

While he was recalling the events today, he saw Devi in a newly  fresh red saree, in  an utmost blush, and  giggles. He understood. He  saw Sarasu, also   Saroja, the sister of Karuppiah and Deivanai, the mother of Karuppiah, who were  standing outside the house in the front portico,  having refreshened up themselves more early than him and his wife. He was satisfied. Perfectly innocent women, yet loving and honest.

The small portico had no walls around, but only four pillars, with the portico roof attached with the main house. Portico was facing the almond tree. Several flower pots were decorating the portico's north side. On them were living different varieties of marigold;  yellow, brownish yellow, and orange. These flowers emanated certain musky smell.

Now  both Karuppiah and Lakshmi were coming towards the portico. It appeared that both of them had little sleep. While the couple were coming towards the portico, Sarasu looked sternly on the eyes of Lakshmi. Lakshmi upon seeing the eyes of Sarasu, did smile,  and locked her eyes deeply  for a second with the eyes of Sarasu, expressing satisfaction. Lakshmi smiled at Deivanai and knelt  before her for blessings. Deivanai lifted Lakshmi, hugged her tightly with her bosom, kissed Lakshmi on both of her checks. Lakshmi patted the shoulder of Saroja in love; leaned her back on the breast of Karuppiah in joy.

While the priest did  walk  ahead briskly towards the temple, every one followed him. Saroja  was infact running towards the temple. Her right hand was brushing the oleander plants. She was delighted to see the spear like green leaves. She saw the yellow, pink, white,and  gold oleander flowers.  While the priest had started to lit the flames at the hanging pendant lamps, as well the chandelier, Saroja enquired of the different flowers near the temple. 

The priest replied in an amusing way, " Saroja, my father, the former priest, was the head priest before me. He told me that the musky smell of marigold would repel mosquitoes and tiny insects. Oleander are poisonous. They are from Africa and Mediterranean area". Saroja could not understand Africa.

The priest continued: " Africa is five thousands times bigger than our kingdom. If you fly from here south west for twenty days like a crow, you can reach Africa. The yellow oleander seeds are poisonous. If one eats it, the person dies"

Saroja remembered the death of her friend's sister from Virachilai another village. " Sir, now I am aware that a sister of my friend at Virachilai had a quarrel with her husband and she ate the yellow one. She died".

Devi and Deivanai, along with Sarasu, entered the temple kitchen to prepare pongal, a rice-dhal dish-mixed  with  curry leaves, pepper, cumin seeds and ghee. Karuppiah and Lakshmi were in the interior hall. While Karuppiah was standing before the deity, with his hands cross folded in reverence, he saw Lakshmi organizing herself in the yoga position of khatu pranam. 

Karuppiah was recalling the monk's teachings on yoga, telling himself  "It is a posture that  you  kneel first, and then sit on your back legs, and  stretch your back straight, bending the back little backward, like a big hooded cobra behaves before attacking its prey. It is a good posture".

 Contemplating these thinking on Lakshmi, he was adoring  her, wondering at the dazzles  of the pearl pendant hanging over the breasts of  Lakshmi. The flame lights from the chandelier were trying to compete with pendant in brightness. Karuppiah was in a mood of proudness to have Lakshmi,  as  his inseparable wife. Lakshmi turned towards him, and accentuated an alluring smile.

A combined fragrance of jasmine, marigold, sandal paste, and  camphor surrounded the entire interior. Karuppiah turned his eyes towards Lakshmi. Lakshmi's eyes were locked at the statue, closed and they were in a prayerful mood. 

The sun started to show its rays brightly on the fort. A small breeze was entering into the fort. Now the king along with Kattayya and Sasivarnam were at the new room of Karuppiah, inspecting it. At once they,  including all those in the temple, heard the tak-tak sounds of horse hooves. Both Lakshmi and Karuppiah came out of the temple. The king was also now proceeding towards the temple. Kattayya and Sasivarnam were following the king. Sasivarnam was in his extreme joy. 

To their astonishment, they saw a prettier young girl, of twenty two years around, mounted upon a wonderful horse, riding it towards the temple. Following her, on another horse, was Krishna Achari. The young girl descended from the horse, and ran towards the king, hugging him. The king embraced her in deep affection. Now the young girl's eyes turned first towards Kattayya, then got locked on  the smiling eyes of Sasivarnam. 

Lakshmi noticed the activities of this young girl, and a small smile appeared in her mouth. Karuppiah was in a confused mood. Now the king introduced his only daughter, 'Ahilandam', the future queen of Sivaganga to both Lakshmi and Karuppiah.

Ahilandam appeared to be equally beautiful as that of Lakshmi, but she could be five feet four inches. She walked towards Lakshmi and clasped her both hands with hands of Lakshmi, in a respectful joy. Lakshmi embrazed Ahilandam in a warm bearhug,and planted a kiss on the cheek of Ahilandam. Ahilandam blushed. Karuppiah was in his dreams. He was captured completely by a sudden attention, as if by a magic. Karuppiah was wondering at these women, of their kisses with each other. "Funny!" he thought, yet his mind was analyzing the reasons behind the intimacy between women.

The king was explaining something in sign language to both Karuppiah and Sasivarnam. But the eyes of Sasivarnam was often going around the new young woman who had come in the horse. 

Karuppiah was in his dreams standing. He was comparing the beauty of Lakshmi with Ahilandam. To him one was a red lotus, and the other being white. Which was the most enchanting? 

His mind went into the slogans of great Kalidass the poet from north India. Karuppiah was taught by the monks that both the Sangham literatures of Tamil, and the Sanskrit literatures describe the beauties of women from head to foot. Especially Kalidasa the great poet of north India had  compared women as the best creations of Brahma, as well they were ' Anangu', meaning an enticing personalities. They can kill a man instantly by their  mere glance. Karuppiah recalled the Greek Medussa. Karuppiah pinched his hands.  Lakshmi and Ahilandam together smiled at Karuppiah, but he did not die.

The king now invited Krishna Achari to come near. Krishna was in a reverential mood. He came and knelt down before the king. By placing his both hands on Krishna's shoulders, the king lifted him up onto his legs.

" Thanks Krishna. I am happy you were able to receive my daughter at your house by the evening of yesterday. I am happy she was taken care by your wife very well". Now every one heard the mantras getting chanted, and the bells were jingling.

The priest now  came to all of them with the blessing flame, offering them vermillion powder along with few pieces of coconut pulps on each of their cupped right hands. Devi and Deivanai were ready with the dhal rice pongal. Sarasu was organizing mud plates and water to every one. She got astonished at Ahilandam, a beauty in white, when compared with the pink red flesh of Lakshmi.

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Both Karuppiah and Lakshmi have moved into their new room when the sun was nearing up high. To their surprise, they both found out that the room was well painted by pearl white lime. The king was able to see their room fitted with a king bed, few pillows made of wild silk. There was a large table. On the side wall there was a mirror imported from Britain. 

And were there four big chests to store dresses. A big chest for Lakshmi; a medium one  for Karuppiah; another medium one to be transported to Lakshmipuram for the use of Saroja and Deivanai. The last big one was  for Sarasu. Saroja, Deivanai and Sarasu were actually blinking at the art works on the chests made of quality woods, lined with brass beading. While the women were in kitchen, it took only few minutes for Karuppiah, without the knowledge of others, to bring his things from the old room. 

He ensured with care that the mud pot having the washermen  seeds, the iron box containing the maps and the brass box of his grandfather, along with the bundle that the monks gave him  concealed under the king bed. He knew no one would be daring to go under the king bed, excepting the insects, and perhaps the rats.

Krishna Achari was  observing Karuppiah from afar standing on the horse ground in smiles. He was already in preparation with his caravan to transport Saroja, Sarasu and Deivanai to home,  once  if a family meals were over. He was intending to take his wife and children to on the third day, after the festival,  to Lakshmipuram, if possible, to show his artistic work he did on Ayyanar statue. He was deciding to experience the ruralness with his family, after the festival was over at Thirumayam. Tonight and tomorrow he had to organize stay for Ahilandam, Sarasu, Saroja and Deivanai at his house. Ahilandam was already occupying his special guest room.

 He had to  ensure the three soldiers accompanied Ahilandam get accommodated in his extended portico, and had to make arrangements to massage the horses, feeding them, and providing water through his house servants. He was dam sure that his wife was very capable of handling home administration. She was a best cook.

Krishna Achari now saw Karuppiah with the king, along with Kattayya and Sasivarnam in dialogue over certain things, which he was not interested. He was standing on the horse ground, watching horses, and the women in the kitchen, and the king and the others on the upper room.  He appreciated the masons who had built the thatched upper room with bamboo rafters, with nice wooden beams to hold the thatched roof. He saw the stair case was well built to ensure a smooth walking upstairs.

He wanted to build a ten by ten foot room exclusively for him for his art works. He had experiences of the color paints  spilling out and spoiling the floor of the courtyard.

He heard the cry of Sarasu." Milk boiling!.Milk boiling!". She was in cheers with the other women. Saroja, and Devi were in the kitchen with Sarasu and Lakshmi.

 Deivanai was sitting in the chair at the new room meant for Karuppiah for a brief minute, thanking goddess Lakshmi and her deceased father for the wonders -gifted to Karuppiah including Lakshmi.

 She went out for sometime,to look at the horses. The horses tilted  their heads down, and were trying to nuzzle the hands of Deivanai with their noses. It was an experience indeed, thought Deivanai, the mother of Karuppiah. She compared the farm life of Karuppiah with the life in the fort. She felt suddenly a chillness in her back, from somewhere, as that from an unknown hand.

Sarasu was calling. " Come into the kitchen". The king and others had climbed down from the upper room and they amazingly watched the stylish walk of Ahilandam along with the priest, now passing through the oleander flowers, from the Shiva temple and heading towards the room of Karuppiah. 

Sarasu and Saroja served to each one a glass  of hot milk, while Devi and Lakshmi were organising few bananas.

Minutes passed. The horses saw both Ahilandam and Sasivarnam approaching them. Ahilandam had lots of things to share with Sasivarnam. She smiled at her future. Lakshmi and Karuppiah were talking with the king and Kattayya about the evening program.

The king had several things on his mind this night for discussion. He should send away both Kattayya and Sasivarnam to Tanjavur, while the procession of lord Perumal was on it's way. He needed free time with Karuppiah and Lakshmi on a serious business. Perhaps on the night, while the gods were visiting the people.

The king requested once again Karuppiah and Lakshmi to join him, along with Kattayya and Sasivarnam, in the evening advisory meet, once the twilight changes  into dimness. The meeting was fixed under the thatched room- the upper room. 

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The priest could complete all the works associated with the deity procession for tomorrow late night along streets of Thirumayam. He saw  carts carrying flowers, bananas, coconuts, and  tins of vermillion powder entering through the east gate. He saw the eagle car was ready afresh near the Shiva temple. He knew by tomorrow late evening, the brass miniature statue, of Perumal  and Lakshmi,  would be decorated with flowers and  silk cloths, with gold and silver jewelry, and then get  mounted upon the wooden eagle car. He also saw fire torches getting  well trimmed, and oiled to make the streets in flood of light.

While Ahilandam mounted on her horse, followed by Saroja, Deivanai and Sarasu in the caravan, Sarasu saw the chests, one belonging to her, and the other belonging to Devainai were kept inside the caravan well tied with ropes. They were heading to the house of Krishna Achari. Sarasu knew that once the dawn appesrs day after tomorrow, after the god visited the village Thirumayam this night, the wheels of the caravan would move towards Lakshmipuram. Sarasu felt the need for going back to Lakshmipuram. She had reserved an argument  with the goddess Lakshmi living in the bunyan grove.

After bidding farewell to the king, Kattayya and Sasivarnam had  moved themselves to their rooms adjoined with the barracks.  Devi and the priest invited the young couple for an evening dinner at their house.  Now having every one left, the king also, both  Karuppiah and Lakshmi were alone. They inspected the horse stable; made everything necessary for the horses, and told the horses the need of them tonight or tomorrow night on a mission if there were anything. Karuppiah patted the horses.

The large mirror inside the room of Karuppiah saw another Karuppiah and Lakshmi in their bearhugs.The mirror smiled at the growing intimacy in a broad day. She even thought what would be wrong whether it was a day or a night for a newly married one. After this thought the mirror laughed. Both Karuppiah and Lakshmi could not notice anything. But the kitten hiding inside the kitchen behind the brass pot of Kumbakonam, did a sneak out, and landed on the area where jugs of milk were left. She poured for herself few glasses of milk, and drank sumptuously. Then it yawned a bit.

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Karuppiah spread the map of the fort on the table for Lakshmi to look at. Lakshmi hovered her eyes over the map. Having understood something was missing, she asked Karuppiah was there any other map. Karuppiah was astonished at the brilliance of Lakshmi. He hugged her briefly. He searched his chest box and took out the other map.