[This English translation of the Tamil story is by Google AI Studio (edited by V.N.Giritharan The original Tamil version of the story follows the translation. Digital Painting Technique (Google Nano Banana) assistance: VNG]
1.
The darkness hadn't fully receded yet. Autumn had begun, bringing a slight chill. The Toronto bus station was bustling with travelers. Just as I was getting ready to leave after sending off my friend who was going to Montreal, I heard a male voice in English, "Excuse me. Are you from Sri Lanka?" I turned around. A white bus driver stood before me.
"Yes, friend. What is it?" I asked.
"That's good. I'm a bus driver from Montreal. A Sri Lankan Tamil woman came on my bus. She's a refugee. She doesn't know anyone here. Could you help her if you can?"
"Certainly," I said.
"Thank you very much, friend!" He went to the waiting area and returned shortly.
"Friend! This woman needs your help," he said, bringing a woman with him. I couldn't hide my surprise when I saw her.
"Seetha Akka!" I exclaimed.
Seetha Akka was equally surprised to see me. It was an unexpected meeting, wasn't it? I thanked the Montreal bus driver. He too said, "Do you know her from before? That's good. It's all God's grace," and left.
"Me neither, Madhu. It's been so long since we last saw each other," Seetha Akka said.
Seetha Akka was truly beautiful. I used to watch in wonder as she would wake up early, draw *kolams, go to the nearby Pillaiyar temple, and help the temple priest with whatever he needed. Seetha Akka had a heart that never hesitated to help anyone in the village. It was a family without male children. She would look after her elderly mother, work at the village weaving mill, and bravely face any situation. I always felt proud watching her. I was always Seetha Akka's companion. She would always take me with her when she went to the library. Seetha Akka and my elder sister were good friends. I was the one who exchanged novels between them. She would neatly bind the serials from Kalki and Vikatan. Seetha Akka loved novels by Jayakanthan, Umachandran, Na. Parthasarathy, Akilan, Kalki, and Jegasirpiyan. But... poor Seetha Akka. Despite all her beauty and good nature, she remained unmarried. I used to wonder which prince would come to take this princess away. As long as I was in the village, no prince had that luck. Following the eighty-three riots, I left the country. Now, after ten years, I am seeing Seetha Akka again.
"Seetha Akka, I can't believe it," I said.
"Me too, Madhu. I can't believe it. The *Kathirkama Kandan I believe in hasn't abandoned me," Seetha Akka said.
"Seetha Akka, when did you come from the village?"
"That's a long story. I'll tell you slowly. By the way, when did you come to Canada? I heard you were in Germany."
"I was in Germany. I came here last year. There were problems there too. And the trouble from the Nazis where we lived. Also, it's not easy to get 'papers' if you stay there."
It's common to refer to citizenship documents as 'papers'.
"Who are you staying with here, Madhu?"
"A friend and I have taken an apartment. Would you like to have some coffee, Seetha Akka?"
We both went to a nearby donut shop, had coffee, and then headed towards my place. Poor Seetha Akka. I always wished I could help her when she was in the village. But I didn't have the means then. This time, however, I have many facilities for that. I decided in my mind that I must do whatever I can to help Seetha Akka.
It was early morning on the 'Don Valley Parkway,' so there wasn't much traffic. It felt pleasant to drive fast in the gentle cold air.
"Seetha Akka, are you coming directly from the village?"
"That's a long story. My husband and I left the village last month with an agent. They stopped him at the airport in Singapore. Now I have to try to call him from here."
What! Seetha Akka got married? I felt relieved.
"Seetha Akka, when did you get married? I didn't know."
"Last year. He was a teacher at our village school. He's from another town. He used to eat at our house. That's how we got to know each other. He's a good man, Madhu."
A blush spread across Seetha Akka's face.
"Don't worry about anything, Akka. We'll bring him here somehow,"
I comforted Seetha Akka, while in my mind, I decided that I must help Seetha Akka this time no matter what. I had thought of helping her get married. The opportunities didn't arise then. But now, I have an opportunity to reunite her with her husband. I must definitely do whatever I can.
2.
"Seetha Akka, this is my 'roommate' Sabapathy. Just like you, he's a true devotee. Saba! Seetha Akka is from our village. I met her at the bus terminal. She's going to stay with us for a while."
"Hello. He talks about you often."
Sabapathy and Seetha Akka immediately got along well.
"Madhu! You have found a good friend," she praised him with a full heart.
Since Seetha Akka arrived, the whole atmosphere of our apartment had changed. The apartment, which until then had been messy in a bachelor's style, had turned upside down. The apartment itself had gained a certain form and order. Seetha Akka, who would wake up early, would play MS Subbulakshmi's Suprabhatam on the tape. After bathing, without any fuss, with her still-wet hair tumbling over her shoulders in a loose bun, she would spread frankincense smoke throughout the apartment. The apartment, which had been dull until then, now had a kind of auspicious glow. Sabapathy was even happier than me. He was delighted to have found a fellow devotee like himself.
I contacted the agent who sent Seetha Akka here and tried to get information about her husband. I succeeded. He assured me that her husband was still under his care and that it was his duty to somehow send him to Canada. He also arranged for Seetha Akka to speak with her husband.
"Listen! Don't worry about anything. I'm telling you, Madhu. He's here too. He's staying with him. The Kathirkama Kandan I trust hasn't abandoned me. He will bring you here quickly too. Madhu. He wants to talk to you a bit."
Seetha Akka handed me the phone.
"Madhu! A huge thank you. We will not forget the help you've given us," her husband expressed his gratitude with emotion.
"Don't worry about anything, Uncle. You'll definitely be here soon. Don't worry about Seetha Akka," I assured him.
3.
A few days passed quickly and disappeared. A few months also went by. There was no visible progress in Seetha Akka's husband's case. There was some hindrance a second time. Aasaipillai's face also began to show signs of worry sometimes.
"Seetha Akka! Don't worry about anything. He'll definitely come soon," I comforted her.
I wondered why God was testing Seetha Akka like this. Meanwhile, arrangements for my marriage in the village had also been finalized. My sister had sent a letter asking me to come to Colombo soon to see the girl. Because I was a Canadian groom, the dowry was apparently substantial. The girl was also very beautiful. Fair and like a tomato. I started floating in dreams like Tamil film heroes. It was during this time that I began to notice the change that had occurred in Sabapathy. The one who used to wander around frequently now mostly stayed in the apartment. He started waking up early with Seetha Akka. I accidentally observed his eyes secretly roaming over Seetha Akka as she came out with her loose bun and frankincense plate. One night, when I returned home to the apartment, a Tamil film was playing on the video. Seetha Akka was asleep, slumped on the sofa. She must have fallen asleep while watching the movie. Her saree had even loosened and slipped from her chest. Sabapathy, who was staring at her, unaware that she was asleep, was slightly startled when he saw me and shifted his gaze. For the first time, I felt worried. My mind was anxious that Seetha Akka should not suffer any emotional distress because of him. Sabapathy was a good person. Yet, he was at a difficult age. I felt he wouldn't make a mistake. But... what snake could be in what anthill? My heart pounded, knowing I had to protect Seetha Akka until she could be reunited with her husband.
The solution to all this was... to send Sabapathy away. He wasn't my long-time friend, was he? He was just someone I met after coming to Canada. One day, I called him aside and went to a nearby donut shop.
"Look here, Saba. I need to talk to you privately about something."
He looked at me as if to say, 'What?'
"Look here, Saba. I don't want to beat around the bush. I don't want you staying with me anymore. At least until Seetha Akka leaves, I don't want you with me. I think you understand. When you first came to this apartment, you said you'd stay for a month. I'm also getting married soon. After that, my wife will also come. It's better if you look for another apartment..."
I was surprised that Sabapathy didn't object to this. The very next week, he moved out. Seetha Akka was even surprised. "Why did he move so quickly? Is there any problem between you two?" she asked.
4.
The reason for Sabapathy's silence soon became clear. As quickly as he changed apartments, he spread rumors that there was a relationship between Seetha Akka and me. I had not expected this at all. I never even dreamt that he would be so venomous. I wasn't worried about myself. But my mind was troubled, fearing that these rumors might cause some problems for Seetha Akka. I racked my brain trying to figure out what to do. Meanwhile, the first consequence of this was a letter from my sister.
"Brother, the marriage we arranged for you has been called off. It seems someone has spread rumors that there's a relationship between you and our Seetha Akka. Those stories have reached their ears. They've decided they don't want this match. Don't misunderstand me when I say this. Even if you drink milk under a palm tree, the world will say you're drinking toddy. I know you. I know Seetha. But how will this world understand all this? It's better for you to find a separate apartment for Seetha. It's good for her too. We shouldn't let this story reach her husband and cause any problems, see?"
She had written this. I felt very sad. I only felt sorry for Seetha Akka. Her good fortune, which had been delayed by the cursed dowry problem, had finally brought her a Rama who understood her. Even Sita Devi was not spared by this accursed world. She was made to undergo the fire ordeal. Poor Seetha Akka. Will this society leave her alone?
5.
That day, as I was returning home from work, I was coming with a decision. My colleague at the bank, Yogamala, lives with her mother in the 'condo' they recently bought. When I discussed this problem with her, she promised to help Seetha Akka stay with them until her husband arrived. In return, I also promised to pay her as much rent as I could. I decided I needed to talk to Seetha Akka about this. I just didn't know how to start. This world even tarnishes a pure friendship. When problems arise in our homeland, even here, because of the situation in the country, I can't even help Seetha Akka who fled here.
When I reached the apartment, a shock awaited me. I didn't see Seetha Akka, who usually would open the door. The apartment was plunged in darkness.
I switched on the light. Seetha Akka was nowhere to be found. That's when I noticed a letter spread out on the table. I hurriedly picked it up and opened it. Seetha Akka had written it.
"Madhavan! I hope you won't be angry with me for leaving without telling you. Today my husband called from Singapore. That's when he told me about the rumor that had been spread about you and me. His only concern was about you. He knows me very well. He won't worry about these stories. It's by the grace of Kathirkama Kandan that I got such a good husband. Your sister also called this afternoon. That's when I found out about your wedding being called off. There's a girl from Batticaloa whom I often meet at the supermarket; she's staying alone in an apartment. Every time we meet, she asks me to come and stay with her. I've decided to go with her. I don't want any unnecessary problems to come to you because of me, see? I didn't have the courage to tell you this in person. That's why I'm leaving without telling you. I'll call you later when things settle down... Sincerely... Seetha Akka."
I slumped onto the sofa. I felt sad that I couldn't help Seetha Akka, who had always lived like a princess back in the village. I was happy that at least an opportunity arose in a foreign country, but then I felt sad that even that wasn't to be. This accursed society won't even let me help Seetha Akka, who came here due to the country's situation, with relationships severed. How many countries can one immigrate to? Have we truly immigrated?
[* kolam - A Kolam is a traditional South Indian decorative art form, typically drawn with rice flour at the entrance of homes, featuring intricate geometric patterns that symbolize auspiciousness and welcome. It is a daily ritual and an expression of artistic and mathematical skill.
* Kathirkama Kandan - It is essentially a reverent way of addressing or referring to Lord Murugan of Katharagama, often invoked by devotees seeking his blessings and protection. It evokes the powerful spiritual energy and significance of that particular sacred site.]
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