SUDALAIMADA SWAMI—THE GUARDIAN ANGEL/ Short story by Sengani thene

Solamada samy Short story by Kadayam Balan Translated by my sister
N. SENGANI THENE.

6-7-2020

கடையம் பாலன் எழுதிய சொள்ளமாட சாமி என்ற சிறுகதையை என்.செங்கனிதேன் ஆங்கிலத்தில் மொழிமாற்றம் செய்துள்ளார்.

Western Ghats – the beauty of South India has many beautiful villages down its hills. These villages usually enjoy a pleasant weather during the months of June, July and August. This year is also, no exception .The weather is very pleasant.

Madhav and Lavanya were newly married. The pleasant morning appeared to be fantastic to their rosy eyes. Madhav was enthusiastic and high spirited .He deeply desired to surprise Lavanya with the beauty of Western Ghats. When he broke this pleasant news, Lavanya’s eyes expressed her immense happiness.
’’My first day out with my husband and I would love it’’. She thought with overwhelming happiness.
‘’I should look good ‘’, She thought.
Madhav was completely taken aback [surprised] when she was all dressed up.
Wow! , “What a mesmerizing beauty’’.
Lavanya, in her pistha green silk saree, a lot of jasmine with some fresh button roses, long black hair, matching bangles and the light makeup on her face, looked so elegant that one would think whether she was an apsara from heaven.
Madhav was ready for their first day out with his wife in his new motor bike. Lavanya sat with elegance. The people in their street looked at them with admiration. They were happily heading towards the mountain area, unaware of the hidden dangers lurking there.
The mountain and the valley were so beautiful that they were like young deer, running and drinking the mirth of nature. The valley what they thought safe turned to be unsafe.
‘’Happiness and Glory will at times be short lived’’.
The valley that provided them with enchanting views turned to be a disaster.
Madhav was found to be tied on a tree trunk.
Lavanya the mesmerizing beauty, became conscious and realized that, she-the helpless dove was torn into pieces by a vulture. The scattered jasmine, crushed roses, broken bangles would always be the pricking thorns in her gentle heart.
She looked at her husband who was still unconscious. Removing the knots and sprinkling water on his face, she tried to bring him to his consciousness.
He came back to his self and realized the horrible incident that had taken place in front of his eyes. He felt ashamed of himself for his inability to save his wife from that womaniser from the neighbouring village.
“His eyes welled with tears.”

‘’How can that Mukesh be here?’’,
’’I don’t understand.’’
‘’I’m sorry, Lavanya, see, how I’m unable to …..’
Lavanya asked, ‘’Why have you brought me here?.’’
She looked at that cursed place.
“Her eyes expressed thousands of pain.”
’’How I’m destined to suffer like this’’. Her silence spoke.
‘’I’m sorry Lavanya, Her husband’s words brought tears in her eyes once again.
Lavanya,’’Don’t cry. Let’s us completely forget about this.’’ ‘’We should…’’
’’Come, let’s move, dear?’’
There was a beautiful stream nearby. They considered it as ‘’THE GANGA RIVER’’ where they washed themselves believing that the dirt would wash away.
With heavy hearts, they started back home. Lavanya was in deep silence but was burning inside. Murugan, a farmer, who returned home that way recognised them and cut a joke in a friendly manner.
‘’What Madhav, Is this mountain also your home?’’, ’’Enjoy, Enjoy.’’
When Murugan disappeared from their sight Madhav said,
’’Lavi, Let our village people also think like this’’.
’’Don’t even utter a single word to anyone’’
Lavanya who was quiet for minutes said, ’’No, Darling, We should never leave this just like that. We should get justice. I don’t care about anyone’s criticism.’’If we leave it, he will repeatedly do it. I wish no one should suffer like me”.
‘’But remember, I deeply respect your feelings.’’
‘’What do you feel about me?’’.
’’ How can I be a normal wife to you?,’’
‘’The slight thought of this painful incident will really kill me, dear.
‘’Lavanya Dear, you are always an apple of my eyes. ’’Madhav spoke to her in a gentle and loving tone. This bitter moment has nothing to do with our happiness’’.
Let’s move on.
Lavanya with determination said, ‘’Let’s go to the police Station.’’
Madhav said, ‘’Alright , we’ll go there.’’
When they reached there, they found the Police Station closed. But Madhav knew that the DSP was a genuine person and he could always be met in his house. So they went to the house of DSP. The DSP was getting ready for his evening walk. Seeing the couple standing near his gate; he asked,
’’What do you want?’’
’’ Are you in any trouble?’
Gathering their dull spirit, they narrated the event.
They believed that they would get justice.
In a rough tone, The DSP spoke,
‘’Are you not ashamed of yourself to narrate it to others.’’
‘’Both of you go home.’’
‘’Don’t tell anything to anyone.’’
‘’Forget it completely’’.
Madhav in a pathetic tone, ‘’Sir, we heard that you are the one who fights for all, whether they are rich or poor.’’
The DSP replied ‘’Yes, But I’ll see whether the convict is my relative or not.’’
‘’OK, Nothing more is there to speak to you both.’’
He turned to Madhav and asked finally ,’’Have you spoken anything ill of her. ’’No Sir, Madhav replied hurriedly to the DSP very sincerely.
‘’Mmm, Take her home and be gentle to her.’’
‘’Be careful, I should not hear anything nonsense.’
They reached their home. After taking bath, they decided to go to the nearby Sudalaimada Swamy Temple’.
They reached the temple around 7 pm. The temple was almost de-peopled. They moved around the temple and their hearts became light. Madhav smeared his forehead with kumkum and vibhuthi (holy ash).He did the same to his wife too. They reached home leaving all their burden to their favourite deity. They had a peaceful sleep.
Lavanya got up early and was busy with her daily routine. The newspaper boy had already flung the paper inside the hall. She sat with the newspaper with her usual cup of filter coffee.
Her eyes caught the head line in the first page.
It was an unexpected surprise to her..
The headline went like
DSP’S another achievement—‘’An Encounter’’
The DSP Udhaiyamoorthi proved his might once again .While he was on his usual patrol yesterday night, He caught Mukesh [his relative] red handed, while he was lifting some valuable objects from a house in his vicinity. When the DSP was trying to catch him, Mukesh wounded his left arm with the sharp sword and try to escape from the scene. So the situation demanded an encounter. As a result, the brave officer hunted him down. The body was sent to post-mortem and it will be handed over to the family members by evening.
Lavanya could not believe her eyes. She read the news repeatedly. She woke her husband up and showed the news. He too could not believe that news.
Madhav knew that Mukesh was not a house breaker. He was only a womaniser. But the news…….
He knew that the DSP had killed him for their sake only.
His wife wanted to thank him heartily. They reached the house of DSP in 10 minutes. He had a bandage in his left arm .Many police men were standing around him. They were found discussing something very serious.
Lavanya rushed in and stood in front of the DSP with folded arm. ’’Thank you very much ,Sir.’’ ‘’Her eyes rained down’’.
‘’Hey, Who are you?’’.
‘’Who allowed you in?’’
‘’Mani , take her out’
A police man ran to him and said,
‘’Sir I thought , she is known to you, So I …’’
‘’Ok , take her out.’’
She was forcefully taken out of the house. She stood outside the house and saw the DSP. To her satisfied eyes he didn’t look like a police officer but her favourite deity Sudalaimada Swami, in human form.
She stood erect and saluted.
‘’Hats off to you Sir ‘’.
Their eyes shone brightly expressing not only their gratitude but the DSP’s justice with humanity also.