Monday, April 18, 2016

Smile

It was our marriage day. She sat there with her face staring the floor. I stood up to tie the Thali (mangal sutra) on her neck. The sastrigal (priest) asked us to look at each other before tying the Thali.
 
She looked at me. I looked at her. Our eyes met. She smiled. I smiled. Why did we smile?
 
Is this the mischief of our youth? Is this the seed for our love? Is this the bridge to unite our soul? Who knows?
 
Later years, I used to ask her why did she smile on that day at that moment. She will put an end to that conversation by asking me why did I smile on that day at that moment.
 
Her smile never left her.
 
PS: This is not my original. This is an English translation from a book written by a famous Tamil author about his wife. I liked this and so I thought I would share with my friends. But the feeling of the writer/the emotion of the writer cannot be felt in a translation.

48 comments:

  1. It is gorgeous :) I wish to know more about this story, must be very captivating!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Shesha. It is a book written as a memoir for his late wife. Very emotional.

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    2. Is it translated in Hindi/English? I am searching for some good reads these days. After relocation my old Library has been left back at home in India.

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    3. I searched for an English/Hindi translation of this book. It is not there. I am sorry.

      If you want to read some good books and set up a library, I would suggest you contact our blogger friend, Avada Kedavara. Her blog address is https://bookishmuggle.com. She is our resident expert. She also lives in the SF Bay Area.

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  2. Lovely! Combination of mischief and innocence

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    1. Thanks for your comments Insignia. Yes, it is.

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  3. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :) love is in the air :) he he he

    Bikram's

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    1. Thanks for your comments Bikram. Yes, it was for that writer.

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  4. The original is original always! But I can feel the feeling here! Very nice! Who is the writer?!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sandhya. The writer is late V. Swaminatha Sarma. The title of the book is Aval Pirivu.

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  5. There was a TV show shot in London where they asked strangers to look at each other for a short time. Almost invariably, both the subjects smiled immediately after their eyes met. I think this experiment was for some social behavior academic report or something. But it offers an interesting insight into human behavior which could be more universal than we think!

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rajesh. Yes, I agree. Smiling is human nature. In USA, people smile at total strangers - Super Market, Bus Stop, Movie theater. You name it.

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  6. That is beautiful. Please share the original text with me.
    You did manage to bring out the feeling :) I can remember,when my husband tied the knot, I was so nervous and excited, I was sweating and had a 'thiruttu muzhi'. I thought no one noticed me but when the wedding album was out, to my surprise and shock, people were staring at me all the time! damn! :D:D:D

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    1. Thanks for your comments Roh. You should have realized on your marriage day you are the most important person and all eyes will be on you. Plese remember this on your 60th birthday day (arupadhaam kalyanam).

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  7. Reading this in the translated version itself fills the reader with such sweet romantic thoughts. I cannot imagine how the original would feel. I could even imagine the scene itself, the look wowww. Just wish that the book wasn't about separation though. Good one SG.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Dee. You are very kind in your comments. Unfortunately, this book is a memoir for his late wife.

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  8. Is there a translated version of this book? I would love to read more by this author.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Ash. I searched for a translation of this book. It is not there. I am sorry.

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  9. I loved the lined. I would like to read it as well. I do not know to read Tamil, nut I indeed understand when someone speaks. IF only it has an audio book version atleast

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rashmi. Sitting here in California, I am unable to find this book in audio version. I am sorry

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  10. Glad that you translated it... It carries mischievous and a sense of belongingness in this. Can you please share the author's name.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Satya. The author's name is (Late) V. Swaminatha Sarma.

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  11. This is beautiful.
    I remember my husband smiling at me at our wedding ceremony. Everything vanished a few months later.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Irrational. I have been reading your posts in your blog. I am very sorry.

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  12. Beautiful. She smiled for may be she knew that a smile is a beginning of love!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Shilpa. You are correct.

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  13. Simple, lovely emotion. I guess the smile was the precursor of the good things to come.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rachna. And, welcome to my blog. Yes, indeed it was a precursor of the good things to come.

      Rachna, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Nikita. I am glad you liked this post.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Darshna. And, welcome to my blog. I am glad you liked this post.

      Darshna, please visit here as often as possible. Thank you.

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  16. Very well translated, and thanks for doing it. Expression and feelings are beautiful, though you say - you translated, you have taken efforts to ensure the original feel is left intact..

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    1. Thanks for your comments Viyoma. And, welcome to my blog. Thanks very much for your complements.

      Viyoma, please visit here as often as possible.

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  17. this is so beautiful :D thanks for sharing it. It actually made me smile.

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    1. Thanks for your comments rajlakshmi. I am glad you liked this post and made you smile.

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  18. A simple but beautiful post...and true some emotions are lost in translation but best read in the original language.

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  19. Thanks for your comments Asha. As you said, best read in the original language.

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  20. Yea, the first hand version has its spirit, not the translation. That smile is the bridge to enter into each other's mind.Good one.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sarala. I am glad you liked this page.

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  21. The "She smiled. I smiled. Why did we smile?" part really made me smile. I love this post!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Quirky. And, welcome to my blog. I am happy this post made you smile.

      Quirky, please visit here as often as possible.

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  22. Wonderful write-up! It is romantic and Aadhyatmik at the same time. I have heard that Tamilians live life to the fullest with deep emotions. Thanks for this translation, Sir. Tc, keep smiling :-)

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sindhu. I am glad you liked this post.

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  23. Beautiful lines.

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    1. Thanks for your comments TTS. I am glad you liked this post.

      TTS, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.

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  24. so much lovely and heart touching...

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