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.
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48 comments:

  1. Shesha ChaturvediApril 18, 2016 at 10:45 PM

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

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    Replies
    1. SGApril 19, 2016 at 8:06 AM

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

      Delete
    2. Shesha ChaturvediApril 19, 2016 at 12:24 PM

      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.

      Delete
    3. SGApril 19, 2016 at 5:15 PM

      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.

      Delete
  2. InsigniaApril 19, 2016 at 12:22 AM

    Lovely! Combination of mischief and innocence

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    1. SGApril 19, 2016 at 8:07 AM

      Thanks for your comments Insignia. Yes, it is.

      Delete
  3. BikramApril 19, 2016 at 3:44 AM

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

    Bikram's

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    Replies
    1. SGApril 19, 2016 at 8:07 AM

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

      Delete
  4. SandhyaApril 19, 2016 at 4:02 AM

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

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    Replies
    1. SGApril 19, 2016 at 8:09 AM

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

      Delete
    2. SandhyaApril 19, 2016 at 8:12 AM

      Will look for it!

      Delete
  5. Destination InfinityApril 19, 2016 at 9:40 AM

    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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    Replies
    1. SGApril 19, 2016 at 5:23 PM

      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.

      Delete
  6. UnknownApril 19, 2016 at 9:43 AM

    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. SGApril 19, 2016 at 5:26 PM

      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).

      Delete
  7. DeeApril 19, 2016 at 10:22 AM

    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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    Replies
    1. SGApril 19, 2016 at 5:27 PM

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

      Delete
  8. Avada KedavraApril 19, 2016 at 3:57 PM

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

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    1. SGApril 19, 2016 at 5:28 PM

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

      Delete
  9. M'Bai MadrasiApril 20, 2016 at 1:51 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SGApril 21, 2016 at 9:47 AM

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

      Delete
  10. LocomenteApril 20, 2016 at 4:35 AM

    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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    Replies
    1. SGApril 21, 2016 at 9:48 AM

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

      Delete
  11. IrrationalApril 20, 2016 at 10:30 AM

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

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    Replies
    1. SGApril 21, 2016 at 9:49 AM

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

      Delete
  12. Shilpa GargApril 21, 2016 at 10:44 AM

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

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    Replies
    1. SGApril 23, 2016 at 8:09 PM

      Thanks for your comments Shilpa. You are correct.

      Delete
  13. RachnaApril 21, 2016 at 10:50 PM

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

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    1. SGApril 23, 2016 at 8:10 PM

      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.

      Delete
  14. The EnchantressApril 22, 2016 at 10:51 AM

    Very Beautiful....

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    Replies
    1. SGApril 23, 2016 at 8:11 PM

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

      Delete
  15. DarshnaApril 23, 2016 at 10:34 AM

    Truly beautiful!

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    1. SGApril 23, 2016 at 8:12 PM

      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.

      Delete
  16. ViyomaApril 24, 2016 at 12:13 AM

    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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    Replies
    1. SGApril 24, 2016 at 8:02 PM

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

      Viyoma, please visit here as often as possible.

      Delete
  17. rajlakshmiApril 25, 2016 at 6:03 AM

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

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    Replies
    1. SGApril 25, 2016 at 2:22 PM

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

      Delete
  18. AshaApril 26, 2016 at 2:32 AM

    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. SGApril 26, 2016 at 10:17 AM

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

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  20. rudraprayagaApril 28, 2016 at 10:37 AM

    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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    Replies
    1. SGMay 3, 2016 at 9:58 AM

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

      Delete
  21. Quirky WritesMay 3, 2016 at 6:59 AM

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

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    1. SGMay 3, 2016 at 10:01 AM

      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.

      Delete
  22. Sindhu Devi KMay 5, 2016 at 7:22 PM

    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. SGMay 6, 2016 at 5:31 PM

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

      Delete
  23. AnonymousMay 6, 2016 at 4:45 AM

    Beautiful lines.

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    Replies
    1. SGMay 6, 2016 at 5:32 PM

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

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

      Delete
  24. Vineeta YashswiMay 14, 2016 at 3:02 AM

    so much lovely and heart touching...

    ReplyDelete