A Love Story (Nine)

by Prabhavathi Jai

With true love in heart,

What You can not do in the world ?

You can perform miracles !

A College Dance Drama

NINE

One day, my Lecturer called me and told,

 " Prabha, you know that our College Day is coming shortly. 

You prepare some dance and song item 

and perform on the stage ". 

I was a student of classical singing and dancing. 

So they gave me the honor to perform on stage

every year.  As a routine, I used to sing and dance.

When I met Jai in the evening I told him,

" I have to sing and  dance for the College Day. 

What should I do? You please tell me."

" We together can dance. Will they allow? "

" Jai , no jokes. I am serious. Please tell me. 

What Should I perform? "

" See, my Prabhavathi is a beautiful fairy.  

You go and stretch your arms and legs on the stage. 

It will be a beautiful dance. 

Also, you have a very sweet voice.  You say something. 

It will be melodious song. "

" Jai, Please tell me."

" OK, OK Prabha, I will try to do something.

you give me some time. 

Now, You sing a song and dance for me. "

" Here?   I can sing but how to dance? "

" You sit and sing.  Make  abhinaya for your  song ."

I recited a classical song and made abhinaya .

" Very Good, It is very beautiful. Will they allow me inside

 your Women's College? "

" I will get permission from my Lecturer.
She will allow you as a special case. "

After two days, he gave me some papers

containing the details of the song

 and the dance sequence for a group dance drama.

It was a question and answer sequence for two groups. 

It was a mixture of both classical and modern dance. 

It appeared totally a different  concept. 

 Even he made some sketches showing

the details of the groups, dresses, 

background scener etc.  

He had taken a lot of efforts in preparing. 

When I explained this to my Lecturer, she readily agreed 

with lot of appreciation.

" But how will you do this? Will somebody  help you? "

" Yes madam, I want permission for the entry for Mr. Jai, 

GCT (Engineering college)  student.  

He will help me with a few of his friends. 

Will you permit him? "

" Yes, I will just inform the Principal.

By the way, do you know Jai? "

" Yes Madam, he is a very good man."

" Very good? "  Madam looked at me

and her smile lasted long!  Why?

It was the previous day to our College Day. 

Jai came to our College with his friends and the materials.

I took him to my Lecturer.
They were talking for a long time. 

Jai explained everything to her.
She was satisfied and happy with

the arrangements explained by Jai.

She told me, " Prabha, you take him to our Auditorium 

and help him.If you want any other help, come to me.

You provide them some snacks and coffee from the canteen.

OK, Jai you go with her.  I will also come
there after finishing my work. "

Jai started his work on the stage with his friends after tea. 

" Thank you Jai for all your efforts." Jai just smiled.
He was sweating profusely.  When nobody was looking at us,
I cleaned his face with the pallu of my sari.
His work continued till lunch time.

We shared the lunch which I specially cooked 

and brought  for him.
He relished the food and was all praise for me.
My sister, Padmini also joined with us.
Just after lunch,  our  rehersal started  

with  our Lecturers, Jai  and his group and limited audience. 

Oh! ...........No words. All due to Jai.

College Day . Our group performed at the end.

During the performance the whole audience

was wonder struck and remained silent.

Jai created his magical effects. 

On the stage-
 The sun shined.

The moon smiled.

The stars twinkled. 
It rained heavily. 

The breeze turned into a heavy storm.
The sea, the jungle, the animals -

all on stage according to the requirement.
We also gave a matching performance in dance.

Beautiful ! wonderful !

At the end, the audience woke up from the dream performance.
Applause.....applause.......applause.
Deafening applause.

We won. Jai was introduced to the audience on the stage

by our Principal with special mention , appreciation and thanks.

While returning home, I gave the Prize to Jai,
" it  is yours." 

Jai pulled me and held  closely and whispered in my ears,

 " No Prabha, you are only mine. Nothing else, I ever want."

" Yes, of course Jai. I will remain ever yours." 
I kissed My Jai. 

We forgot the world momentarily.

Padmini was standing nearby and smiling.
" I will wait outside. Come soon.

Everybody in our home will be anxious " she told me and
waved her hand to Jai, " thank you very much,  Jai ."
Somehow, Padmini liked Jai very much and respected him and
carried very high opinion about him.

" Your sister, Padmini is a very good and nice lady ," Jai told.

" To-day you danced marvelously  gently like a  creeper  in  breeze

and swiftly like  lightning .  Wonderful ! Totally the performance of 

everybody was very good. You excelled everybody . It was beyond my

my expectation. "  Jai told.

" No Jai,  it is all because  of your efforts only, nobody can deny. 

 How much efforts you have put in.  For my simple request, 

 you have taken lot of pains to fulfill. I am very proud of you".

" Prabha, you don't  know how much  I love you.
I like you to be happy always.
I can  give my life for that.
The stage for you is in my heart  ".
Jai escorted me to the gate.  We three, Jai, myself 

and Padmini left for home happily in an auto.

*****

" The real stage for your dance

is my heart "

*

ஏதிலார்  போலப்  பொதுநோக்கு  நோக்குதல் 

காதலார்  கண்ணே  உள .

                                                                திருக்குறள் - 1099

To look like strangers in public,

It is common with the lovers

*

A Love Story (Eight)

by Prabhavathi Jai

 Happy to receive,

More happy to give,

It is very peculiar in love .

EIGHT
 Hearing the noise, the in-charge of the Home came out.
Seeing Jai, she smiled and welcomed him,
" How are you Jai ? Who is this girl?  
I wish you a very Happy Birth day 
and many happy returns of the day."         

  
" Thank you, Madam. 
She is Prabhavathi studying in College
and her house is near my hostel. Good girl. 
This donation for the Home is from her", 
Jai handed over a draft.

   
" Thank you, Prabha. Come in." 
Madam called us inside her office.
"Wait I'll come back shortly." She left us alone.
    
" Jai, You never told me to-day is your Birth day. 
The draft........"
" I am not a very big man to celebrate lavishly. 
To-day you are with me, Prabha. 
This is enough and I'm very happy.  
What else I want ?  On this day, 
I usually come here and spend time with these children.
 I presented the draft on your behalf. "

I was not able to argue with him.
He was special in his own way. 
Good, kind, helping .............
Madam came back and gave some sweet to both of us.  
She put jasmine flower on my hair 
and thilak on my forehead, wishing all well in my life. 
" You look very beautiful.  
Jai is also a very good boy.  
Both of you should live happily." 
I really felt very happy and shy, throwing an oblique 
look on Jai, who was looking at me and smiling.

              
Before leaving the place, 
 we spent more time with the inmates
 playing happily with the children  
and having our meals  with them.
 I entered hesitatingly but left the place 
reluctantly with heavy  heart.While returning Jai remarked, 
" to-day my Queen looks very beautiful and wonderful". 
 I felt elated and held his hand tightly and fondly.

             
 We went to nearby Marudamalai Murugan Temple 
and prayed for our happy union.  
The Lord looking at us with his usual smile. 
Just then I saw a twinkle in the eyes of the Lord.  
I prayed again , "Lord, please don't test us. 
We, the human beings are fallible. 
Pardon us for any of our known or unknown mistakes."  
We came out and sat on the steps of the temple in a corner.
 I closed my eyes resting my head on 
Jai's shoulders with peace in my heart.

 Murugan Temple Marudamalai Coimbatore

              After some time, we left the place and reached 
Botanical Garden near the Agricultural University.  
We were roaming around the park merrily
discussing many happy things.  

I removed my sandals and  went  for a face wash.
A big thorn pricked my foot deeply.  
I was crying in pain, "Jai, thorn has pricked my leg." 
I could not walk. Jai rushed to me, 
lifted and carried me like a child to a  nearby bench in the park. 
He made me to lie down. He kept my leg on his
lap and slowly removed the thorn with care and affection.  
I could see the agony on his face 
while I was having the pain during 
the process of removal of the thorn.
Even a small problem for me, Jai was not able to bear.

After a while every thing became all right.
 " Jai, I'm very happy to-day. Thank you."   
Then I removed the ring from my
finger and put it on Jai's finger." 
This is  my gift for your Birth day. Please accept."
        " Very Good. I'm accepting. 
But what will you tell in your house. Lost ?
No, for my sake, My darling should never tell any lie. 
Let it be on your finger.
I will take it at appropriate time. OK ? "   
He put back the ring on my finger.

" Why can't you  give me a costly 
and better birth day gift.   
Your love, yourself  ......
As a token now.....",  Jai smiled.   
I understood.  
I gave him a long and affectionate kiss.  
We remained there  happily for a long time
 and I went home reluctantly in the evening .

When I was in hospital for high fever, 
Jai was there attending me day and night
 for three days even without proper food  
and place to sleep.  
He refused to leave me and go. 
Even my parents were not aware of the fact.

When I recovered my sister, Padmini 
and the Doctor told me.  
Jai was looking sick. 
I embraced him and wept loudly. 
Seeing me OK, Jai was  very happy.
" Are you all right,  my Prabha?  
Don't worry, take rest, I'll take care."
He was pressing my feet affectionately with tears in his eyes.

HE IS MY JAI, ONLY FOR ME.
I AM HIS PRABHAVATHI, ONLY  FOR JAI .

I remembered the tamil song:
" உன் கண்ணில்  நீர்  வழிந்தால் 
என்  நெஞ்சில் உதிரம் கொட்டுதடி"
meaning
When I see the tears in her eyes
My heart bleeds heavily.
It was always true  with my Jai. 

*****

For lovers it is impossible
to tolerate even a small
trouble for others.
Love means sacrifice.

pj

*

செறாஅச் சிறுசொல்லும்  செற்றார்போல் நோக்கும் 
உறாஅர்  போன்று  உற்றார்  குறிப்பு .
                                                             - திருக்குறள்  :1097.
Words with false hate and look with projected anger
are the symptoms of her heart full of hidden love
*