It was a Gauri -Ganesha Habba occasion , a traditional way of doing puja and celebration before the day of Ganesh Chaturthi among the Tulu community at their homes.. This time the bride’s family invited groom’s family also to attend it. And Rebitha had wone traditional saree of their community at the occassion.
[I didn’t get this attire’s pic of Nitya Menon. This pic is actually of serial actress in Kannada ]
Vineeth stared her and Rebitha felt something new when he was looking her that way .
Vineeth’s mother Padmini : Hegidhare Hudugi ? [How’s your girl ]
Vineeth : Kollam [Nice]
Rebitha : Athige, nimmage Kannada gotha ?[Sasu maa, you knows kannada ]
Padmini : How can we forgot our community language ? We spoke that in home .
Rebitha : But Vineeth, I mean Vineethettan told he speaks malayalam only . I thought may be you and Mawa also be like that.
Padmini : Putta, nothing like that. We speak both of them .Vineeth always felt low as being a Keralite why he born and bought up in Tulu community. Our customs, practices and rituals are different naa.We can’t leave it eventhough generations back our ancestors settled in Kerala. We celebrate both Yugadhi and Onam, Sankranthi and Vishu . And why you are calling him Vineethettan ? You can call him by his name .
Vineeth : Amma but you never calls Appa by his name . You calls him Ree, sometimes Appa itself .
Padmini : That’s because our generation was like that . He is 8 years elder than me also . You both have just 2 years of age difference and there is no need of her to call you with a sub name . You have scared my sose [daughter in law] a lot.
Rebitha : Thank you Athige .
Padmini : Nam traditional saree yalli thumba chenagi kaanisthe neevu[ You are looking so beautiful in our traditional saree] Keep smiling and don’t bother about this idiot’s words . I am going inside for helping your mother in puja. You both may talk with each other.
Vineeth ; What was your necessity of making me shameful before my mother ?
Rebitha : I was clarifying the worries in me and now it’s cleared and I feel so much relief, Vineeth. Oops Vineethettan
Vineeth : Call me Vineeth only. You don’t have any sort of common sense , You publicized our personal talks .
Rebitha : Vineeth, there was no intention of doing it all. I was just trying to understand how I need to talk with her. You know through matrimonial site our profiles were taken and my alliance was accepted at your family. Then we both meet when you came to see me . Afterwards our families made us to exchange rings and we both got engaged. Now only one month is left for our marriage. It’s an arranged marriage and we are getting to know each other properly now only.
Vineeth : Exactly. I am trying to clear things but you always takes things to another direction. And why you are wearing it ? If it’s a traditional function too can’t you wear saree normally ?
Rebitha : Vineeth it’s a function of our community and at our home we all used to wear this attires . It’s been followed from years and I can’t break it. Why you feel low for being born in Tulu community ? What’s wrong in it ? If a child is born and bought up in Muslim family naturally that child will follow the customs of their religion.
Vineeth : But like Hinduism they don’t have so much communities and differences. In Kasargode merely 5 percentage might be Tuluvas only . And you know what when in malayalam movies they make jokes on us it will hurt much.
Rebitha : Not just our community, in malayalam movies which I have watched I have seen so many things which actually humiliates feelings of so many communities of Kerala. They haven’t left any religion apart from it when the matter comes for making senseless jokes and like us they also may have felt the same. But why should we need to bother about them ? This is a private function at home and here we have full freedom to wear this at the occassions.
Vineeth : I guess we should stop arguing over this. Talk something else.
Rebitha : Yeah. But about what ?
Vineeth : Anything .
Rebitha : Do you really like me ?
Vineeth : Rebitha
Rebitha : See Vineeth. It’s better to clarify things . I can’t leave the rituals and customs of my community . I am trying to improve my Malayalam in better ways . I will definitely talk to you in Malayalam but it doesn’t mean that I will leave my community language Kannada too. Even when your mother was asking you was also replying in Kannada .At public places in your state I will try talking better Malayalam with you. But at home I will be speaking Kannada and Malayalam with you post marriage. If you are okay with this then we can think about proceeding it .
Vineeth : Now you are imposing yourself on me , Rebitha.
Rebitha : Not at all. You are misguiding things . I actually want to take up both languages, both states functions in a positive way only. I will feel good if I speak both languages fluentlly and calling myself as Malayali as well as Kannadiga.
Vineeth : You can’t sail in both boats. Listen after marriage we are shifting to Kochi. There we don’t need to do all these . I have already submitted application for transfer . You too do it.
Rebitha : I can’t go there. It’s so far from Kasargode and Mangalore . And if we go there what about our parents ?
Vineeth : They are not any school going children who needs any one’s care . My brother is with my parents who will take care off them.
Rebitha : And what about my parents ? I am the one and only daughter of them . My Appa had only one wish that’s to make marriage of mine at nearest place. Kasargode is not much far away from Mangalore. At least twice in a month I can visit my parents . But if you take me to Kochi it will be much hard to come Kasargode and moreover I won’t be able to see your and mine parents . Please don’t go there Vineeth.
Vineeth : I have decided it. If you want apply transfer and come with me post marriage. I have booked a flat too . Else continue job in your native place’s office itself and stay as good daughter and good daughter in law . You don’t need a husband .
Rebitha : Vineeth again you are misunderstanding things. All of a sudden leaving parents is not right decision.
Vineeth : You know what you and I can never be together when we decides to take a joint decision. I dpn’t know what my parents find in you that they insisted me to get married with you ?
Rebitha : Do your parents know that you have applied for transfer in Kochi ?
Vineeth : No. If I will say it my Appa will never agree with this.
Rebitha : Vineeth, you are doing wrong. You have to tell about this to your parents .
Vineeth : I am a matured person and not a kid like you . I don’t know why my parents selected you for me ?
Rebitha : So you don’t like me any more, is it ?
Vineeth : Yes. You are a big sentimental idiot only .
Rebitha ; Thanks for making me realizing what I am to you .
Rebitha’s eyes went teary.
Vineeth : Rebitha, actually !!
Rebitha : Only rings are exchanged, our hearts haven’t united . Let’s be practical . You don’t need to live whole life with a sentimental idiot. I will tell my parents the whole fault is mine and trust me they won’t blame you . Don’t ask me to remove this ring please. Because knowingly or unkowingly I started loving you and now I need to bear your hurt too. I will accept it , Vineeth.
Vineeth : Rebitha, Rebitha!!