From: sp2@cec1.wustl.edu (Sundara Pandian)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Subject: PirivOm, SanthippOm - episode 5
Date: 1 Sep 1992 21:34:49 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


[ Posted For : Krishna Raj ]

From : M.P.Krishna Raj
E-mail : raj@cs.odu.edu 

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                         episode 5

"How did you come then".

"Fortunately I had my traveler's check in the bag. I came up and changed
that in the bank and got into taxi"


"By taxi! You spent lot of money then"

"No sir, I can't go in the subway again

"Why"

"fear"

"No....No! It is just like that. To day you escaped unscathed. If you
didn't have any money, they would have mugged you. You are spared!
There are certain things to follow if you are using a subway. Never go alone.
Stand with other passengers in a crowded platform. I thought that
it was only during night. It looks they started even in daytime(mugging).
How much you paid for Taxi"

"So much. Sir. I am back. That is enough. Sir! I don't want America!"

"You are frustrated. This is your the first week"

"No, Sir. Everybody is making fun of me in the class. Can't understand
the lecture because of the different accent. Above all this incident.
Sir, I am going. I don't want education. I don't want any thing."

" Take coffee, relax. What you had for lunch"

"Coffee,Coke"

"That is why you are tired and hungry"

"Take something like hotdog"

"Everything has meat in it, Sir. I have no objection in
eating meat. But this is not suitable for me. No taste at all.

"Take yogurt, salad, anything "

" I fear for everything, Sir. I am going"

" America won't let you go so easily. You have seen only the
darker side of NewYork. It has a brighter face too.
We will see that today."

" No .. Sir! I don't want to go anywhere."

"Are there any indians in the School"

" No, sir. Others are heckling me.They are pulling the chair"

Mohanram smiled," You are dejected .
Hear what I am saying.Come with me. You
can meet some indians first. Some students like you, some settled after
getting a job, MaMees, children... We can meet many of them.
Acquaint yourself. Befriend them. Ask their first day experience.
To run away from U.S.A for a unsavory
incident in the class is defeatism!"

"What can I do, Sir. I can not bear this every day"

" How can you predetermine every day will be like todaY"

Raghu accompanied Mohan without interest. Mohan  gave him a over coat
since Raghu did not have any thing to protect him from the cold weather.

Around 7.00 they started towards Manhattan. When they crossed the bridge
Manhattan island looked like ruby paradise.


"Look! How many lights! Dazzling!"

"Everything looks fine from distance! Sir,if we go near by
it is nasty"

"Best and worst. You can see everything here. You should know
how to avoid horrendous things. You came by subway. You had a
bad experience. But you can't leave it. Somewhat risky. That is all.
with a little bit of caution. You can overcome that. I will help you.
I will make you learn everything! Do not leave this heaven
without even touching it. There so many things around here to see."

Monanram crawled in the busy street; crossed many avenues and
streets; searched for parking space.
"We are away from the venue by more than a mile"

"Where are we going"

"Some function in some Indian association"

"What function"

"Kuchipudi dance. Party from Andhra"

"I have seen Kuchipudi there itself"

"I am taking you to see Kuchipudi. To see the people coming
here"

Ultimately they got a parking place. They stopped the car
with great sigh.

Raghu was comfortable in the coat Mohan gave him.
....I should move away from him(Mohan) as early as possible....
Raghu was disinterested. Behind the glass door America was
selling colorful crap with decoration. Everybody was
eating everything. Lovers were kissing. Newspapers were
orphaned on the stand without buyers. Yellow taxies. Red,yellow
green lights. Thousand colors.

That theater was near his department. Belongs to some college
and they were renting out for this kind of functions.

Many indians were waiting outside. Kids were running here and there.
Indian doctors were gulping coke with american english. Their
wives were roaming in silk sarees. Mohan smiled at many of them
and introduced them to Raghu. Somebody was messing with the mike.
Little boys were chasing . Raghu felt he was back in India.

'Parijatha pushpam, Satyabama'. Two vivaceous andhra damsels
were dancing and singing. One professor was giving
explanation in english. Raghupathi was looking around.

   MADHUMITA was sitting three rows ahead of him.

Raghu was seeing her after one year. Once upon a time
he was fascinated by her. Day and night enamored his
thoughts with her. He came near her. He reached her.
But jettisoned out. Hopped over the frontiers of distraught
and fallen from the cliff. Now...

"Raghu, where are you looking at without seeing the dance.
Anything interesting?"

"No,Sir"

Danseuse was begging Krishna to come for bath.

"What she is asking" American tamil kid asked his mother.

"She is asking Kishna to come for bath". (Father)

"Who is Kishna".(Kid)

"Who is Kishna".(Kid)

"I told you to get Amar Chitra Katha. He is asking
who is Krishna. But he knows who are "Rolling stones"(mother)

"What is she wearing in her Mookku"(kid)

Raghupathi didn't care this talk. He was looking-looking at her.
It is Madhumita. No doubt. Her familiar side profile.
He had glided his finger on her face along the nose.
Who was sitting beside her. Mamiyaar.(Mother in Law).
Raghu wanted to say,"Hello,Madhu". But didn't get up.

"Who is that. You are looking somewhere"

"Looked like someone familiar to me. Shall we go"

"Going .... Main dance hasn't started yet. Then Mimicry.
Why should we get out after paying 4 bucks"

There was a dull applause after the dance was over.
Screen got stuck up with the mike. Some commitee
member ran to the daise.

Raghu who was sitting on the aisle seat was frozen when
Madhumita walked towards him. She came near. She didn't
notice raghu. Raghu looked at her fully now. Dark green saree
with yellow border. Some lipstick,some more weight.
Necklace...Old fashioned ear rings..Rubber banded hair.
She left some of her fragrance around Raghu.

Raghu wanted to tell Mohan,'I touched her ,Sir"

"Interested. May I do matrimonial enquiry"

"No,Sir. She is married"

"How do you know that"

"That is , Sir. ..Madhumita. I told you"

"Oh, My god! Govindaraj told that you should not
meet her.? The plot is thickening"


"Don't worry! I won't try to meet her."

"I haven't seen her fully. I remember. She was beautiful." 

"Yes, She is."

"Age."

"Nighteen or Twenty."

"Husband's name?"

"RadhaKishan."

"I'll find out."

"Don't do that.Sir.Please. Unnecessarily it will mess up.
I don't want to know them. I am not
interested in meeting them."

Raghu was silent.

"You should know what that Radhakishan is doing?"

"I don't want to know"

"Now or Never."

"Let us go. Sir. It is boring."

"If they are waiting in the theater entrance for Car or something."

"Then let us go after sometime."

Mohanram looked at him poignantly.
"You are confused!"

"Will you please keep quiet". Back seat chided.

"Sorry."

They came out at 8.30. Mohan took him to the side of Central Park,
Fifth Avenue. Suddenly they got into a Neon City.

" My God!"

Colorful letters were moving,blinking  and wiping.

"If we stand here we can pass the whole night.
This area has every style and culture. Also
has every deviance. 42 nd street,Broad way, Theater
District, and then we can go to a 'show'."

"Okay, Sir."

"Your father will scold me."

"No,Sir,I want to watch that."

"To forget her,Am I correct?"

"Not so."

" You will find that a female body is the cheapest thing
here. Look here, the whole street is full of
massage parlor,topless bar,Strip, burlesque,swingers' club,
adult movies.."

Without any doubt, big letters announced
'continuous live sex'. People were watching
from the glass booths.

"There is one place as comic strip. They do
stripping in a funny way."

"Do you like these, Sir."

"No, Just for you."

"For me?"

"Sex is so easy in this country. If you
need even you can have a girl for a week.
It is so easy!. I felt very looney, when I
was separated from my wife. I came here 
alone. We should not come here alone.
I did. I don't know even how to enquire 
that. I got into a lane. There was 
something like massage parlor.. I sat
in a trance. That girl told me if I
give 100$ , she will give me ungorgettable
love. If I give 100$ she doesn't wear
anything to keep that. Sixteen year old!
I had lot of money with me. I gave 
every thing to her and came out."

"Why?"

"She had a semblance with my daughter.
It was a shocker. I rushed out."

"You are telling more about your wife
for the first time."

"That is my irony. We are divorced.
You can meet the children in the weekend."

"I haven't seen them this weekend."

"My Daughter is not feeling well, she(ex.wife) told me."

"Are you still talking with her."

"Why not!. We are still friends."

"Are you going to marry again?"

"Not now. But I can't exclude that possiblity.
Tell me if you know a good lady"

"Is divorce common here ?,Sir"

"Why? For what you are asking?"

"Just asked, Sir."

"This girl. What's her mane?"

"Madhumita."

"Nice name. Where did you meet her?"

"Papanasam. I haven't done anything.
Father, mother, she.. Everybody encouraged me.
I think I told all these to you."

"So that girl moved with you freely.

"Yes,Sir"

"Did you have sex"

"No."

"So, very ideal love"

"Not like that. Touching here and there. Kissing."

"Oh. India has advanced to that level. What
happened at the end."

"Simple. They got a better groom. They shoved me."

"Just like that!"

"Just like that!. I took that greviously and 
attempted suicide. Appa saved me...Strengthened me."

"Did you ask her father?"

"I did. He said,' Is there anything wrong in myself 
arranging a better life for my daughter'."

"What did that girl say?"

"She is somewhat innocent, Sir. Little bit
confused too.`what shall I do, my daddy and mommy
are telling. I am sorry'. That is all."

"It is good that, you haven't married her.
If  she was committing  blunders and telling sorry..."

"If a girl is beautiful, many drawbacks
are forgotten, Sir."

"Is she so beautiful?"

"She is more beautiful in America. Sir.
Are you taking me to that `show`?"

                          )thodarum(






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