Manni's

A LOVE STORY by Manni

She wrote this story for a competition being conducted by the Senior Citizens’ Centre, Charlottesville Virginia USA. She is a member there. The copy of this story was misplaced.

The story so called is supposed to be her own experience in contacting and marrying Anna in 1957 i.e. sometime in her thirties. In those days in our community no girl remained unmarried for so long especially in the Tamil Brahmins and Manni is from Ayyangar claiming superiority. This is the first puzzle.

Manni says that there were several proposals from eligible bachelors before that date and her father (since, by the time she lost her mother) thru knowledge of astrology prophesied a future marriage with a widower (with children or without?) and therefore did not agree for any. Manni seemed to have wished her astrological father to be true and waited too long, much beyond her normal marriageable age. This is next puzzle.

Manni says that Anna came to the canteen during recess. But why should he go to a canteen that was exclusive to officers and not clerical staff and Anna was a clerk. That also might mean that Anna was watching Manni outside that canteen for long days. Once, when I was in the building during recess, Anna took me to that canteen and introduced future Manni to me. I did appreciate the gesture.

Manni’s narration gives an idea that grandma died at her house (in King Circle or Wadala?) But my own memory says that death of grandma took place at Gyan Ghar, Chembur, after Ponnammal’s marriage. I remember having brought Santacruz athhangal Maniammal from marriage hall in Matunga to Chembur at late night leaving her with amma there. Self went to Subhash Nagar residence where Annam & children were. At this time athangal’s sari was left in the taxi and lost which at another occasion self replaced. At the time of her marriage Manni need not have the problems that were narrated. There was no possibility of grandma staying with her at any time, in my memory. But as per Annam the marriage preceded Grandma’s death and Manni did attend the functions connected. This seems stranger in the face of opposition and revulsion exhibited by Amma as well as Seshan. I have a clear memory of Amma throwing away the Pal thiratipal sent by Manni on her day of wedding thru self. She threw it along with container into the adjacent field. At that time Gyan Ghar had rice fields around. Later on asking Mani, our youngest brother, he conveyed that he was away when grandma died but he was back within the 10 days time and do remember that Anna did all rituals at Sion accompanied with Seshan and he was not married at that time. But according to Ponnammal, Anna married before grandma’s death in 1959.

Kamalam’s death would be 1949 i.e. Anna aged 25 yrs. His 2^nd marriage was in 1957 i.e. 8 years. But according to Anna’s own story he was a widower for about 15 years!!!!. Who is and what is true?

What happened to her memory? Yes, the year of their marriage must be true since they have preserved an invitation card, that was produced before the Registrar of Marriages at Bandra to collect their marriage certificate before they went to America in 2004 or 2005. The certificate was needed to apply for US Green Card.

There are still some more problematic in her story. However, let us understand it, as a story with some imagination. But where is the imagination? The episodes, dialogues could be more attractive if some imagination was used but nothing of the sort. Anyway it is our Manni’s story!!!!

Anna’s and Manni’s stories mention far fetched time frame in the gap between his 1^st & 2^nd marriage. Anna says in his story that he was a widower for about 15 yrs; while Manni used to mention the gap as about 12 yrs. Their own Date of marriage being firm in 1957.

Anna’s means Kamalam passed away in 1942, 15 years earlier i. e. even before I reached Bombay and also it should mean - marriage with Kamalam should be sometime in 1937 i.e. giving time for 2 children to be born. But in 1937 he was still in Nemmara studying in High School. He completed his Matric in 1939 or 40 and coming to Bombay in 1941. I followed in 1943/44. The marriage was there after.

Manni’s means ---Anna married Kamalam when he was 25 year of age i.e. 1947 or so. Then about 4/5 year for 2 children to be born—i.e.1952. Then about 12 years as widower means---1964. But their marriage was in 1957. How come all these?