The Oddiyanam.     (1)

           

                Jayamma turned 20 today. She feels  very old. No one has bothered about her birthday in her husband’s household. Her mother would atleast have made a payasam. Her numerous siblings and step siblings would have been clamouring for her mother’s attention, yet she would try to make the day special for Jayamma. Here ma in law was away at the village . No one else would even think about her. 

       Husband Srinivasan who worked as a clerk in the Saidapet treasury was late again. Was it a Guindy race day? Would he come smiling after his flutter or would he be morose and push her into deeper pits of dejection.

          It is almost 7.00. Even if he had walked along the railway tracks as he usually did, he should be here at Rameswaram Road by 5.30. Who is that there at the end of the street ? only one person on this deserted road. 

               Yes he is home and yes he is smiling. He hands over to Jayamma  a bag with some flowers and a box.

                    Tentatively she opens the box. Out comes an extremely shiny Oddiyanam .Very heavy.

           Full of disdain she just leaves it there and goes about setting the evening meal. All this time for a duplicate jewellery!

                      Next day the matriarch comes home . Her son shows her the Oddiyanam.  Jayamma is all ears. Now he is going to get it. Buying trinkets with hard earned money indeed. How much did you pay asks the mother . Round about Rs.300/.  Call Jayamma she said. 

                      Jayamma in her corner goes hot and cold alternately. More than Rs.300/- ! What a fool she has been. She had  put on a long face since he gave her the box.  Today in 1930 gold a pawn costs slightly more than Rs. 13/- . So that was 25 paun of gold lying there where she had thrown it.

                     Sheepishly she enters , “ Ma I was waiting for you to give it to me. Please bless  me  and give your asirvathams.”