An Orison

Nalladhohr veenai seidhe - adhai
nalam keda puzhudhiyil yerivadhundo?
Solladi Sivasakthi! - Yenai
sudarmigum arivudan padaithuvittaai,

To condemn a veena skillfully made -
Is it wise - to the doom of negligence?
Speak out Goddess - you have created me
with sparkling intelligence..

Vallamai thaaraayo, indha
maanilam payanura vaazhvadharkke?
Solladi Sivasakthi! - Nila
sumayena vaazhndhida puriguvayo?

Wont you give me the ability,
to live a life beneficial to this society?
Tell me - Would you make me
a burden to this land, rather be?

Visaiyuru pandhinai pol - ullam
vendiya padi sellum udal ketten,
nasaiyaru manam ketten - Nitham
navamena sudar tharum uyir ketten,

I ask for a body that propels to my heart's will,
- an accelerated projectile to mime..
I ask for a clean mind and a pure soul
that glows anew every instant of time..

Thasayinai thee sudinum - Siva
sakthiyai paadum nal agam ketten,
Asaivaru madhi ketten, ivai
arulvadhil unakkedhum thadaiyuladho?

Though flames should finger my skin,
I seek an inner self that can sing in your praise.
I ask for unwavering astuteness -
Do you hesitate to grant me these?

- Subramania Bharathi

Shaadi

Atlast it's here! The talks about my marriage have started to surface at home. My parents feel that this is the apt age (I'll be turning 24 in exaclty a month's time!) for a boy to be married off. Their stand is a bit different from the 'No marriage until you...' kind of thing that I hear around me. But somehow I felt very odd to face this particular situation, when they ask me of what plans I have for my marriage. In fact they had a proposal at hand and asked me if it was ok. I said - not yet! I was surprised to some extent that my parents have the feeling of me having settled down to an extent that I am ready for marriage. But still, when do I get the feeling of being ready for marriage?? I do not know. And I may not have the feeling of having settled (from you career point of view, to be specific) even in my 30.

Nevertheless,I do not feel I am ready to tie the nuptial knots yet, so I have asked my parents to wait for atleast two years from now or until I tell them. Meanwhile I must also investigate if my brother is conspiring in this matter- to have 'his route cleared'. Looks like there must be a strong possibility of that here!