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Mythili The Full Moon And Breeze In My Life-part 2

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by sln, Feb 9, 2020.

  1. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Mythili the full moon and breeze in my life-part 2

    Remembered the yester years-friends

    why today is not as happy as old days

    Hundred relations have sprung up

    yet where is the peace I am searching for?

    The scene shifts to Hyderabad where we lived for eight years. It was the best of times and the worst of times, the sunshine of hope and winter of despair I was travelling for twenty days a month leaving the responsibility of tending to the children and if my daughters are of impeccable character and good human beings the entire credit goes to Mythili. To encourage her in further studies, I helped get her admission in B.ED, St. Anne’s college, a prestigious institution. I helped her with her case studies and projects :familiar territory when compared to bringing up 2 girls. Bread,biscuits and fruits became our staple food. Mythili completed the course with flying colours. When the Principal scolded a young girl for her performance, compared to Mythili, the girl dejectedly replied. “There is a hidden force behind Mythili's performance-I should have also joined the course after marriage” to the merriment of the other students. Mythili's journey as a teacher as well as a writer of Tamil short stories started putting home management in jeopardy. On Krishnajayanthi day she asked me to disappear with the children for two hours as she had a great story idea. When I returned, she read out the story ”Aval oru Yasodai”. This was not only published in Dinamani kadhir but fetched Mythili a letter from Savi with a cheque for 150 Rs. Kalki, Mangaimalar, Malligai magazines published her stories.
    The company where I worked was planning a 30 minute film on farmer education. I suggested Godavari area, the site where the super hit movie Jeevan Jyoti had been filmed. A film director trained in the film institute landed in Hyderabad and went scouting for locations and finalising the cast. One evening I had a call from him to come to his hotel and give approval for the hero and heroine selected by him. I went out after informing Mythili. I should have returned in an hour but it took three hours as the director wanted to demonstrate their skills by asking them to act certain situations. He also said that the hero should be like a determined fellow and the heroine a mischievous girl. Mythili asked me “ so how are the hero and heroine ?” Preoccupied I replied that the hero was a robust fellow and the heroine certainly had mischievous eyes. She said “I married a salesman and now I find him slowly inching his way to films –I will tell your father”. In the background was the information given by an astrologer that had Planet Venus moved a few degrees in my horoscope, I would have become a good actor. Finally I took my family for the preview screening and Mythili was flabbergasted by the reverence shown to me by the Director and the actors. The director told Mythili that for the first time he and his team enjoyed unmatched facilities and security.There was a new found admiration in her eyes.
    On another occasion, some important guests had come from US and my boss also had come to receive him.They were staying in a five star hotel and having a chat over drinks. I wanted to keep myself sober to answer any questions. Suddenly around 11 PM the visitor opened a small diary asked about MUJRA. I tried to wriggle out as the beautiful tradition and style of Mujra had been destroyed and degenerated to flesh trade in a number of cases. I also recalled a news item about a raid and arrest of a number of persons a couple of days back. I contacted the GM of the hotel and explained my predicament. He assured us that they have two respectable houses where old world courtesy and etiquette are followed. This will have to be an exclusive programme for you and therefore you will pay for it accordingly. We went to the area by my car with an accusing look from my driver.We reached the designated house and were surprised at the courteous and elegant welcome we received. It was a well appointed room with a harmonium player and an elegant, dignified lady in her fiftees with a pan box, a sherbet bottle and gleaming white metal glasses.The lady spoke English and explained to us about the genesis of mujra as a form of entertaining the nobles in the mughal era. Girls in their late twenties came in and saluted us in a typical mujra fashion. Then the dance started in tune with the song, harmonium and Tabla. Graceful movements sometimes bordering on seductive delighted my visitors. The girls understood my uneasiness and kept a wide berth from me. I refused to take the sherbet fearing that it might be doped. The ordeal ended at 1 AM. We were hungry and managed to get crisp sandwiches with Hyderabadi tea. After dropping them in the hotel, I reached home around 3.30 AM. My heart stopped beating as lights in our living room were on. Mythili was reading a book. After allowing me to change she accosted me and gave me a dressing down. When I explained to her all that had happened she looked at me with sympathy but the question was why I had not called up and should she imagine that I had met with an accident ? I had no answer. After she was satisfied that she had me under her thumb,she wanted me to explain to her about the setup, the music, dance etc. She was a fan of Meena kumari and she had seen Pakeezah film atleast half a dozen times. I told her that the scene more or less resembled the song and dance sequence-'Inhi Logon Ne' in the film Pakeezah. The episode was soon forgotten.There was trust and confidence in me that bound us together for an endearing and enduring relationship.

    Our life in Hyderabad will not be complete without mentioning my Daschund who managed to slip out of the compound now and then and I chasing him on the road with just a dhoti and banyan.When somebody came looking for me Mythili said “he is playing his favourite game of hide and seek with our pet dog.You can spot him somewhere on the road”

    We left Hyderabad on promotion and transfer as DGM to Poona after spending eight years in Hyderabad.

    [ To be continued]
     
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  2. satchitananda

    satchitananda IL Hall of Fame

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    What beautiful memories.

    What a difference this can make to a marriage!

    Did not know you had been in Pune too! My home. Looking forward to reading about that chapter of your life with great interest!

    My hats off to both of you!
     
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  3. Agatha83

    Agatha83 IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear @sln

    There are only a handful of men who would allow their wives to pursue further education or take up a career post marriage and kids.You have also supported her in realizing her writing career. Hats off to people like you. in spite of the restraints posed by age, you are putting up beautiful memories of those wonderful moments you had with your dear wife Mythili. Both of you deserve each other!

    Agatha83
     
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  4. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Dear Satchi,
    Thanks.Poona is one place which combines elegance,fashion and simplicity.We stayed in Spartan Luxury apartments in Deccan college road away from the noise and bustle of the city [those days].Enjoying shrikant and lovely thali in the vegetarian restaurantl[I forget the name] was the weekly enjoyment we splurged in.Part 3 will tell more on our poona life.
    Regards
    SLN
     
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  5. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Dear Agatha.
    Thanks for the lovely sentiments.Helping and celebrating each others success is the essence of blissful married life.
    It is to Mythili's credit that she availed the opportunities and enjoyed what she was doing. Memories are indeed beautiful.
    Regards.SLN
     
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  6. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:
    That is very commendable especially when you were mostly routinely on field job.

    That is tear jerking sweet tears I mean . My spouse wanted to study for her bank related exams. Three months I undertook household duties that included shopping groceries vegetables and full time cooking.

    I must have read as during those days I was reading these tamil magazines as these magazines supplied free to my dad being advertisement manager in NAVASHAKTHI. Sani was close to my dad.

    Once was caught in such a duty mixing business with pleasure at Mandarin near Taj intercontinental. Office guest had drunk enjoyed the evening . I virtually starved with beer and cashew.

    This reminds me the particular song in LP I must have heard numerous times . The visual is great with lilting music.

    Your vivid description of wide variety of experiences in such a short note evidences the passionate living and the post lives through those moments indeed.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Regards
     
  7. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Your vivid description of wide variety of experiences in such a short note evidences the passionate living and the post lives through those moments indeed.
    Dear Thyagarajan,
    Your characteristic analysis always overwhelms me. The narration does not do justice to the passionate living we enyoyed.Encouraging Mythilis metamorphosis as a good story writer including one of her stories selected under the kalki ninaivu sirukathai potti thrilled me.She had a way with the tamil words.We had a dress rehearsal every time before her story was posted.With all the discussion we lived in a make believe world.I experience agony as well as ecstasy when I virtually relive the memories.
    Regards SLN
     
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  8. shyamala1234

    shyamala1234 Platinum IL'ite

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    Dear SLN sir,
    Weaving your life so beautiful and presenting us!
    She cooperated in sharing responsibilities and you encouraged her in studies and her talent in writing.
    Yes, mutual trust, respect are the most important ingredients in a marriage apart from love. You and Mrs. Mythili have plenty of them.
    Yes.... blankness remains forever in the heart though one gets on with life.
    I can identify with some places in Hyderabad including St . Ann's college. I live in Hyderabad.
    Syamala
     
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  9. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera Platinum IL'ite

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    Sweet and motivating for couples and it is never too late. Traversing the bygone days adds to sentimental past. This is 'made for each other'. It however depends on both partners. Another thing is transparency. It takes a great deal of understanding on both sides. Lucky you. Take care.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2020
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  10. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Dear Shyamala,
    Thanks for your lovely FB.One of the reasons for writing on my life with Mythili is to highlight the ingredients of a successful marriage .Ego is the biggest hurdle to cross.Humour even at each others expense helps to relieve the stress which inevitably creeps in the marital life some time or other.Secunderabad was the least expensive place to live those days with availability of fruits throughout the year.
    Regards.SLN
     
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