Creator B. Jeyamohan 1995

Translated by V. Vijaysree

Large grownups are all unhealthy. ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi, the little woman with the lengthy title,has come to this grand conclusion earlier than she arrives on the Corridor of Thousand Pillars. That is one place within the large Meenakshi Temple advanced with hardly any folks, huge or little. The corridor is a giant circle. Even the steps resulting in the corridor are round –a complete of seven steps. Inside, the ground is black, glistening. With one foot, she cautiously assessments the ground to see whether it is freshly washed. The ground feels chilly, not moist. The inside of the corridor is sort of a huge forest with bushes of stone. Shadows scatter from all sides, slanting inwards. A wasp buzzes, bumps right into a pillar, and flies on.

That’s when ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi notices all of the stone statues caught to every of the pillars. On the outer pillars, there are mustachioed horsemen with open mouths. Their wide-open eyes carry an expression of shock.Their forelegs excessive within the air, the horses clench their bits, and look like laughing. Beneath the rearing horses are the dwarves with distended bellies. On the opposite aspect of the corridor,close to a pillar, she sees a brass tray with marigold garlands. There are just a few ornamental brass lamps subsequent to the tray. She thinks she will hear somebody respiration!

There is no such thing as a one in sight. Then, she sees the horseman close to her. Along with his egg-shaped eyes, he’s observing her. He’s grinning however his enamel are sharp, dog-like. She turns round in concern. All of the horsemen flip their heads and have a look at her. Their eyes transfer when she strikes.Some smile;some frown. One of many horsemen appears to be like like he has one thing to inform her. It happens to her that she should run away however her legs appear to be frozen. Perhaps her again is now glued to the pillar, identical because the statues.

“Amma, I’m scared,” she says out loud in her thoughts. “So scared!” Then, she begins working. Even she can’t imagine how briskly she is working.

Exterior, the daylight dazzles her. The whitewashed gopuramhas darkened and the gateway tower stands tall as at all times. ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi stands in its shade.  Her aunts– Rani Chitti and Kamala Atthai– go by holding a black field. 

“Why are you standing right here Shenba?”says Kamala Atthai.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi shakes her head to point no, she just isn’t actually standing there, however she continues to face and stare on the Corridor of Thousand Pillars.

Ramu Uncle and Shiva Uncle go by too, as do among the different kinfolk from the marriage social gathering.Every of them says one thing to her. Contained in the temple, the bell rings out loud and clear, ‘ding………‘. At this, the pigeons perched on the gopuram flutter their wings and stand up. She sees the play of their shadows on the bottom.Step by step, the birds return to their perch. ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi tries to see the pigeons straight,however the daylight is dazzling. When the temple bell rings’ding…,’the pigeons disperse as soon as once more.

Nervously, she glances within the course of the corridor. There is no such thing as a motion there. Step by step, she calms down. She realizes that the horses and their demonic riders can’t transfer. Identical to Latha Akka has caught butterflies and different bugs inside her pocket book, the deities too should have certain the horsemen to these stone pillars.

She returns to the Corridor of Thousand Pillars and climbs the steps. The horsemen have a look at her scornfully. For some time,she simply stands there. Then, she calls out to one of many horsemen, “Hey, Fatso.” He grins and stares at her.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi then comes up with,“Absolutely Ineffective Fatso.”At this, the horseman’s legs and palms seem to maneuver. His lips twitch as if he’s making an attempt to say one thing. Why, he can’t even cuss again at her!

Emboldened, she strikes nearer to the horseman and touches his leg. His chest heaves. Veins throb within the hand which maintain the reins. The horse folds its ears again barely, rolls its eyes, and appears at her. She grabs maintain of the horseman’s sword and tugs. The sword stays caught. She locations her palms on the rider’s abdomen and appears into his eyes. He frowns in embarrassment. “kichu..kichu..,” she says, and gently punches him. He tightens his abs however doesn’t snicker like folks do if you tickle them.The horse’s shoulder stiffens.

“Freeway Robber Fatso!” she says,making an attempt one other variation on the theme. From two different locations within the corridor, somebody calls out, “Freeway Robber Fatso!”ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi appears to be like in any respect the horsemen. They stand there, embarrassed, offended, not assembly her eyes.

She runs contained in the corridor. Her lengthy pink skirt is mirrored within the shiny ground, as in a pool of water. As she whirls, waving her palms, the skirt opens out like an umbrella. In that instantaneous, she squats and creates a balloon.

Why have the deities frozen these horsemen?No, a sorcerer should have performed this!When the riders had been all set to go someplace, the sorcerer should’ve waved his wand, and turned them into stone, she thinks. They’ve been standing like this for a very long time now.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi remembers a chant. What if she says it now? The horsemen will come to life and spur their horses on. These creatures will run wild, neighing.Whisking their tails, they may kick up mud, and gallop away. Identical to within the films! Everybody can be frightened of the horsemen. Even Aunt Kamala will scream out loud in concern. Let her! Let all of them cry!They’re unhealthy grownups anyway.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi checks rapidly to ensure nobody is watching. Then, she raises her palms and in a loud voice, says“Om! Kreem! Namaha.”Nothing stirs. All of the horsemen stay immobile.

“Om Kreem Om,” she says over and over. The horsemen, shift their weight, and wait expectantly. Ever extra furiously she says“Om! Kreem! Run!” This time,she finally ends up startling herself. Different voices from deep contained in the corridor say“Run! Run!”That is adopted by the sound of“daba…daba..”Bats rise,fluttering their wings.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi has run a long way by then. She gasps for breath. The horses should have damaged right into a gallop by now. Father will tan her disguise if he realizes that she is the one who has set them free.

She recollects the look on these horsemen’s faces. They should have been evil folks.Just like the film villain Nambiar, they may swoop down and decide up ladies by their waists. Kamala Atthai, Gomathi Akka, and Rani Chitti will scream and cry. Atthai and Chitti are fats –they will’t be lifted off the bottom so simply –however what’s going to occur to poor Gomathi Akka?

Will the horsemen carry away her little aunt Chitti Kuttyas nicely? She too has known as them “Ineffective Fatso”as soon as. Please God –Swami and Meenakshi Ambal–let the horsemen flip into statues once more. They’re evil folks. They should have tried to hold away some princess who then cursed them,turned them into stone, and glued them to the wall.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi appears to be like up. Oh Good! The prayer appears to have labored.The fatsos are all glued to the pillars,their eyes huge open.

However now she desires to seeChitti Kutty once more. Within the morning, once they had left dwelling, she sat on her lap, however Chitti Kutty, her little aunt,was not her typical chatty self. Perhaps,her abdomen harm –that’s the solely time she goes all quiet.

The place is ChittiKutty now?

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi walks in direction of the temple. On the verandah,the thavil and the nagaswaram, devices whose music reverberates at weddings, lay sheathed of their brocade covers. Close by, two uncles are chewing betel leaves. One says, “Hey little woman, come right here.”

“No.I gained’t,” she says, andruns away.

There are lots of people contained in the temple. It is extremely darkish in there. As she stands hesitantly on the threshold, a lady locations a hand on her head. Gomathi Akka!  Wearing her new sari and with all these flowers in her hair, she appears to be like totally different.

“The place is Chitti ’utty?” she asks Gomathi Akka.

“Shh…,” Gomathi Akka shushes her.

Chitti Kuttyis to not be seenin that crowd. It is extremely sultry inside. Uncle Anand peeks in and says, “It’s time to ask the groom. Let’s go women,” he says.

“Akka, I wish to cometoo,” says ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi.

“Right here.Maintain my hand…”

Everybody steps out. ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi shades her eyes from the solar. The music of the nagaswaram, and the thavil, fills the air. She will see Appa, her father’s bald head. Rani Chitti and Kamala Atthai are strolling forward. There’s a small earthen lamp on the brass tray. Within the brilliant gentle of the day, its flame is sort of a flower.

Appa provides a bouquet of flowers to a bald-headed outdated man.Subsequent, he locations a heavy garland round his neck. A petal sticks to the outdated man’s head. The bouquet is huge, with rows of marigold surrounded by spherical inexperienced leaves and has a single rose within the middle. It could be good to stay that rose in my hair! Appa will give me the rose, if I ask him, she thinks. However the flower appears to be like large. I can’t even bend right down to look if I put on it in my hair. Plus, my neck will harm too.

In the meantime,the gang breaks up as folks return inside.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi strains to look at the goings-on. Nobody provides to carry her up or hoist her on their shoulders, so she will have a greater look. Appa would have definitely performed this for her!However these grownups– humph!

They enter the temple. Gomathi Akka has let go of her hand. As quickly as they enter the temple, the sound of the nagaswaram will get louder,as does the sound of the thavil. AhenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi stands hesitantly. On the alternative wall, the crows sit in a row. Two crows sat on the electrical wire as nicely.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi enters the corridor. There’s a corridor inside. Right here, the pillars are totally different. The tops of the pillars are curved,like flowers. On every pillar, there may be the determine of a standing woman, with a cup in her hand.

When she goes nearer, she realizes that it’s a lamp,not a cup. The lamp just isn’t lit, however it’s stained with oily soot.And they aren’t younger ladies, however full-grown ladies with rounded breasts. All of them have the identical hairdo: an enormous bun that appears like an overturned pot. They put on massive nostril rings. Their earlobes contact their supple shoulders. Their eyes are huge and huge. One of many women turns to take a look at the horsemen hesitantly. Then, she smiles warmly.

Smiling again,ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi reaches for the girl’s lamp, and locations the tiny dot of oily soot on her brow like a bindi. The girl’s chest heaves as she laughs noiselessly. All the women with the lamps look again and snicker.

That’s when Shenbaga Kuzhalvaimozhi hears the sobs. She hears some murmurs too. She appears to be like on the women – one after the other – however they’ve stopped laughing they usually gaze proper forward. Then, their eyes flip in a single course.

Chitti Kutty is sitting underneath a pillar. She is wearing a sari as an alternative of her typical lengthy skirt and shirt.She is sporting a gold chain, not her necklace of tiny glass beads. Her hair is bejeweled and braided  with strings of jasmine.

Grandma is saying one thing to Chitti Kutty. ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi inches nearer.

Chitti Kutty’s blue silk sari glimmers superbly. Sweat seeps by her powdered cheeks. Out of the blue she begins to cry; her physique is wracked by sobs. Grandmother additionally sheds just a few tears.

Maybe Chitti Kuttyhasa stomachache. Solely when her tummy hurts badly, Chitti doubles over in ache,and crieshard.

The grandmother turns round and sees her. “Is it Shenba?” she asks.“Is all the things prepared over there?”

Sure, ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi nods.

Grandmother says, “Don’t go away your Chitti and go wherever, okay? Grandma can be again immediately.”

“Okay, Grandma.”

After the grandmother leaves, ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi stands there, not understanding what to do. Then,slowly, she sits down subsequent to the aunt and lisps in a low voice, “Chitti ’utty.”

Chitti Kutty stops crying, straightens up, and wipes her tears together with her sari. Her eyes are nonetheless pink and puffy; her nostril is pink.

“Is it Shenba Kutty,” she asks with a smile. “The place have you ever been all this whereas?”

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi attracts consolation from these phrases. “Does your abdomen harm Chitti ’utty?” she asks her.

“No sweetheart,” says Chitti Kutty, inserting a hand on her shoulder and drawing her shut. “Look! On that pillar over there, there isn’t a statue. It’s damaged. That’s why I used to be crying.”

It’s true. The pillar reverse them was empty, damaged. Seeing this, ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi feels unhappy as nicely.

Chitti Kutty stands up straight. “You keep right here darling. I’ll go to the bathroom and be proper again.

‘”I’ll additionally include you.”

“Oh no!Who will deal with this brass tray then? Keep in mind what grandmother stated?”

“Hmm…”

“You keep right here. I’ll be proper again.”

Chitti Kutty goes to the opposite aspect of the corridor and down the steps. The sound of the thavil and nadaswaram from contained in the temple grows louder, extra pressing.These sounds resonate from every of the pillars within the corridor.

Now, ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi is actually frightened. The women with the lamps are all her sternly. “Chitti’utty,”she calls out. There is no such thing as a response. Her voice doesn’t rise above the noise within the background. She calls out a few instances and runs to the opposite aspect.

Overgrown with darkish grass, the temple wall appears to be like like a row of elephants standing guard. There are two huge oleander bushes within the yard.Their scarlet petals, which appear like dried-up chillis,have carpeted the ground. In a single nook, there’s a large nicely, with a protecting granite wall working round it. However ChittiKutty is nowhere to be seen.

“Chitt’utty.”There is no such thing as a reply.

Chitti’utty,she cries and runs again into the corridor. The women with the lamps have a look at her fearfully. Certainly one of them stealthily glances sideways.Now, on the beforehand empty pillar – the one she thought was damaged – there’s a statue.

Without delay, ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi understands all the things. She runs to the pillar. Regardless that the statue has a physique of stone, huge breasts, and a giant bun for a hairdo, the face is that of Chitti Kutty’s.

“Chitti’utty,” she says, reaching out for the lamp. ChittiKutty turns her gaze down and smiles sadly.

Chitti Kutty is hiding as a result of grandma had crushed her and made her cry. “Chitti ’utty, when will you come dwelling?’”

Chitti Kutty smiles. Then, she bites her lips, as if to suppress her sobs.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi sees her mom, grandmother, and Rani Chitti method by the small entrance. They’re coming looking for Chitti Kutty. These identical grownups had made her cry.

Allow them to search for her, excessive and low. I willnever tellthem the place Chitti Kutty is.

ShenbagaKuzhalvaimozhi is joyful.