Durga | ✓

18. Dye Troubles

Rudra said, " Yes Durga, you are right. The knowledge about him is limited. We will try to translate his works."

For a second, his attention shifted. He looked at her kajalled eyes. Her almond shaped eyes looked more attractive and appealing. Rudra shrugged and scolded himself, mentally. Concentrate Rudra.

He flipped the page, carefully, as she watched him, hawk eyed. She was about to comment when Ramaiah barged the door. Rudra noticed an unusual glow on his face. The page that was currently opened, showed how Tamil script was influenced by Vatteluttu script.

Rudra decided to ignore him. He signalled Durga to continue. Durga nodded and continued, " The left half shows the Vatteluttu script and the right half shows the current Tamil script."

Ramaiah looked dejected. " Rudra! Please tell me, how am I looking?"

Rudra sighed. " You look the same. Why?"

Frowns on Ramaiah's face increased. "Are you sure?"

Rudra looked at him with concern. He got up and walked towards him. "What's the matter? You are half an hour late. Now you are asking me about our looks."

Ramaiah looked around, shyly. "Well, Rudra it is like this..."

" Like what?"

" It is..."

" It is what?"

Durga scolded Rudra. " Sir, please, he is already so nervous. You are making him more nervous."

Rudra stared at her. Why did she sounded like my wife?

Ramaiah mustered courage and said, "I have got a wedding proposal. The bride family is coming to visit my house."

Durga smiled. " Congrats."

Rudra hugged him. " Congrats."

He patted Ramaiah's back. As he broke away from the hug, he saw something near Ramaiah's left ear. "What's that?"

" What are you saying?"

" Near your left ear."

Ramaiah touched the area of skin near his left ear. " I don't feel anything."

" By Lord Shiva, did you dyed your hair yesterday?"

" Yes. I did. Why?"

" A small portion of your skin is stained with dye."

" What?" screamed Ramaiah. " Oh my god, what am I supposed to do?"

" Don't worry. I'll do something."

Rudra damped a hand towel with water. He came from the washroom attached to his room. He gently rubbed at the spot.

" The thing is not going."

Ramaiah snatched the towel and rubbed it vigorously. Durga looked around. She wanted to stop him. But he was too self centered to heed to her advice.

When the thing refused to go, his eyes fell on a bucket. He dipped the towel into the liquid and rubbed it. Rudra snatched the cloth from him. "Stupid! It's turpentine."

Ramaiah tried to snatch it. " Give it to me."

" Ramaiah! Stop it! Don't be a fool. Why are you so self centered? Listen to me carefully, don't let the fear of rejection make these stupid things. If she rejects you, it means you will find a more better wife. Remember one thing. Just be yourself."

Ramaiah hung down his head in shame. After few moments, he looked up. Rudra said, " Go home. Come tomorrow. Durga and I will manage it today."

Ramaiah nodded and left. Durga thought she saw a different side of Rudra. A loving and caring friend. Rudra sat on the chair. He slowly removed the cover of the box. Durga noticed his trembling fingers.

In the box, they saw a book. A book made of palm leaves. He carefully removed the first book. It was written in Vatteluttu script.

Durga turned the pages of the book. She scribbled the word written on the palm leaf book onto a writing pad. Both of them worked out to write the word Silambam.

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Silambam : An ancient martial art.

Thank you for reading.