In this episode, we listen to an anguished voice, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 95, penned by Orodakathu Kantharathanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands’ landscape, the verse relays the reasons for taking a difficult decision.

பைபயப் பசந்தன்று நுதலும்; சாஅய்,
ஐது ஆகின்று, என் தளிர் புரை மேனியும்;
பலரும் அறியத் திகழ்தரும், அவலமும்;
உயிர் கொடு கழியின் அல்லதை, நினையின்
எவனோ? வாழி, தோழி! பொரிகால்
பொகுட்டு அரை இருப்பைக் குவிகுலைக் கழன்ற
ஆலி ஒப்பின் தூம்புடைத் திரள் வீ,
ஆறு செல் வம்பலர் நீள் இடை அழுங்க,
ஈனல் எண்கின் இருங் கிளை கவரும்
சுரம் பல கடந்தோர்க்கு இரங்குப என்னார்,
கௌவை மேவலர்ஆகி, ”இவ் ஊர்
நிரையப் பெண்டிர் இன்னா கூறுவ
புரையஅல்ல, என் மகட்கு” எனப் பரைஇ,
நம் உணர்ந்து ஆறிய கொள்கை
அன்னை முன்னர், யாம் என், இதற் படலே?

In this trip to the drylands, we see more of the inner world and less of the outer, as we meet up with the lady, and hear her say these words to her confidante, at a time when her man has parted away to gather wealth for their wedding:

“Slowly, pallor has spread on my forehead; My sprout-like form too has lost its health and is thinning away; This sorrow of mine rises for everyone to see. What could be the reason for all this other than to take my life away? Long may you live, my friend! From the rough and cracked trunks of the Mahua tree, hollow flower clusters fall down, appearing like hail stones, and these are gathered by a huge bear, which has just given birth, much to the fear of the wayfarers traversing those long paths in the drylands. Without thinking it’s natural to feel worried about those who have parted away thither, the townsfolk spread slander. Hearing this, mother says, ‘The terrible things the women folk of this town say suit not my daughter’. Though she has discovered my relationship with him, she has the principle of saying nothing about it. How can I continue to remain so, given the situation?”

Time to listen to the lady’s logic! The lady starts by describing how her health was utterly lost as she was pining away and the sorrow that should be kept hidden had soared to the surface for all to see. She laments that these events make her think that her end is near. Then she talks about the drylands path where a bear, which have just given birth, seem to seek out the Mahua flowers, appearing like hail stones, and in the process threaten the life of wayfarers. Here, the man walks and without thinking it’s natural for anyone, whose beloved walks in such a fearsome place to feel sorrow, the town was spreading slander about her. Hearing that, mother had decided that this state does not suit the lady, and even after realising the situation, mother remained silent. The lady concludes by asking the confidante how she could go on, given these circumstances. In essence, the lady is describing her decision to elope away with her man, as she sees no other hope to sustain her love relationship. A moment of lucid decision-making by being mindful of the difficulty in the present and zooming on to the only path forward!