In this episode, we listen to an intriguing way of communicating an awaited information, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 160, penned by Kumizhi Gnaazhalaar Nappasalaiyaar. The verse is situated amidst the sandy shores of the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal landscape’ and conveys the change in the man’s manner and what it means to the lady’s life.

ஒடுங்கு ஈர் ஓதி நினக்கும் அற்றோ?
நடுங்கின்று, அளித்து, என் நிறை இல் நெஞ்சம்.
அடும்பு கொடி சிதைய வாங்கி, கொடுங் கழிக்
குப்பை வெண் மணற் பக்கம் சேர்த்தி,
நிறைச் சூல் யாமை மறைத்து ஈன்று, புதைத்த
கோட்டு வட்டு உருவின் புலவு நாறு முட்டை
பார்ப்பு இடன் ஆகும் அளவை, பகுவாய்க்
கணவன் ஓம்பும் கானல்அம் சேர்ப்பன்
முள் உறின் சிறத்தல் அஞ்சி, மெல்ல
வாவு உடைமையின் வள்பின் காட்டி,
ஏத் தொழில் நவின்ற எழில் நடைப் புரவி
செழு நீர்த் தண் கழி நீந்தலின், ஆழி
நுதிமுகம் குறைந்த பொதி முகிழ் நெய்தல்,
பாம்பு உயர் தலையின், சாம்புவன நிவப்ப,
இர வந்தன்றால் திண் தேர்; கரவாது
ஒல்லென ஒலிக்கும் இளையரொடு வல் வாய்
அரவச் சீறூர் காண,
பகல் வந்தன்றால், பாய்பரி சிறந்தே.

This trip to the coast provides a glimpse of the teeming life in this domain and takes us in the presence of the confidante, as she says these words to the lady:

“O maiden with well-set, moist tresses, is it the same for you too? My pitiable, unfulfilled heart is shivering! Ruining the beach morning glory vines by pulling it, the pregnant turtle clears the heap of white sand in the backwaters and then hides itself before laying eggs. Then it buries the flesh-reeking eggs in the shape of ivory dice. Its mate with a split open mouth guards with devotion, until these eggs turn into hatchlings, in the orchards by the picturesque seashore in the domain of the lord.

Fearing that if thorny goads are used, it would leap, his horse with an elegant gait, which has learnt the art of pouncing like an arrow, is gently directed to slow down, with the hold of the bridle. Since his chariot comes striding through the cool and lush backwaters, the sharp wheels sever the blooming clusters of the blue lotus, making them wilt, and akin to the hoods of snake, these bob up in the waters. The lord’s sturdy chariot used to arrive this way in the quiet of the night. But now, without any restraint, with uproarious helpers, letting our small town with strong mouths see, he arrives by day, speeding on his pouncing horses!”

Time to take a dip in the cool waves of the shore and know more! The confidante starts by declaring that her heart is shell-shocked and she questions the lady if she feels the same way too. Without explaining a thing, she goes on to describe the man’s domain and to do that, first she brings in a mother turtle in the middle of laying its eggs, amidst the sand beneath the beach morning glory vines, in a well-hidden way. Later, the confidante points to us how these eggs are being guarded by the father turtle, which apparently takes care of these, until they turning into hatchlings.

A moment to consider this statement about father turtles guarding eggs. In our current world, there are no instances of paternal involvement, when it comes to protecting turtle eggs. There may be a few species in which the mother offers a little protection, but that too would mostly be in the nesting stage, and after that, the baby turtles would normally have to fend for themselves, with no support from either parent. So, either the Sangam folks are mistaken in their understanding or perhaps there was some unknown species of turtle, which had this characteristic, and one, which has possibly gone extinct now. In any case, at the core, there’s the element of projecting human values on the behaviour of this animal.

Returning, we find the confidante turning the spotlight from the man’s domain to the man’s actions. First, she talks about how he used to come so quietly at night, taming the intensity of his horses, and wielding his chariot silently through the waters, severing some blue lotuses in the process. Then, she concludes by contrasting this discreet way of visiting the lady to how he has now come, attracting a lot of attention from their townsfolk with gossiping mouths, led by his boisterous helpers and speeding on his horses, in the bright light of day.

Now, we can connect it to the confidante’s statement about her heart stopping at this sight, and understand this is her way of telling the lady, ‘Your man has come to seek your hand. All’s well now’! Even in that scene of the male turtle guarding the eggs, the confidante hides a subtext of how the man has ensured that precious egg of the secret love relationship between him and the lady has turned into the hatching of a happy married life. In essence, the confidante has simply spiced by the story with a little drama in the beginning about her poor heart and ended with the news that’s sure to make the lady’s heart brim over with joy!