Short Story/The Old Couple And The Touring Marriage Party

Installment 1 Ponaih and Susheela lived peacefully in Shivapuram.Their children Raman, Srini and Maneka were all married, and after a few years of performing the duties of grand parenting, the old couple decided to spend their last days in this small town known for its Siva temple. They won the hearts of their neighbors soon after they moved into their house. Susheela started singing Sai bajans and soon their house turned into a mini mandir for the neighbors, who participated in her morning bajans and arati. The children loved the sweet boondi Susheela gave them after offering it to the deity. Their days were eventful and they had visitors like wandering sadhu’s for instance who came and chatted. Their evenings were reserved for watching Tamil serials like Selvi and Manaivi.Except on the days when they had to see their doctor for various ailments which the old suffer from, they did not have to leave Dr.Anbu road where they stayed. One night in the Tamil month of Aavani they were invaded. Poniah’s brother’s son Raju had got married nearly a month before the event I am about to narrate took place. Since they were semiritired from a worldly life(at least officially) the old couple had sent their blessings through a telegram and excused themselves from attending the ceremony. Baskar, Poniah’s brother had called them and informed them that after the marriage they (he did not specify the number of persons this referred to) were on a post marriage tour of the state and might visit Shivapuram.Delighted Poniah and Susheela said that they were welcome anytime. On a pornami* night after dinner the couple had just settled and started watching a serial. The doorbell rang most unexpectedly around 10 PM. Not used to visitors at this late hour Poniah opened the door tentatively. There stood Baskar grinning sheepishly. Poniah was most happy to see his brother, even though it was such an odd hour. He thought that they must have decided to come in the last minute and inquired where his wife Sasi and the newlyweds were. Baskar still smiling sheepishly said," They are all in the mini bus." Confused Poniah asked," A mini bus for just four people! You could have just taken a Taxi!"Saying this he looked over the gate to see where the bride and groom were. And then he saw them and what he saw made him wonder if he needed to check his vision. A crowd certainly more than a dozen was standing outside his gate, in the middle of which stood the newly weds... *full moon To be Continued..