Seetha had a very special bond with pillaiyar, at least she believed so. She proudly told everyone that she was pillaiyar's favorite child because he granted all her wishes promptly. She started noticing this soon after Shanthi Akka's wedding. There was a big age gap between Ramani and his brother Ganeshan. Ramani was almost like a father rather than an older brother for Ganeshan. In fact, Rama chithi was a distant relative of Raji. Ganeshan had agreed to marry Rama, without any questions asked, just because he had tremendous respect for his Anna and Manni.

Rama was a very quiet and obedient young woman. She was very fond of Seetha and always treated her like her own child. At first Seetha did not understand why but she returned Rama's love too. One day, soon after Shanthi Akka's wedding, Seetha found Rama chithi crying quietly in the Swamy room. She whispered that to her mother, "Amma unkitta onnu kekatta?" (Mom, can I ask you something) Raji, who was busy stringing the homegrown jasmine, smiled at Seetha and nodded. Seetha said, "Rama chithi appappo Swamy room la ukkadhu azhara. Yen maa? Ennachu?" (Why is aunt sitting in the temple room and crying every now and then) That's when Raji told her that Rama very badly wanted to be a mother. It had been almost 10 years since her marriage.

Although, everyone was kind to Rama at home, you cannot stop the whisperers and the gossip mongers. Apart from all that Rama was yearning to be a mother. They had even visited a doctor in Coimbatore who tested her saying they were both healthy and there did not seem to be any issue. Seetha felt bad for Rama. She kissed her mother's cheek. She then grabbed the jasmine string from her mother saying, "Amma naan idha pillaiyar ku pottuttu varen." (Mom let me go to the Ganesh temple)

Seetha handed over the flower to the priest to hang it on her favorite pillaiyar. Then she closed her eyes and said, "Pillaiyar Appa ennoda Rama chithi paavam. Unnoda kovil vaasal la daily kaarathala Rama chithi thaan kolam podara theriyuma. Chithi enna sondha kozhandai madiri paathuppa. Please chithi ku eppidiyavudhu oru kozhandai kudu. Naan 108 adi pradakshanam pannaren. Ennoda kutti kaal la adhu ethana neram aagum nu neeye yosichu paaru." (Ganesha, please help my aunt Rama. She is the one who decorates your temple entrance with rangoli every morning. She is yearning for a baby. Please give her a child. I will offer 108 rounds around the temple) Just then she heard the temple bell go gong. She smiled, "Nalla sagunam. Appo na kattayam nadakkum." (Good sign which means my prayers will definitely be answered)  She then prostrated in front of the idol. She then took the karpooram that the priest walked with, then took some vibuthi and kunkumam and applied it on her forehead. The priest then gave her a button rose which she promptly placed on her hair and ran around the temple three times before heading home.

She took some of the vibuthi and kunkumam for Rama chithi and said, "Chithi indha pillaiyar kovil lerndhu naan unakkaaga vendindu kondu vandhirukken." (here aunty, I brought this for you from the temple) Rama hugged her and took the vibuthi and kungumam. In two months their prayers were answered and Rama was finally pregnant. As soon as Seetha heard the good news she ran to the temple, jumped to reach the bell and said, "Thank you pillaiyar Appa. Naan ketta nee tharuve nu enakku theriyum. Ippo Rama chithi romba sandhoshama irukka. Chithi yum kozhandaiyum nalla padiya paathukko seriya? Nee paathuppe nu enakku theriyum aanalum sollaren." ( Thank you Lord. I knew that you always give me what I ask for. Just take care of her and the baby although I have no doubts in my mind that you won't.)

When Seetha returned home she realized that there was yet another good news. Her sister Shanthi, who got married 2 months ago, was pregnant as well. Months went by and everything was fine until Seetha heard about a function called seemandham. Seetha was sitting on the steps of the temple kolam, as usual, when Jayanthi skipped down the stairs to sit by her friend, "Seetha ennadi inge ukkadhu irukke? Ennachu?" (Seetha why are you sitting here) Seetha frowned, "Ennoda Rama chithi ku seemandham aam. Adhukku aparam chithi ava amma aathukku poiduvaalaam. Aparam kozhandhai porandhu adhukku 3-4 maasam aana aparam thaan varuvaalam." (Apparently it is aunty's baby shower after which she will leave for her mother's village and will return only 3-4 months after delivery) Jayanthi looked confused, "Seri adhukku nee yendi moonjiya thooki vachundu irukke? Adhu nalladhu thaane?" (That's ok but why are you frowning for that) Seetha replied, "Adhu nalladhu thaan aana adhe maadiri Shanthiakka nammathukku vandhu enna paada paduthuvaale. Nalla naal liye enna oru edathula ukkara vida maata. Ippo kekkave vendaam" (Yes that's a good thing but unfortunately that all means my sister Shanthi will be home for her delivery. As such she bosses around and now with her hormones she will drive me crazy) she sighed.

Exactly like Seetha had mentioned Shanthi returned home bigger and meaner. Her pregnancy hormones were at its peak as well. She literally treated Seetha as her little assistant, ordering her around and Seetha could not even complain. After a couple of months, Seetha was tired of Shanthi's atrocities. One evening Seetha went up and spoke to Pillaiyar, "Pillaiyar Appa, ennala mudila. Indha Shanthi akka enna romba paduthara. Naan chinna ponnu thaane? Enna poi ippidi vaati vadhakalaama nu neeye sollu? Seekiram andha kozhandhaiya porakka vai. Appo thaan Shanthi akka oda gavam ellam andha pakkam irukkum. Paathu pannu pillaiyar Appa." (Oh Lord! I cannot do this anymore. Please let Shanthi have her baby soon so that her focus is on the baby instead of me. Please do the needful.) She closed her eyes and smiled at the sound of the bell.

That night Seetha woke up to the commotion at home. She heard Shanthi akka screaming. The entire house was running helter and skelter. Seetha rubbed her eyes, yawning and walked up to her father, who placed her on his lap and said, "Nammathukku kozhandai vara pordhu." (the baby is going to arrive) The village mid-wife was called and, early in the morning, they heard the sound of a baby's cry. Shanthi akka had delivered a healthy baby boy. Pillaiyar had granted her wish and, Shanthi also became totally focused on the baby and left Seetha alone.

Two days later, they got the good news from Ganeshan as well that Rama had delivered a baby girl. Mother and baby were doing well. Seetha was told not to go to the temple for 10 days but on the 11th day she ran to the temple to complete her adipradakshanam, as promised, for Rama chithi and her daughter Ranganayaki (Rangu).

Seetha's bond and deals with Pillaiyar continued as years passed by. She asked for 95% marks in 10th std so that she could convince her parents to let her go to Mercy college for her predegree. She promised to offer him 108 poorna kozhakattai that she will make herself. Pillaiyar gave her exactly 95% and the Kozhakattai were promptly delivered.

Seetha strongly believed that her pillaiyar would never let her down. If he doesn't grant her what she wished for, that was only because he had something better in plate for her.

Brinda Subramanian