The Modern Woman - Puthumaiy Penn - Chapter 1

This is the first chapter of a multipart series. There are many Tamil expressions throughout. For non-Tamil readers, there is a glossary at the end of each chapter.

"Over my dead body! I dare you to move!" the woman shouted, as she lay down in front of the bulldozer, so close to it, she could feel the cold of the steel on her warm shoulders. The rage in her eyes; smoldering, even sharper than those huge steel blades, pierced through the windshield at the operator's face. He was taken aback; literally, as if someone had pushed him! What was he to do? He was merely an order taker, not the undertaker. He didn't dare move his foot which was pressed firmly on the brakes, lest the beast of a machine moved an inch forward.

"Vaa.. Ethu Paappom", she dared.

As if on cue, the whole village who had been witness to this, joined her, and laid down on the ground. The growing crowd, with renewed confidence, quickly surrounded the bulldozer, the Police Jeep and the Pannaiyyar's imported SUV. Now it was they, who were truly helpless.

She looked up, beyond the bulldozer into the eyes of the Pannaiyar who sat in the cool confines of his airconditioned vehicle.

"Your turn, Sakthi", they seemed to say. He smiled, thinking, "Nicely done!"

Only minutes ago, the villagers of Meenakshipuram felt helpless, their hands on their mouths, as they watched a humongous bulldozer: a yellow beast bigger than their fierce Ayyanar on the outskirts of the village; all set to tear down the Village Primary School buildings. The Police, some men in lawyer type robes, the VAO, a few officers and clerks from his office, and the Pannaiyyar Sakthivel (who owned the School Compound and the many acres and acres of land around it) stood behind it. It being a Sunday, the school was closed for children. This, however, was the day she taught the adults in the village. Not really following a particular curriculum, she only taught them some basics. To count money, to read and write, spoke of technological advances in farming, on how to open bank accounts, about loans from the government etc.

She was Bharathi, named after the great Mahakavi. And in many ways, she was his Puthumaiy Penn (Modern Woman). Her parents had named her so, as they were ardent fans of the Mahakavi, who was born not too far from their village, in Ettaiyapuram. Her grandparents had seen him, talked to him, and were always singing his praises, and so the influence rubbed off on Bharathi's parents.

In fact, the day's proceedings so far seemed to be an enactment of his poem. About resistance.

Paadhagam seibavarai kandaal
Naam bayam kollal aagathu papa
Moadhi midhithu vidu papa
Avar mugathil umizhndhu vidu pappa.

(If you ever come across scoundrels resorting to misdeeds, you should never fear them. On the other hand you trample them under your feet, and spit triumphantly on their faces)

And that is exactly what she did. She resisted. 

Abruptly, with a single wave of his hand, the Pannaiyar asked his men to retreat. He looked at her and smiled again. The calm confident eyes delivering the "Ok, you win, today" message to hers.

They backed off, walking away; the whole entourage, into their vehicles, and drove away. Eventually the bulldozer inched backwards, slowly after the driver ensured not once, but twice that no one was beneath his machine. It then turned around and followed the rest of the vehicles out of the school compound.

And that was it! The whole village got up, cheered, and celebrated this victory! Thunderous claps, shouts and sloganeering filled the afternoon. Few enthusiastic villagers lifted Bharathi up, and did a victory lap around the school premises, all the while chanting "Bharathi Vaazhga, Bharathi Vaazhga!"

As the dust unsettled in the playground from all the dancing and gallivanting, the sun decided to settle down. At last, the crowd dispersed and people went away to their own homes, and lives. Bharathi too walked over to her bicycle, and went homeward bound. She loved riding her cycle through the narrow channels between the lush green fields. A flock of birds that sat on the banks fluttered their wings and flew away as the Sky was drenched in amber with the setting sun. Jubiliant in her victory, she hummed her favorite tune looking at the birds... "Nirppadhuve, Nadapadhuve..."

A few minutes later, she was at the gate. A huge cast iron installation with gold painted embellishments. Through the gates, one could see the massive palace of a Bungalow, looming high through the group of coconut trees that surrounded the house like VIP Bodyguards. She had been in awe of this place from the very first time she set foot in this village. It was the epitome of grandeur, the true symbolism of a Landlord. Huge columns in the front held the driveway, set behind a manicured lawn and garden. There, on the balcony, stood Sakthi, staring into the horizon at the beautiful sunset. As if purveying his lands. 

She clinked her cycle bell, breaking his reverie. Taunting him, almost challenging him. He turned towards the gate, and saw her. Another faint smile broke out on his face. This woman has gumption, he thought. As one of the servants came running and opened the gate, she got down from her cycle and walked it in the rest of the way. She was home. After all, she was the Pannaiyyar's wife.

...

"Hey there, Kannamma". He greeted her, as she walked in to their bedroom. She hung her bag on the mahogany coat stand. Walked the length of the room to the dresser and sat down. She was tired; her whole body ached. Her white Saree was now a shade of red and brown after she had sprawled herself on the school ground. She needed a hot cup of coffee, some dinner and a good night's sleep. But first, she needed a shower!

He walked up behind her, watching her beautiful form on the mirror. His hands rested on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes, and his raison d'être and smiled. He smiled, in the knowledge of being the luckiest man alive. She smiled back at him.

"That was quite the scene you created today", he whispered into her ears as he leaned in.

"Not as much a scene that you would have created if the school building had actually been brought down". She retorted.

"Well, I can explain and I will. But not right now. Right now, you... you wonderful woman who stole my heart a year ago... need a wash! I have run a bath". 

He reached up and gently pulled the Hair clip out, allowing her long dark tresses to fall. She had tied them up in a bun; She wore this look when she taught on Sundays. There was some dust and mud in her hair as well from the lying down. His fingers patted most of it down, drawing a chuckle from her.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing…they say Vizhinthaalum meesaiyala mannu ottalay... and although, it was I who fell on the ground, your meesai is still clean and intact".

"Avalo thaana?" he said, and bent down bringing his face down, resting it on her head and getting some of the mud on to his beard and mustache. "Now, are we even? Or should I go down, roll in the mud a bit and come back?"

"As long as you don't put your whole head into the mud and think the world isn't watching", she said, implying a lot more than was said. And he understood every word.

"Anyways, come come, let's get you in before the water turns cold". He gripped her by the shoulders, stood her up and turned her around.

She put her arms around his head, looked at him lovingly and said "Only if you join me...”

She kissed him gently on his lips. Only for a moment. It was a promise of things to come. She let go, and walked away from him. Her pallu fell, and then as she walked, she twirled about, removing the saree from her waist. She walked out of it, pulling the strings of her inskirt, as she walked around the corner to their sprawling bathroom... He stood transfixed. Watching her walk away. A face peeked from around the corner, and this time it was visible that she had lost the white blouse too. She put her hand out, signaled to him in a "come hither" motion with her index finger.

"Follow the trail and get in here soon Sakthi". His linen Kurta and Pajamas seemed to mimic the trail of her clothes as he followed her in. As he entered, the trail continued with her underwear leading up to the huge black bathtub that was set on shiny copper legs. Hot water was still pouring in from this oversized copper faucet. It seemed to be the same colour as the sunset that was framed in the tall colonial windows that overlooked the horizon. 

She seemed to be humming another tune, and interrupted herself and said "Seekram va. Don't just stand there and stare, silly!"

He walked up to the tub losing his briefs just before he set foot into it, and joined her, sitting across from her. The tub was wide enough for the both of them. It was one of the considerations when he bought it last year. The water was just warm enough to soothe and relax. For a brief moment, he closed his eyes, letting the burden of the day fly away with the steam. Just as soon, he opened them. Looking at her. This, nymph, who was his and only his.

"Yes, I am all yours, Pannaiyyare...", she answered, as if reading his mind, calling him by the name everyone reverently called him.

"No, It is I, who is at your feet, Kannamma", he said lifting her left leg up, and kissing her toes. He collected some water in his hands, and poured it over the crevices between her toes. His fingers entwining them, clasping the leg in his palm and pushing gently backwards. Tiny snaps marked the completion of the stretch as her calf and ankle muscles relaxed. She closed her eyes and gave in to his pampering. He pulled her feet into his mouth, his tongue licking the underside of each toe and slide between them. She involuntarily pulled her leg back, with a jerk! Oh! She didn't know that would feel awesome. She had heard of foot fetishes, but had never thought herself to have erogenous zones in her feet. Or that Sakthi would do this to her.

“Hush… Relax Kannamma”, he said. This time holding her leg firmly in both hands. He was gentler this time. Letting her skin get to know his tongue slowly. He kissed a path down her legs from her ankles, as he edged closer to her. He placed this leg on his shoulder, pulled up the other leg and kissed it behind the knee. She gasped, as she slipped a bit more into the water and the hot water now ran over her ample breasts, leaving only her nipples out on the surface. A warmth spread through her body, as she saw him looking at them through the misty vapours rising over the water. He kissed his way down that leg and gave it the same ministrations as the first. She laid her head back on the headrest, dazed by the incredible pleasure his tongue brought to the tip of her pinky toe. He traversed a path up that leg catching droplets of water in his mouth as they ran down her thighs. She shivered in anticipation of what was to come. He held both her knees in his hands, and lifted them off his shoulders.

“Turn around”, he said and held her by the waist and helped turn around within the large tub. She backed up against him, snug and cozy as his arms enveloped her. They fit nicely, like a key fits a lock. And as she closed the gap between them, she felt his hardness rub against her back. Hard, and hotter than the water they were in. It burned and branded her. As his.

He cupped a little water in each hand and poured it over her heard. A hand reached out to the niche on the wall, and opened a jar of Shikakai powder. He scooped some on to his hands, added a few drops of water, and applied it on her hair. He kneaded it in, in slow motions, lifting a few strands, applying the paste, all the way to the roots. His long fingers felt like magic, working through her dense tresses. As his fingertips massaged her scalp, layers of exhaustion peeled away from her body and dissolved in the water. She closed her eyes, and leaned against him. He held up her hair and tied it up neatly, to let the Shikakai soak in. He took some water in a palm, poured it at the nape of her neck, and kissed it. Another palm-full of water, and he kissed her neck. His lips brushed against her tingling wet skin as they reached behind her ears. His fingers grazed her ears, as a million nerve endings inside her woke up in unison. Strong hands held her round shoulders and pulled her even closer to him, his hardness now unmistakably pushing against her lower back. His hands now caressed hers and went around, embracing her.

“ufff.. Sakthi….” She let out a moan as her head fall to one side. He grabbed that perfect opportunity to kiss her sweet neck. His mustache grazing against her velvety wet skin. He held her by her chin, turned her face around, and kissed her cheek.

“Kannaththil mutthamittaal, ullam thaan kallverikolludhadee…”, he sang in her ears. “Yen, nee mattum thaan Bharathi paattu paaduviyo? He taunted. She was surprised and elated at the same time, blushing at his words and his touch.

“Unnai thazhuvidhilo, Kannamma, Unmatham aagudhadee…”, he sang as his hands cupped both her breasts. She bloomed in rapture. He kneaded and caressed them for what seemed like ages. His fingers surrounded her nipples gently circling in, spiraling in. she yearned for them to be touched, but he teased, denying her that pleasure. She wiggled about, splashing water over the tub, wanting to make contact between her nipples and his fingers. Finally, he gave her what she wanted. Fingertips held them nipples captive and tortured them softly grazing and scratching. Her breath now raspy, and quick, she let out a throaty groan.

“Ippidiya da pazhi vaanguvaay?” She asked wondering if this was his revenge for her actions earlier in the day.

“Tch Tch, Pazhi vaanga va, naana?”, he denied her allegation, as he continued moulding her breasts as if squeezing the hidden pleasure from within her. He spared her breasts for the moment, letting the gentle warm water soothe them after his not so gentle ministrations. Reaching out into the niche, he pulled out a Vetriver loofah and a Hibiscus body wash paste. He poured the body wash liberally into one palm, and applied it all over her back, her neck, shoulders and her front till the water level. With his toe, he deftly reached for the lever that drained the tub. He pulled on the faucet, and it sprung out as a hand shower with a spray nozzle. Turning the dial on it to change the flow of water to short quick bursts, he directed it to between her legs. She let out a yelp, as a gush of hot water hit her core, flooding it in more warmth. With the water receding from the tub, he continued pampering her body. Washing her gently with the soap and loofah, he conquered every inch of her body, and every bit of her soul. He, who was the Lord and Master of a million hectares of land and all that lay within. He, who people revered, some even feared, but mostly loved. He who had a hundred servants to do his bidding at his every beck and call, was humbly washing away mud and grime from her body. She turned around and looked at him from the corner of his eyes, and admired the focus and concentration with which he was bathing her, so careful, and so gentle.

“Enna?” He found her staring at him, and asked.

“Onnum Illay, Thanks… I needed this”, she replied, as her hand caressed his cheek.

“I know, Kannamma, I know”, he said as he kissed her lips. “Now close your eyes”. She did what was told. He pulled her hair loose from the bun used the shower over to her head and skillfully washed away the Shikakai. Those tresses, they felt soft and light between his fingers. She read somewhere that the scalp had an abundance of nerve endings, and right now, she felt each one of them tingle.

With all the water drained away, a shiver ran down her body. He felt it too, as goose bumps sprung out on her skin like a Mexican Wave in a soccer match. He held her close, and wrapped her in a towel. She got up gently from the tub, and he followed her out of it. As he stepped out, she pulled him in for an embrace and kissed him hard on his lips. The kiss was urgent, and needy. If he was hard earlier, he was ready to explode now. His manhood poking against the towel.

Holding her by the waist, he said “See, squeaky clean!” He lifted her up, and carried her to the bedroom. He sets her down on the bed, delicately, as one would place flowers at the feet of Goddesses. There she lay, cocooned in the softness and warmth of the towel, looking at him. And jogged her memory back to her childhood when they had first met.

Click here to read Chapter 2

Glossary of Tamil words / terms
1. Pannaiyar: Landlord / Zameendar
2. Bharathi Vaazhga: Long Live Bharathi
3. Nirppadhuve, Nadapadhuve: A song by Mahakavi
4. Kannaththil mutthamittaal, ullam thaan kallverikolludhadee
    Unnai thazhuvidhilo, Kannamma, Unmatham aagudhadee
These are lines from Chinnandhiru kiliye, another poem by Mahakavi. they mean
When I plant kisses on thy cheeks, my insides burst in rapturous joy.
When I caress thee, O dear one, I am intoxicated
5. Yen, nee mattum thaan Bharathi paattu paaduviyo?: Why? Are you the only one capable of singing a Mahakavi poem, asks Sakthi.
6. Enna? - What?
7. Onnunm Illay - Nothing