Anita: "Amuthan, she has just attained puberty; her menstrual cycle hasn't ended yet. Please don't disturb her for a few days."
Amuthan: "Alright, Anita."
Ramya: She started heading back toward the kitchen.
Janani: "Ramya, where do you think you're going? From now on, Amuthan's room is your room. Go with him," she said, sending her off.
Ramya: Blushing and filled with a mix of shyness and fear, she followed Amuthan into his room.
Amuthan: "Come in, Ramya. Come over here and sit on the bed."
Ramya: "No, it's alright. I'll just sit on the floor."
Amuthan: "Look here—you are my wife; you have every right to be my equal. Furthermore, I don't like this formal way of addressing me. I want you to call me affectionately—lovingly calling me 'my darling husband' in a sweet, familiar tone."
Ramya: "Oh no! If your sister finds out, she'll kill me!"
Amuthan: "Don't worry about my sister; I'll handle her. Come on, call me that right now—let's hear it."
Ramya: "Move over a little... *my darling husband*."
Amuthan: "Alright then. Come and sit right next to me," he said, shifting over to make room.
Ramya: She sat down right beside him.
Amuthan: "How are you feeling now? Is your stomach pain any better?"
Ramya: "It's not too bad now. Since I'm using a sanitary pad, the pain has subsided a bit. Can I lie down on your lap for a little while?"
Amuthan: "Sure, go ahead and lie down," he replied. Soon after, overcome by exhaustion, he drifted off to sleep as well.
Janani: She came in to check on them, then gently woke Ramya up.
Ramya: Looking at Janani, she said, "Oh no! I'm so sorry, *Anni* (Sister-in-law)."
Janani: "Just call me 'Janani'—the way you usually do. And *I'm* sorry—I hit you this morning out of anger. For a woman, her *Thali* (wedding knot) is everything; this society respects us only as long as that knot remains around our neck. Otherwise, they will view us as nothing more than a harlot." Did you understand?
Ramya: I understood, Janani.
Janani: Alright. How is your menstrual pain now?
Ramya: It’s not too bad, Janani.
Janani: Tomorrow, we’ll leave from here and head to my house in the evening.
Ramya: Okay, Janani.
Janani: Have you ever met my mother here?
Ramya: I don’t recall, Janani.
Janani: It was actually her who brought you here and instructed us to hire Parvathi to look after you.
Ramya: Is that so? I don’t remember any of that.
Janani: Anyway, let me know once your period is over. We need to make arrangements for your and Amudhan’s "First Night" at our home.
Ramya: Is that really necessary?
Janani: Well, what else? How long do you intend to keep your husband starving? Don’t be afraid; he won’t force you to do anything against your will. He will simply reveal his masculinity to you and, in doing so, awaken the femininity that lies within you.
To be continued.....
