Janani: Amuthan, tomorrow—as soon as the ritual of pouring turmeric water over Ramya is complete—you must tie the *Thali* around her neck.
Amuthan: Akka, she is terrified just at the sight of men! How could she possibly agree to marry me and build a life together?
Anita: What you say is correct; she certainly won't consent to the marriage willingly. You will have to tie the *Thali* around her neck by force. Afterward, if you conduct yourself as a decent, honorable man toward her, the notion that "all men are bad" will gradually fade from her mind. Then, drawing strength from the knowledge that she has a male companion by her side, she will slowly but surely recover from the trauma of her past life.
Janani: Anita is right. You must do this—for my sake.
Amuthan: Alright, Akka.
The next morning...
Parvathi: "Ramya, wake up! It's getting late," she called out, rousing her.
Ramya: She woke up.
Parvathi: "Take off all your clothes; just pull this petticoat up over your chest and tie it there," she instructed, handing it to her.
Ramya tied it as instructed.
Parvathi: She led Ramya to the bathroom, where Janani and Anita were already waiting. Parvathi then seated Ramya on a wooden stool, and the three of them worked together to rub turmeric paste all over Ramya's body before pouring the turmeric water over her. Afterward, they helped her tie a fresh petticoat and led her back inside.
Parvathi: She fetched a needle, held Ramya's ear, and began to pierce it.
Ramya: "Akka, don't! It hurts!"
Parvathi: Ignoring her pleas, she pierced a hole in each of Ramya's ears, and then pierced a hole on the left side of her nose.
Janani and Anita then stepped forward and inserted earrings into her ears and a nose ring into her nose. Next, they dressed her in a new bra and panties, tied a petticoat around her waist, put a yellow blouse on her, and draped a yellow silk saree with a green border around her.
Anita: She smoothed down Ramya's hair, detangled it, combed it out, and braided it into a loose single plait that reached down to her buttocks. She then adorned it with six cubits of jasmine flowers, two cubits of Kanakambaram flowers, and a single rose.
Janani: She applied heavy makeup to Ramya's face, then adorned her wrists with green glass bangles—finishing the stack with a gold bangle—and placed silver anklets on her feet. She fastened a necklace and a long chain around her neck, then led her into the living room and seated her on a chair. Janani, Anita, Parvathi, Ajay, and Amuthan gathered around and performed the ceremonial rituals.
Janani: "Ramya, come with me to the prayer altar," she said, leading her away. There, Amuthan stood dressed in a silk dhoti and shirt, holding a *Thali* (sacred wedding knot) in his hands.
Ramya: Realizing what was about to happen, she pleaded, "Please, no! I cannot bear to be with a man anymore."
Janani: "Ramya, try to understand what I'm saying. We cannot leave you all alone any longer. You have blossomed into a complete woman; you need a male companion."
Ramya: "No, I don't want that! I will simply stay here and live as a servant," she insisted, reaching out to knock the *Thali* from Amuthan's hands. She swung her hand.
Janani: "Ramya, I just gave you a resounding slap across the cheek! Have you lost your mind? If that Moorthy finds out about you, comes back here, and abducts you again, what will become of your life? If you marry Amuthan, you can live safely—as his wife and as a daughter-in-law in our home."
Ramya: She clutched her cheek and wept.
Janani: "Amuthan," she said, "tie the *Thali* around her neck."
Amuthan: He picked up the *Thali* that lay on the ground and approached her. As Anita lifted Ramya's braid, Amuthan placed the *Thali* around her neck and tied the first knot. Then, Janani stepped forward and tied the remaining two knots. Finally, Amuthan applied vermilion to the parting of Ramya's hair and placed toe rings on her feet.
Amuthan: Next, he had Janani and Ajay stand side-by-side; then, together with Ramya, he prostrated at their feet and sought their blessings.
To be continued...........
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