The story lost in the" NILAVARAKUNDU"

a POSTMODERN Malayalam short story originally published in KALAKAUMUDI weekly in Malayalam in 1998 and written in 1996..... Only first page is translated

A story that got lost in the hidden casket

What is it....?

Lying down in everlasting coldness as if in a pose of savasana, inside the concealed casket, Kalyani is seeking the answer. Shekharan was a bit miffed, for he felt that the query had a tone of conciliation. Yet, as she allowed him to feel the balloon-like velvety softness around her navel by pressing his head on to it, some wild emotion spread out through his inner core. Breaking out through the cordon of words, it came bursting out through his lips, which had been dipping into the deepness of her navel.

“A man, who has never endeavoured to take advantage of any female in his life, will die an eternal celibate”.

She giggled in delightful laughter.

“Is it Shekharan’s own outlook or is it the common talk of your gender-folk?”

He had returned his lips to its former location.

“Your body has more coldness than this. Shekharan, why is it so?”

He only murmured in response.

“It is not my gender-folks’. Let me tell you of my most private thoughts”. She twined her two thighs around his neck as a sort of hook.

“I should have had got the name Chandrika”.

He.

Two reasons are appearing in the mind.

1. She must have heard or bought the verses of that ancient, gifted poet from some cassette shop. Or she must have read its parody in some newspaper sheets.

However, his mind disallowed him from conceding such a possibility to her, whose life swayed to the din and bustle of cybersex and digital brotherhood, and who lived in an ambience of bustling English talk that had the swishing sound of swinging casuarinas.

Then the second reason appeared out of its veil.

He.

She must have at least heard it mentioned, when she browsed through the old river-story, in one of those old masterpieces, in which the famous storywriter must have wandered into the countryside as he sought his inspirations from nostalgic reminiscences.

Author's Note

Originally written in MALAYALAM, an Indian language in 1997

Reviews

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

Hello Mr. Ramesh,

Being a novice, I feel unfit to comment on something that is clearly above the level of parlance I am used to. But I would still like to offer my views on this piece.

Well firstly, there are parts which I could not make out quite clearly for example; what has the girl actually found out, something that is a matter of concern for Shekaran?
I really liked the feel of the story, the ambience, that is created by the vivid descriptions of the environment.
And the best part is the sensual, playful yet profound way the plot flows.
This indeed takes a reader to the past era with crisp and detailed imagery!

I liked the overall piece, enjoyed reading it!

Regards
Jyoti

[M P Ramesh]

jyoti,
Thanks for the interaction
AS GIVEN IN THE TIP OFF only the first of the 4 pages was translated
okay
it is death jyoti
ultimate fortune

but how different writers approach it
that is craft

You will learn the skill

carry on pl...
MPR

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

Well thank you for shedding light on that.
Interesting read.

[manju menon]

That was really nice...I am not as good as you in playing with words....very interesting

[M P Ramesh]

Manju,
Thanks....I have a doubt ...whether the comment is related to the review or the story?
I f you can read Malayalam , you can access to the original of the work in Kalakaumudi of 1998 period... The works of the said period is now on rendering......Pl be free to comment
M P R

[manju menon]

how do I get to read kalakaumudi?

[Ellen Kolman]

Hmmm...wow...I am not sure if this short story is erotic or not; are they using metaphors or is this as it seems? what is the premise of the story then maybe I wont feel so lost...I am intrigued ... thank you for sharing...elly

[M P Ramesh]

ELLY,
It's a short story only and only the first page of 5 pages has been translated . You can very well go through the comments I posted just below. Am not repeating the same.Actually it is about a casual relation ship between girl and boy. But it got a legacy so deep and it went to any amount immeasurable within hours and made horrible waves began between them. Eventually DEATH matters and it is full of imagery as you noticed. See realism has become dead in writing even though there are admires still.
The point is that no discoveries on emotions are there for us , writers . Love, dejection, pain , happiness, ecstasy, jealousy, pique, anger, passion, possessiveness, hate etc etc. All have been dealt with in length by great writers . Then what is there for you to encounter. That is the question . Make a new one with same mud . That is the challenge. There the realism fails . friend

I hope you got a little bit on this clarification.

Even this story is carrying an original poetry also. It is essential for the character as she is day dreamer.

[Ellen Kolman]

Aha...a day dreamer...so am I ... I get accused of not paying enough attention to this life because I spend too much time in my own alternate reality...thank you for the clarifications and yes i read the comments below...you are very interesting and amazing, friend...elly

[Samuel Dickens]

My ignorance of your culture has no doubt diminished my understanding of this, but I still found it interesting and rather playful.

[M P Ramesh]

Samuel,
Its common and the source of existence is nothing other than that. The diversity is the base of everything , for literature (any art )especially. I think the repartee I had just below with SOALR will make you enter somewhere around and we will interact further if you are interested/. I am fond of exchanges and that is the main reason for my entering in this blog and partake in dialogue. Especially life/food/love/hate/custom/education/relations/culture/etc.........and we can also.
Regards and thanks


MPR

[Solar]

'She must have heard or bought the verses of that ancient, gifted poet from some cassette shop. Or she must have read its parody in some newspaper sheets.
However, his mind disallowed him from conceding such a possibility to her, whose life swayed to the din and bustle of cybersex and digital brotherhood, and who lived in an ambience of bustling English talk that had the swishing sound of swinging casuarinas.'

In this section - the dated and the dateless make a blind date - the reader is left to decipher.

[M P Ramesh]

solar,
Thanks for interception..
is there any thing left to the writer to
surface
as per your reading

?

MPR

[Solar]

'the verses of the ancient gifted poet'

[M P Ramesh]

SOLAR,
Okay
You might have come across with the monologue of the female character in the story

"CHANDRIKA"

It is a female name ofcourse which is cherished to be owned by her in the meantime...It also means "MOONLIGHT' in the language in which it is written

Moe over the , as the title reads
the NILAVARAKUNDU" is place , an underground to the Keralite ancient houses having entry from inside the houses and regarded as a place of store keeping for aristocracy.
Hence the same is also a place where "Chandrika"(MOONLIGHT) can not reach on in any sense..
only one page is got rendered... and the full imagery may get lost due to that


It is a story with deep language streams


okay

the ancient poet...

here it refers to a POET in Malayalam
who became famous with a poem in Kerala/India having a female character named CHANDRIKA
THE NAME POET IS CHANGAPUZHA KRISHNA PILLAI who lived and died in the last century and got editions of his poem above 10000 IN A SPAN OF JUST 2 YEARS.
IT IS A POEM CALSSIFIED AS ROMANTIC POETRY
of course dates back to 50 years back.
To be precise he is regarded like Keats , Shelly, Ptofi, Mykoviskwi etc in the language
This is for your query

Regards


M P Ramesh


MP Ramesh

[Solar]

നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കു സ്വാഗതം (ningngaḷakku svāgatam) [ I don't know Malayalam just wiki-ed as a thank you]. This clarification has enriched my reading of your extract and now drawn me to exploring the textual allusions.

[M P Ramesh]

solar,
Done with

If you are from the land of

Bankim chndra , Sarathchandra , Ashaoorna Devi
and Rithik Gatak, and Ray
you will have to ....

M P Ramesh

[Solar]

a land unparalleled

[M P Ramesh]

solar,
One of your great journalist of the centruy was from Kerala ...
Can you remenber?
MPR

[Solar]

The great thing about a writing community is reciprocity - I look forward to your feedback on some of my attempts at writing.

[Cherry]

There is a language barrier that intrudes in understanding at times when I read your words but from what I can see, you are referring to a romantic relationship between two people that goes far beyond kissing. Your genitals have helped you write this but that's okay. I'm sorry my review couldn't be more in depth. You did a fine story.

[M P Ramesh]

cherry,
Thanks for your notice
MPR