Who is Komal's Benefactor? (1051 words)

Komal had an unusual dream early one morning. In it, Komalavalli Thayar, the consort of the presiding deity Aravamudhan (Utsava murthy)of the Sarangapani temple, appeared and asked her to visit Her shrine at 9 a.m. that day to receive a personal blessing.

When Komal woke up, she was drenched in sweat, filled with awe and excitement. The dream seemed strange, but it held significance for Komal, who prayed daily to the Goddess, hoping for a good husband. She hesitated to tell her mother, worried she would assume Komal was anxious about getting married. Additionally, she was unsure whether to visit the temple at the specified time since it would make her late for work.

Confiding in her friend Pankaja, who lived in the adjacent flat, Komal sought advice. Pankaja, sensing the importance of the dream, advised her, “Komal, don’t ignore this command. Perhaps the Goddess has a plan for you. While I, too, have my doubts about Her meeting you in person, what harm could come from visiting Her shrine, which you already do daily?”

Komal agreed and decided to go.

Komal was 27, worked in a bank, and lived with her mother. With her father having passed away years ago and no immediate family to help find her a suitable match, no efforts had been made toward her marriage. Shy by nature, Komal didn’t have the courage to search for a partner on her own.

When she arrived at Thayar’s shrine, there were only a few devotees, although the main shrine of the God was crowded. After offering her prayers, she sat down with her eyes closed, reflecting on her dream. She was startled when she heard a gentle voice say, "My dear, I am happy to see you here offering your prayers so sincerely. What is your name?"

Komal opened her eyes to see an elderly woman in a dark maroon silk sari adorned with numerous pieces of jewellery and a large bindi. The woman’s twinkling eyes and captivating smile evoked instant respect and fondness in Komal.

“Komala is my name, but friends call me Komal,” she replied.

“Ah, you share a name with the Goddess. What a happy coincidence! I’ve seen you here many times but have never spoken to you. Tell me more about yourself, your family and where you live,” the woman said in a mesmerizing tone.

After gathering all the details about Komal through light conversation, the woman moved away without revealing who she was or why she needed the information. Komal, still anticipating a divine encounter as promised in her dream, waited. But nothing unusual happened. Just as she was preparing to leave, the priest called her and handed her flowers from the feet of the Goddess. This unusual gesture filled her with joy, and she returned home content.

Later that evening, while narrating the temple events to Pankaja, tinged with slight disappointment, a large car stopped in front of their apartment. A well-dressed woman in a heavily embroidered Kanchipuram silk sari and jewellery got out, accompanied by a young man. They approached Komal’s door and asked if it was her residence.

“Yes, I am Komal. Please come in,” she said, welcoming them in with curiosity.

Komal’s mother joined them, equally surprised by the unexpected visitors.

The young man guided his mother to the sofa and made himself comfortable on a nearby chair, smiling and greeting everyone with folded hands. He was around 30, tall, and handsome, casually dressed in a T-shirt and jeans.

“You must be wondering who we are and why we’re here,” the woman began. “Even we didn’t know until we reached the temple this morning. We are originally from Kumbakonam but have been living in California for many years. We returned to visit our ancestral home and the temples, which brought back many memories.”

Komal’s mother, pleased to hear they were also from Kumbakonam, moved closer, showing more interest.

The woman continued, “Something remarkable happened this morning at the Sarangapani temple. An elderly woman, whom we had never met, approached us. She claimed to know my father and grandfather, as well as our family. We were drawn to her, perhaps because of her dignified demeanour and the warmth she exuded.”

Komal and her mother exchanged curious glances.

“She told us something surprising,” the woman added. “She suggested we visit your house and seek your daughter’s hand for my son here. She said she knows Komal well and assured us that she would be an ideal match. Since this came from such a respectable lady, we felt compelled to meet you.”

Komal was startled. How did the elderly woman know so much about her, especially since Komal had only shared her name, her job and her address not in minute detail? She exchanged a look with Pankaja, both deep in thought.

Komal’s mother, still confused, asked, “Did she mention who she was or where she stays? I don’t recall knowing such a person.”

The older woman responded, “She only said her name was Komalavalli and that she has lived in this town for a long time. We didn’t question her further, as she appeared very respectable, and we were eager to meet you. My son Chakra is an engineer, well-employed in the US, but we plan to relocate to Bangalore. We like Komal, and if you’re agreeable to the proposal, he’d like to speak with her.”

Komal’s mother, sensing fate at work, replied, “We are happy with this fortunate turn of events, whoever that old lady may be.” Then, turning to Komal, she added, “Take him to your room and get to know each other, keeping in mind the purpose of the visit.”

Chakra and Komal spent about thirty minutes talking before returning to the room, both smiling. Pankaja, observing them, grinned and said, “I think I know what Komal’s answer is, and I also have a good guess about who the old lady at the temple is. I believe Komal has figured it out too.”

Everyone turned to Komal and Pankaja, eager to learn the mysterious woman's identity. But both friends remained silent, sharing a knowing smile.

Chakra’s mother, also intrigued, added, “Whoever she is, I think we can all guess her identity—given her name, where we met her, and the dignity and compassion in her eyes.”