The Marriage in the Yala forest

Pon Kulendiren - Canada

My grandson Vishwa is fifteen years old. He's a computer addict . He explores computer secrets on the internet. And spends most of his time playing computer games. He is a radical thinker. His imagination is immense.

When he returned from school that day, he quickly washed his face and after tea came to my side with a big smile and sat down. I pretended to be busy reading a book and ignored him. I waited a few seconds for him to look at my face to catch my attention.

"Dadapop, I have good news for you. Why are you not talking to me?" He was disappointed by my behavior.

He nicknamed me "Dadapop" the name he created. The reason for such a nick name was one day I went with him to the mall, I bought him popcorn he wanted while browsing. After tasting it, he started calling me Dadapop. That has become a permanent nick name for me in my family.

 " Please close that book and listen to the important message I'm going to tell you," Viswaa said loudly . I knew he had lost his temper. If I do not pay attention to him, he will start crying.

I have great affection over my grandson. He is of the same star in which I was born.

I closed the book read and looked at him,

"I'm sorry Viswaa. What is your good news Viswaa Kutty? That's how I call him."

"Dadapop, I'm got the first prize of school in a short story competition!"

 I wondered if my grandson, like me, had started writing short stories.

"Congratulations .What's the story of the Viswa?"

"Sri Lankan Jungle Story"

I said, "What is the story of the Sri Lankan Yala jungle? What do you know about that Sri Lankan jungle? You were born in Canada. You never went to Sri Lanka."

I thought the story should be an interesting one. When I was working as a Surveyor in Sri Lanka, Vanni, Wilpattu. Well versed in the forests of Yala, Mahiyangana and Polonnaruwa I surveyed those jungles.

“My mother was born in Colombo and my grandmother was born in Jaffna. They lived in southern Sri Lanka. They told me many stories about the Vanni and Wilpattu, Yala forests. They also told me about the Kataragama Murugan Temple in Yala. I checked on YouTube and found out more about that Yala and Kadirgamam. That was the location of my story. Dadapop, you know that for me I love nature “said Viswaa

" In what wild environment did you create the story?

“I chose the Yaala forest in Kataragama in southern Sri Lanka. Jungle with reptiles birds such as peacock, flamingos, wild jungle fowls, owls, animals such as elephants, leopards, foxes, bears, wild boar, buffaloes, wolves, crocodiles, iguanas, snakes, and turtles; Beautiful birds come from abroad for the season without a visa. ”

" Do you know that Yala do not have Lion."

" I know why you are asking if there is a lion in the Sri Lankan jungle"?

"Tell me why"?

"There is no lion in the Sri Lankan jungle. There is only the leopard. The presence of the image of the lion on the national flag of Sri Lanka and the fact that most of the Singhalese are descendants of a prince from Singapura in north India the lion does not have to be in the Yala jungle."

I said eagerly, "Oh really. Do you even know the history of Sri Lanka? The story of the absence of a lion in that Sinhala country must be interesting”.

Happiness was visible on his face as I was eager to hear his story from Viswaa. Immediately, He took some documents from his bag and started reading the story "Marriage in Yala Jungle" which he had created.

"Please first introduce me to the Yala forest where your story takes place. Where is this Yala forest park located in Sri Lanka?" I asked him to test his knowledge as if he knew nothing.

“Yala Wildlife Sanctuary is in the Southern Province of Uva, Sri Lanka once Ruhuna Kingdom Bird species come in season. Kumbukan Oya and Maanika Ganga flows through this forest. These two rivers quench the thirst of the creatures that live in the forest.

I eagerly said, "You have set your story in an environment rich in natural beauty ,I love to hear your story ."

"In the deer herds in Yala, a male deer named Murugan and a female deer named Valli often drink water daily from the Manika ganga.

“The dotted spots on the female deer Valli’s body added beauty to her. Her eyes were pretty . The male deer Murugan fell in love with Valli deer , Valli deer was fascinated by the two majestic horns on Murugan’s head, On the banks of the they daily they grazed . They met daily and kissed each other. They ran and played. The grazed leaves together. They were both being watched by a dwarf fox named "Todd", with Todd having an eye on Valli. Envy over Murugan. The fox named Todd uses his cunning to devise a plan to separate them.

"That's right Viswa why did you give the fox an English name Todd ? Could it be a Tamil name?

The name of the fox in the Disney cartoon "Fox and Greyhound" is Todd". That's why those names came to my mind.. The name of the greyhound the is "Cooper"

" Your name choice is excellent! Continue the story"

“One day Murugan and Valli decided to get married. He kissed her approval. She agreed with a smile with shyness in her face, Wildlife, birds, reptiles are theirs; Offered to help with the marriage. Bananas, coconuts, and mangoes decorated the entrance to wedding place with mango leaves hanging. An elephant named Ganesh agreed to be the priest at the wedding. The bees brought honey for the wedding ceremony and the wild buffaloes offered milk for the ceremony. Rabbits and squirrels brought tubers and seeds to the wedding meal. Sandalwood and jasmine flower voluntarily provided perfumes . Pond lotus flowers adorned the ceremonial hall. At the wedding ceremony, singing, quills and hummingbirds came together to perform a musical concert. Peacocks, wild turkeys, butterflies, snakes; performed a dance The two monkeys showed off their acrobatic act.

 Not a single animal or birds or reptile came forward to help Todd who planned to kidnap Valli. The leopard roared, warned Todd that if he attempts to kidnap Valli he will jump on him and kill him. Todd due to fear did not attend the wedding . He was afraid of a wolf Cooper and leopard who guarded the couple. Its abduction plan was thwarted by other animals.

It rained when the Yala Jungle wedding was a success; It cooled everyone’s minds. There was drum beat of the thunder. Lightning gave the light for the wedding ceremony; the rainbow appeared in the sky and led decorated the sky like in many colors.

Murugan and Valli decided to spend their honeymoon on a small island in the Manika River. When announced their wish to all their friends living in the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary they supported their marriage. For honeymoon wild buffalo waiting to provide transportation for the newlyweds.  Friends of Murugan and Valli tied wooden sticks and board Newly wed “to the tail of the buffalo . The sticks made a buzzing sound as the buffalo moved and the couple's vehicle was coming. Ganesh blew the trumpet. The buffalo began to move towards the island with the couple. Murugan and Valli were seated kissing on the buffalo. The small logs tied to the buffalo's tail made a big noise. Every friend of Murugan and Valli cheered

After landing the couple on the banks of the Manika Ganga, the crocodile volunteered to carry them on its back across the island in river to the honeymoon island. On crocodile’s top couples had a happy trip to their honeymoon island . The crocodile dropped the pair on the missing island. In the lonely island Murugan and Valli ran and played happily in the lonely island . They had ample space, and many kinds of fruit trees and bushes to eat Were on Honeymoon Island. The bees in the hive were ready to deliver honey to the newlywed couple who came for their honeymoon. The quills sang and greeted me. "

Viswaa finished narrating the story and looked at me for my opinion.

I immediately looked at him and said “Viswaa your story in the Yala forest is excellent .The story written in connection with living beings and giving value to nature is wonderful. I think this story would be the perfect story for a Disney movie like The Lion King ” I praised and kissed him.

In return he replied "I can turn this story into a movie Dadapop" with determination.

"What are you saying? How can that be done? It needs money to film this story."

"Dadapop, you wait a few days and see. I will film this story for you in a week" Vishwaa replied firmly.

A week later he called me and showed me about the Yala Jungle wedding film that he created on his computer; I Couldn't believe it.

"That's right Viswa how did you turn this into a movie ;? I asked him.

It has software called Micro Soft Movie Maker and I used it to create the image, said Vishwaa.

What he said to me looked Greek to me. I kissed his cheeks to express my gratitude.

Viswaa place your video the "Yala Jungle Marriage" in YouTube so that everyone can see. He agreed,

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