Edhukku pondatti ennai suthi vappati....

Nethu I was reading a book that revolves around Napoleon's second wife Marie Louise..hey, no! this is not a review at all! Oru normal reader-ku (adhavadhu ennai madhiri pamara human-ku) enna impression varudhu andha kadhai padicha udane-nradhudhan theme.

Mudhalla indha Marie & her royal family (Austrian Emperor kudumbam) chinna vayasula Napoleon-a bayangarama hate panranga, coz he invaded almost all kingdoms being a non royal-descendant. But when she is around 19, she is forced to marry Napoleon due to political reasons by her family. Inga oru super news, Napoleon mudhal wife-a thalli vachudarar coz she hasn't given him a kid in 19 years of their relationship and he knows that he isn't impotent coz his mistress has given him a kid! Namma Marie-um kalyanam pannikaranga. Appuram avanai meet panni first night mudinjavudane love panna arambichuduvanga, and this happens in 1 day! Apparently, andha kalathula ellam people can marry each other in register offices being in different locations (enna vasadhi parunga).

Avar nalla parthukarar Marie-a, she is happy and eventually bears a kid for him. Seri idhellam normal matter. Konja naal-la, Napoleon has to go for war with Russia..European Alliance form aagudhu, and despite Marie's pleas with her dad, avarum edhiri-a join pannidarar. Napoleon loses in the war and is banished to Elba. Marie kannapinna-nu feel pannuvanga, 'ayyo purushan enna panvar andha rocky island-la naan illama' appadintellam azhuvanga, but she is forced to come back to her father's palace with her kid inspite of her insistence on going to Napoleon.

Now, the European parties contemplate on making her the Duchess of Parma. Ivangalum adhu nadandhutta Napoleon-a frequent-a meet panlam coz of the location-nu sandosha padaranga. Meanwhile, she is suffering from Rheumatism and is asked by the physician to go to Aix for bathing in the medicinal waters there. Her dad sends her there with a one-eyed Count, Neipperg. Ivanga daily Napoleon pathi pesuvanga, aana avan kandukka mattan coz he has been instucted by the king to make her forget Napoleon. But he entertains her well and is considerate to her, so ammani-um impress ayiduvanga. At this point, she receives a letter from Napoleon asking her to come to him, she replies saying she isnt allowed and it might not be safe and he sends another letter hotly that he would abduct her and the kid if she does not meet him. Ingadhan madam manasu maridaranga, ennada ippadilam pesarane ivan-tu avanga love sethu poidumam! Theriyama dhan kekkaren, husband-wife kulla sandaiye varadha? Avan emotions purinjikalam illaya ivanga? Anyways, next few days she hears that he has brought back his mistress and her kid to live with him. Avlodhan, love ellam evaporated (this reason is atleast better than the earlier one).

At this juncture, ivangadhan already impress ayidaranga illaya Neipperg mela, rendu perum oru mazhai naal-la maja panidaranga, and become ardent lovers. There is a beautiful statement here - naan abstracted-a tharen - "She knew that Neipperg can never be her husband, but only her lover. Her strong Catholic beliefs denied the prospect of a divorce" - Aama, Catholic beliefs lover mattum vachikalam solludho? Ennanga idhu aniyayama iruku? Ishtathuku religion-a tweak panni use pannikaranga? Napoleon ennada-na anga maja panraru, ivanga inga maja panranga...what is family concept here? And this is the same conventional European community, or so I had been believing!

She gets the duchy of Parma eventually, and goes there with Neipperg. Thirumba pregnant aaranga, but she isnt shy to show the world that she and Neipperg have an affair! They marry after Napoleon dies, but that marriage is not something that would be accepted by law. Rendu pasanga avanuku koduthutu, avan sethappuram she marries yet another person with the protocol called "Secret marriage of convenience". She dies around 1859 at the age of 52-54 doing some social service during the waning years of her life. Ippadi mudiyudhu kadhai. Years ellam thappa kooda irukalam, enaku memory romba weak :D

Now, I am not criticizing anyone marrying twice or thrice, that depends on situation and emotions. But let them divorce the current spouse and love/marry someone else..but what is the point in the co-existence of lover and husband and the conflicting religious beliefs? Nalla kodumaingov idhu!!