NandhininKarikalan PART- I

The Unfinished Battle

Back At The Battleground,
After Nandini Left,

Malayaman was confused about why she had left the war. An eagle came flying towards her and landed on her shoulder, boom! She vanished.

He heard her saying something in the distance but he couldn't hear anything.

The Senadhipathi of the army, Ravidasan, lead the war in her absence the Pandiyan army fought more furiously.

Malayaman continued fighting until a Chola messenger came to deliver a message.

Malayaman opened the palm leaf and went through it what he read shocked him

Adhitha,

Stop the war immediately and return to Thanjavur as soon as possible, you have caused a great mistake by attaching Veera Pandiyan without knowing the truth. He isn't the one who killed...

As he was about to continue reading, it started to rain heavily, and the palm leaf letter got drenched because of the rain resulting in the words written being erased.

But he very well knew what the letter meant. It was an order by the king telling Karikalan to end the war as soon as possible.

Malayaman thanked the messenger who bought it and headed towards the north of the battleground.

"Soldiers" called Malayaman. All the soldiers including the Pandiyan soldiers turned to look at him.

" I sincerely apologise for the inconveniences and foolishness we have caused to the Pandiyas, we were given some wrong information which caused us to wage a war against you." Apologised Malayaman.

"Thatha what are you blabbering" exclaimed Parthibandhra as he was very shocked.

" I am not blabbering I just got the order from the king to tell us to stop the war". told Malayaman. Parthibandhra found it hard to believe.

"Well if you have to stop the war it shouldn't be you asking for forgiveness, it should be Karikalan" answered Ravidasan smirking, for which the Pandiyan army cheered.

" As Adhitya Karikalan is not present here, it is my duty to follow the king's order". replied Malayaman.

" So, where has your coward prince gone? Did he run away?" asked Ravidasan causing the Pandiyan army to laugh.

This made Parthibandhra's blood boil. "Watch your words, you want to know where Karikalan had gone? Well he has gone to slay your king," shouted Parthibandhra.

"Calm down son " Malayaman soothed him.

"We won't be continue fighting against you that's all, Soldiers attention! , Everyone head towards the camp" ordered. The Chola soldiers followed him half-heartedly.

Malayaman told Parthibandhra to look after the injured soldiers and went in search of Karikalan.

He went in the direction of where Karikalan had gone,
He started to search for Karikalan in the forest but he was nowhere seen.

Finally, he ended up near a river bank Malayaman looked around, nobody was there but Karikalan's horse was tied to a tree near the river.

Malayaman walked forward to see a broken karikalan leaning against a tree, he was drenched in rain. "Adhitha" called Malayaman.

Adhithan turned towards the source of the call. "Thatha," said Karikalan sadly.

"What happened, my son, why are you here? You should have come to the war, right?". Asked Malayaman.

"Thatha I made a very big mistake killing Veera Pandiyan." Told karikalan.

"You killed Veera Pandiyan!?", exclaimed Malayaman. "Yes Thatha", replied Karikalan, confused about why Malayaman was reacting so shocked, he knew that he was going to kill him.

"You indeed have done a great mistake," told Malayaman."How do you know Thatha, "asked Karikalan confused.

I just got a palm leaf letter from your father telling you to stop the war immediately and return to Thanjavur.

Karikalan was shocked to hear about how his father came to know about the war as he didn't inform him before coming.

Instead, he sent a letter lying that he was going to attack the Rasthrakuthas.

"What are you saying Thatha?." asked Karikalan in shock. " Yes my son your father came to know about it somehow," replied Malayaman.

After a few seconds he continued" Leave that my son everything happens for something good, why do you regret killing him?"

Adhithan froze and regret filled his face, "Thatha what we thought is wrong, it wasn't him who had done that". Replied karikalan sorrowfully.

"What?Then who was it ?" Asked Malayaman. " I think it is better to not talk about it any further " replied Karikalan.

Malayaman understood and kept silent the only sound that could be heard was of the rain.

After a big gap, Adhita Karikalan told " Come thatha let's go to the camp" and walked forward towards his horse from the river basin. Malayaman followed him.

Karikalan kicked his horse and started to travel towards the camp. All of his thoughts were of Veera Pandiyan whom he regretted killing.

His heart felt heavy because of the guilt. He knew the person who will make his heart light. He thought about it as he reached the camps.

The news of Veera Pandiyan's death reached Adhita Karikalan.

Everyone started praising him for killing Veera Pandiya. He close his eyes in distress, Parthibandhra came and hugged him but he didn't hug back.

" What happen nanba why do you look sad, be happy we won" told Parthibandhra happily.

Karikalan ignored his words and told, "Leave me alone for sometimes, I wish to be in peace". Parthibandhra was about to reply but Malayaman gestured him to leave Adhithan alone.

Karikalan went inside. Entered inside the tent and started to remove his armour. He constantly kept thinking about Veera Pandiyan's death.

Karikalan got frustrated and pulled his hair, he started to push the items kept in his camp and broke things.

He felt restless he started to scream in frustration. Hearing his scream, Parthibandhra and Malayaman came there.

They saw the things broken and scattered everywhere. Karikalan was sitting on his bed, breathing heavily. Malayaman went near him and told, "Adhita calm down, things that happened cannot be undone".

" How can I forget thatha, I killed the wrong person. " Karikalan breathed out and continued " Thatha if it wasn't him, then who killed my mother!?" Shouted karikalan.

" We will find him my son don't worry " Malayaman teared up a little after hearing about his daughter.

Karikalan shook his head and lay down on his cot with one hand on his forehead. He told his friend and grandfather to leave him alone.

He closed his eyes and exhaled. He thought about the only thing that would bring him peace and happiness, his Nandhini.

Hello guys, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Leave a comment and don't forget to vote. Special thanks to RagKee for supporting.