The Crown Prince and His Love

Chapter 26 |Seperation|

Adithan returned from Kanchi the next day. His visit to Kanchi was fruitless, to say the least. He wondered why Sembiyan Madevi had sent him there with Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer knowing full well he would take care of all the things. Adithan just stood there uselessly while Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer made all the decisions.

His heart was heavy for some strange reason.

The first thing Adithan wanted to do was to meet Nandini. He rode his horse towards the temple and waited for her near the banks of the river.

He expected for her to wait there for him but she wasn't there. Adithan tensed.

Where is this girl? He thought as he rode his horse slowly around the pond. He searched near the back exit but she was not there too. Adithan grew anxious, the familiar fear which he felt when Nandini tried to distance her from him the first time, crept into his heart.

"Penne!" He called out to one of the girls who was playing in the pond. The girl got up and rushed to the Prince. (Penne - girl)

"Yes, Ilavarese?" The girl asked in a sweet voice. But it was not as sweet as Nadnini's he thought.

"Do you know where Nandini is?" Adithan asked.

The young girl shook her head. "She didn't come to the Pooja too, Ilavarese," The girl announced.

"Oh," Adithan frowned, disappointment playing around his face. "Okay you may leave now," Adithan dispersed the girl. She paid her salutations and left.

Was she sick? Adithan thought as he rode his horse towards Thirumalai's house which was near the woods. He knocked on the door, but no reply came. He knocked on the door again. This time he heard the jingling of anklets behind him, he turned back swiftly hoping to see Nandini's moon-like face but he was met with Kundavai's.

"Anna," Kundavai called out. Adithan ignored her and searched around the place for Nandini. "Anna?" Kundavai called out again.

"What?" Adithan asked turning towards her. He was acting like boiling water was poured on his feet, he didn't stand in one place. He climbed up on a platform and scouted the area.

"Sembiyan Amma wanted to meet you," Kundavai said, her voice shaking a little. Adithan looked down at her.

"I'll come, you go," Adithan said he shook her off as he continued searching for his Kanmani.

"No Anna, come with me right now," Kundavai said, Adithan looked down at her again and raised his eyebrows.

"Fine," Adithan scowled as he jumped down from the platform. Kundavai turned back and took the lead. Adithan followed her quietly. Constantly looking here and there, hoping to see Nandini somewhere.

Adithan bit his lips and decided to ask about her to Kundavai.

"Do you know where Nandini is?" Adithan asked Kundavai. As expected Kundavai stayed silent, the only sound coming from her was of her anklets and the jingling sound of the ornaments which adorned her hair and neck.

Her long braided hair, which was adorned by all kinds of ornaments swept side by side endlessly.

"Cat caught your tongue?" Karikalan joked at Kundavai's silence. "It's going to rain quite heavily, I suppose, the princess of Chozha Desam is lost of words for the first time in history,"

Kundavai turned back and shot him a look. The look she gave him was not playful or of anger, it showed something else. Guilt. Tears were ready to flow down from her eyes. Adithan's smile melted as soon as he saw his sister like that.