The Way Of Extracting Truth

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Thanjavur, palace

Nandhini and Karikalan were ready to leave to the temple, they were accompanied by Sembian madevi to the temple. Karikalan questioned Nandhini about Urvashi. Nandhini said that Urvashi wouldn't be able to come due to some personal reasons.

Karikalan shrugged it off. Urvashi on the other hand, started the work given by Nandhini.

Nandhini was told to sit inside a palanquin, Karikalan was riding a horse leading the plaques of Nandhini and Sembian madevi. A few soldiers were with them just for safety.

'Will Urvashi have started her work?' Nandhini thought while she was travelling in the palanquin. They reached the temple within a few minutes. Karikalan stopped and got off his horse.

He went towards his wife's palquine and parted the curtains. " We have reached" informed Karikalan as he gave a hand to Nandhini helping her out of the palanquin.

Nandini smiled at him and took his hands, she got out of the palanquin. Sembian Madevi joined them, Nandhini held Sembian Madevi's hands helping her walk steadily. Sembian Madevi was shocked, she kept looking at Nandhini's face.

Nandini too noticed her glare but eventually chose to ignore it. They walked inside the temple. A very young priest bowed down and greeted them. Karikalan nodded, and Nandhini smiled.

The newly wedded couple and the elder Pirati walked towards the deity, all three saw the deity and brought their palms together to pray.

Karikalan came to stand beside Nandhini, and Nandhini prayed to the god with devotion. Whereas karikalan kept looking at Nandhini from the corner of his eyes, simultaneously.

Nandini did not see Karikalan looking at her. She prayed to god with full devotion, she prayed only one thing
" God's help for achieving success in her plan for revenge help".

Karikalan on the other hand prayed, "Oh lord the great Neela Kantha, please help me, she is not like the Nandhini who I fell in love with, she has changed, not fully, just a bit, please make her normal and helped me live with her happily. "

A small kid rang the temple's bell as they prayed, It was as if God blessed them, and their requests. Karikalan grinned, Nandhini looked happy thinking that the good had given her approval to start it.

The head priest Who was still inside the garbhgrah chanting mantras, came out with a platter which had a lamp, some holy ash and Vermillion.

He gave the ash and Vermillion to Karikalan, then Sembian madevi, and it was Nandhini's turn to get it.

As the priest was about to give the offering to Nandhini, he saw her face. The platter fell from his hands as he saw Nandhini, he looked shocked and scared, and tears started to fall from his eyes.

Nandhini moved back as the platter fell. She looked at the priest in confusion, the priest suddenly fell on his knees and brought his palms together.

He fell on Nandhini's feet, Nandhini was very much shocked by this. She bent down to bring the priest back to posture "Ayya, What are you doing, please get up" insisted Nandhini.

The priest shook his head and said " I made a very big mistake please forgive me, Devi".

Karikalan was also shocked, he ordered the priest to get up. He got up but the tears spilling from his eyes didn't stop. Sembian Madevi stood motionless. She knew the reason he was reacting this way.

Sembian Madevi finally opened her mouth and said " This is not her, stop crying."The priest looked at Nandhini and stopped crying " But she looks exactly like her" the priest mumbled to Sembian Madevi.

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