NandhininKarikalan PART- I

A New Friend

Thanjavur palace,
Urvashi's chamber,
Noon,

Urvashi woke up at noon. She looked around to see all the curtains were open and with bright sun rays from the balcony. " The sun is too bright for the morning."

That is when a maid entered her chamber and brought her food on a platter.

She kept in front of Urvashi. Urvashi was shocked to see the Arusuvai virundhu in front of her. " Is this the breakfast ?" Asked Urvashi with her mouth wide open.

" No Ilavarasi, this is the lunch" replied the maid. " Oh shit," Urvashi murmured as she threw her bedsheet aside and ran out with some clothes in her hand towards the pond.

" Princess! Eat your lunch and then go " told the maid. Urvashi ignored it and continued running. The maid sighed.

" Oh No, akka is going to be mad at me, why is nobody near the pond, not even the flower woman, weird" mumbled Urvashi as she went to take a bath.

Urvashi finished her bath in a few minutes and started walking up the stairs. She heard the jingle of anklets and turned her head in the direction of the sound.

She saw a woman chasing a small child with a bowl of food in her hands who was running down the stairs.

The woman was adorned with jewellery, this is too much for a maid. Besides the child too was adorned with gold jewellery.

She saw the child now, running in her direction. As soon as the child was near to her reach.

She got hold of the child, he started to wriggle under her grip. So Urvashi lifted the child in her arms.

The woman who was chasing the child with a bowl of food in her hands, stopped running and started to gasp for her breath.

" Vallava, I will tell your mother, if I get you." The child started laughing seeing the woman.

The woman walked towards Urvashi "Thank you for catching him. " Thanked the woman. Urvashi nodded.

" What is your Name by the way," asked The woman. " Urvashi, and yours?" Asked Urvashi. " Oh, My Name is Vanathi." Replied the woman with a smile.

" Is he your son ?" Asked Urvashi. " No, he is Princess Kundavai's son." Told Vanathi.

As she kept the bowl of food down and opened her arms to get Vallavan back. The child shook his head and gripped Urvashi's clothes.

" Ilavarase, go your Athai is calling you
" told Urvashi as she tried to pull him off her. Vanathi blushed at the word Athai. " No, Kodambalore Athai will complain to Amma." Told Vallavan pouting.

Both the woman chuckled and Urvashi tried to convince him. He kept staring at her face and looked at Vanathi.

She promised that she won't complain to his mother, and finally, he agreed to go to Vanathi.

" Are you the Kodambalore princess?" Asked Urvashi. " How did you know?" Asked Vanathi with a smile. " Oh, I guessed it when he called you Kodambalore Athai. " Told Urvashi.

Vanathi smiled. " Yours and Ponniyn Selvar's names are quite popular in Kattumanarkovil. " Told Urvashi with a teasing smile. Vanathi's cheek turned red in embarrassment.

" Oh is that so ?" Asked Vanathi with shyness. " Hmm, I see now, it is true" told Urvashi, Vanathi laughing.

The child was too young to understand their conversation, he simply kept looking at their faces.

" I have to go Now, or else Akka would be mad." Told Urvashi as she started to leave. " You have an Akka?" Asked Vanathi. " No, she is my Anni that's how she wants me to call her." Told Urvashi.

" Who is she ?" Asked Vanathi. " Nandhini Devi." Replied Urvashi. " As in Karikalar's wife?" Asked Vanathi. Urvashi nodded. " Are you a princess too?" Asked Vanathi.

" Oh yes I am Kattumanarkovil's princess, so, ok then I take my leave." Told Urvashi as she waved her hands at the child with a smile, the child grinned and reciprocated it.

Urvashi got all ready, and ate her lunch' Food is my first preference ' thought Urvashi.

She then headed towards Nandhini's Chamber. She was Karikalan sitting on a chair and writing a palm leaf script.

Nandhini was sitting on the diwan with her eyes closed, Urvashi knocked on the door to get their attention.

Nandhini opened her eyes and gestured Urvashi to come inside. Karikalan saw Urvashi and smiled at her.

Urvashi kept looking at Karikalan and then at Nandhini. Karikalan understood that Urvashi wanted to speak with Nandhini alone.

Karikalan got up to leave, but Nandhini stopped him and told him to continue his work. Nandhini took Urvashi out of the room to the garden in the palace.

" Akka I am very sorry! I shouldn't have overslept. " Urvashi started apologising.

" It's ok Urvashi, I was the one who ordered the maid not to disturb you, I know that you haven't slept peacefully, freely these days," told Nandhini. Urvashi smiled at Nandhini.

" Thank you Akka," told Urvashi.

" Akka, what is your next plan ?" Asked Urvashi. " First we have to find out about the things that Kalanthakan told." Said, Nandhini. " What did he say, Akka?" Asked Urvashi.

"He told me that my father did get Ill naturally, it was pre-planned" replied Nandhini. Urvashi's eyes widened at her reply.

" How?" Asked Urvashi, " I don't know, I have to discuss it with Ravidasan. " replied Nandhini.

" Are you going to go like last time?" Asked Urvashi. " No, last time it was not easy to surpass Karikalan. This time I am going to summon him here. " Replied Nandhini looking at Urvashi.
" When?" Asked Urvashi.

" Tonight" replied Nandhini. " Go to your chamber and wait there, send a letter to Ravidasan. " Continued Nandhini.

Urvashi nodded and left. Nandhini walked inside the chamber and stood in front of Karikalan.

" Karikalare, Urvashi has asked me to sleep with her tonight, she got a nightmare last night it seems" told Nandhini.

Karikalan who was immersed in his work, just hummed in reply.

Nandini went to Urvashi's chamber, Urvashi told Nandhini that she has sent the letter.
___________________________________

At night.

Ravidasan jumped the balcony to enter Urvashi's chamber. As soon as he entered, he saw Nandhini sitting on the diwan, pouring oil into the lamp kept in the room.

" Greetings, Arasi." Greeted Ravidasan. " Come, Ravidasa, I was expecting you, " told Nandhini as she kept the oil container aside. Urvashi was sitting out of the Andhapuram for security .

" I wanted to ask you something. " Started Nandhini, just as she started Urvashi came running, inside the chamber. "Iliya Pirati is coming".

What do you think kundavai is going to do?
Will she find out about Nandhini's plans .

Hope you liked this chapter don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts. Special thanks toRagKee for supporting