NandhininKarikalan PART- I

Back to Thanjai

Thanjavur palace,

The couple were welcomed by the roaring of the trumpets. Karikalan's horse was leading Nandhini's Palenque.

Nandhini hadn't spoken a single word to Karikalan from the morning. Nandhini remained emotionless in her palanquin.

Her eyes were red and swollen due to the constant crying in the morning.

Soon they reached the entrance. Karikalan got off his horse and went to Nandhin's palanquin to help her out of it.

But Nandhini ignored his hand and got out of her own, karikalan sighed and moved away.

Kundavai was waiting for her brother with a platter of Arathi in her hand.

Her brother strolled towards her and stopped at a few distances.

Nandhini was not in the mood for all these things, she wanted someone who she could cry to, about her feelings.

She did not stop for Kundavai's invitation, rather she hurriedly walked into the palace towards Urvashi's chamber.

She slowly gained the strength to run and ran to Urvashi's chamber.

The door of the chamber was closed. Nandhini banged into the room.

Urvashi who was reading a reply letter from her father, snapped her head towards the direction of the door.

She saw that it was Nandhini who had banged into her room, Urvashi beamed in happiness.

She immediately got up and walked towards Nandhini. " Akka, you are back? I felt very lonely here," told Urvashi.

Nanahini's eyes immediately started to fill with tears. Nandhini caged Urvashi into a hug.

Urvashi was shocked to see Nandhini react this way. Nandhini started to weep.

Urvashi immediately pulled away from Nandhini's hug and looked at her face, "Akka what happen?" questioned Urvashin with concern.

Nandhini blabbered everything to Urvashi, hiccupped and resumed crying.

Urvashi was shocked to hear everything. "Are all these real?" asked Urvashi as she couldn't believe her ears.

Nandhini nodded, " What will I do Urvashi?" asked Nandini. Urvashi remained silent.

Urvashi took Nandhini to the bed and sat on it. " It's ok akka, nothing can be changed," told Urvashi as she patted Nandhini's back.

Nandhini sobbed, and shook her head, " No urvashi, everything is over, my life is gone. " told Nandhini.

Urvashi's shaking hands slowly reached Nandhini's cold cheeks. " Akka don't worry everything will be alright," told Urvashi.

" I am such a disgrace to my family, Will they even accept me if I go back?" nandhini questioned.

" they will Akka don't worry" assured Urvashi.

Nandhini didn't have the strength to talk more, she kept sobbing till she slept. Urvashi adjusted a pillow behind her head.
_________________________________
The entrance,

"What happened to her?" asked Kundavai.

Karikalan sighed, "It is a long story." replied Karikalan.

Kundavai shrugged and kept a Tilak on her brother's forehead and moved back allowing him to go inside.

Karikalan pushed past kundavai and went inside.
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Time passed quickly in Thanjai, it was A few months later in Thanjai

Nandhini was as usual staring at the balcony with a straight face.

Karikalan had tried to get a lot of information about the abathudivagal.

But all of his tries ended up in vain. Parthibandhran, as promised brought all the messages to Nandhini.

The Pandya Nadu's Abathudavigal tried to contact Nandhini with tons of letters.
But they never got any reply from her, even though she had read all of them.

Nandhini didn't reply to any of them, instead, she remained silent.

Karikalan as usual was checking up on the letters that he had got regarding the abatgudavagal.

Just as he entered the palace, a soldier came running to him.

He greeted Karikalan, and he nodded, "Ilavarase, Areser is expecting your presence in his chamber as soon as possible."

The man told. Karikalan nodded, glanced at Nandhini and left towards the king's chamber.

Nandhini who was in her world, turned to look at Karikalan and sighed, as usual, he left without saying to her.
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In Sundara Cholar's palace,
Noon.

"You called me, father?" Asked Karikalan.

"Yes magane, come inside I wanted to talk with you." Told the old king as he gestured to Karikalan to take a seat.

" Karikala I have gotten a piece of news about the Chalukya's army secretly roaming in the outskirts of the empire, this was confirmed when I got a letter from the Chalukya king provoking us for the war." Sundar Cholar informed.

"What?" Questioned Karikalan. " Yes Karikala I want you to participate in this war." Told Sundar Cholar.

Karikalan thought for a minute and agreed. " You will be leaving from Thanjai tonight," told Sundar Cholar.

Karikalan agreed with a small smile, bid his farewell and left to do the arrangements.

Karikalan saw Nandhini sitting on the diwan reading something.

Karikalan cleared his throat to get her attention.

But that didn't work. Karikalan sighed and stated." I will be leaving Thanjavur tonight."

Nandhini slowly looked at him and nodded.

" You will have to come to send me off as you the crown Princess." Announced Karikalan.

Nandhini again looked at him and nodded.

Karikalan felt disappointed, he was expecting a good reaction from her, He nodded and left.
_____________________________________
Night,
At Thanjai,

Nandhini was standing at the exit with a platter of Arthi in her hands.

But her face stayed emotionless. Urvashi was standing beside Nandhini.

Urvashi lost the usual shine she used to have after seeing Nandhini break down that day.

" Akka please smile a bit at least for now, it can even take him even years to return. " Urvashi whispered in Nandhini's ears.

Nandhini glared at Urvashi causing her to shut her mouth to shut.

Karikalan soon came in his armour with his all glory and stood In front of Nandhini, Sembian Madevi, and Kundavai.

Nandhini took the Arthi first, Karikalan kept staring at her.

Nandhini stayed emotionless. She passed the platter to kundavai, she smiled at her brother and wished him good luck.

Karikalan descended the stairs and got on his horse. He to see Nandhini one last time,before he felt but before he could turn Nandhini had gone inside.

Going to introduce Manimeghalai in a few chapters. Just wanted to know who you would want Karikalan to end up with?

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