Melvaazhkai

Chapter 2

*When it says Start Video, click Play then. And imagine the dancing scene that Devika is dancing as well.*

Devika and Vallavarayan climb onto their horses, their destination set for the Kadambur Fort. They set their bundles on their horses and start their ride.

With a sense of excitement and adventure, they mounted their steeds and urged them forward, their hooves kicking up dust as they started their ride.

As they made their way through the rolling hills and fields of tall grass, the riders breathed in the crisp mountain air and basked in the warm sunshine. They chatted and laughed, sharing stories and jokes as they rode, feeling the freedom of the open road and the joy of being surrounded by nature.

*START VIDEO*

*END VIDEO*

The two of them got to a village where there was a crowd forming. They dismounted their horses and walked towards the centre of the commotion, trying to get a better view of what was happening.

As they approached, they could hear whispering voices and see people staring out in a certain direction. Curiosity piqued, they pushed their way through the crowd until they reached the front, where they saw ships inching closer and closer.

They stood next to a man and asked who that person was, pointing to a figure on one of the approaching ships. The man squinted his eyes and studied the distant figure for a moment before responding:

Devika: " Ayya, who is that?"

Man: " The most powerful Chola Chieftain, Periya Pazhuvettarayar. Asking such a foolish question will get you thrashed."

The two individuals recoiled slightly at the priest's stern response, realizing their mistake in asking such a question. As the ships drew closer, the sound of their creaking wooden hulls and flapping sails filled the air, and the impending arrival of the Chola Chieftain could be felt all around.

Their horses, Yamini and Semba let out a snort, begging for attention, but their owners only quieted them.

Vallavarayan: " Semba! Yamini! Be quiet."

The crowd slowly dispersed as they went on with the tasks they had been doing before. Realizing the crowd was slowly getting smaller, the siblings mounted their horses and continued their journey.

Along the way, they saw another crowd of people. As they went in that direction, they saw two priests arguing.

Priest 1: " Fool! Your God has given you clay for brains!"

As the two siblings circle around, they hear the other priest snicker and retort:

Priest 2: " If my brains are clay, your whole body is made of clay. Stolen clay."

Devika furrowed her eyebrows at the weak attempt at insults thrown at the two men. She couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment at the lack of creativity and intelligence exhibited in their words.

Devika had always been a firm believer in the power of language, and she had a deep respect for those who could wield it effectively. Unfortunately, these two individuals standing in that crowd were not that type of those people.

The second priest added to his insult:

Priest 2: " Look at the sacred marks stacked like 50 clay pots on your brow."

The other priest with the weird hair lunges towards the other man while saying:

Priest 1: " Don't speak of my sacred marks, or I'll pull your tongue out. I have the power of six shastras in me. I am Alwarkkadiyan Nambi."