Melvaazhkai

Chapter 3

Alwarkkadiyan, Devika, and Vallavarayan stood side by side as they watched Periya Pazhuvettarayar rode his horse with dozens of soldiers behind him.

Announcer: " A brave warrior who carries 64 wounds from 24 battles. The Protector of the Chola Dynasty! The Treasurer! Here comes Periya Pazhuvettarayar!"

Alwarkkadiyan cups his hands and smiles as the trio watches the supposed brave warrior ride by the crowd.

Alwarkkadiyan: " He is Periya Pazhuvettarayar."

Devika and Vallavarayan rolled their eyes and gave a sarcastic smile before Devika said:

Devika: " We know."

As the three of them continued to stare, they all noticed a palanquin passing by with a dozen soldiers and palanquin bearers surrounding it.

Vallavarayan: " Who is in the palanquin?"

Gesturing with his hands, Alwarkkadiyan goes on to explain:

Alwarkkadiyan: " The Chieftain controls the Chola kingdom and his young wife controls him. Her name is Nandini. She is his queen."

Devika digs her fingers into her palm as she felt her heart pang. What was this feeling? She did not believe in the ideals of marriage or happiness.

Unknowingly, the two horses snuck away and pulled off two women's saree blouses.

Woman 1: " Ayyo! Who took my clothes?!"

Woman 2: " Who took them? Someone help us!"

Devika and Vallavarayan turned and saw their horses were gone. They smacked their forehead in frustration before muttering in realization:

Devika: " Semba! Yamini!"

The two of them run off in order to find their horses. As they grew closer and closer, the louder people were screaming.

Devika/Vallavarayan: " Semba. Stop!/ Yamini. Stop!"

Alwarkkadiyan was running after them while asking:

Alwarkkadiyan: " Thambi, can I ask you something?"

Devika gets annoyed and pants out as she looks for her horse:

Devika: " You're greater than Vishnu. Go! "

Alwarkkadiyan shook his head and continued talking:

Alwarkkadiyan: " It's not about that. Who are you two? From where? Where are you two going?"

Vallavarayan, while running, answers:

Vallavarayan: " Three questions. One reply. Who are you to question us?"

Alwarkkadiyan smiles and says:

Alwarkkadiyan: " My name is Thirumalai. Also known as Alwarkkadiyan. My goal is to spread Vishnu's glory. I am a devoted Vaishnavite."

Devika snickers and grins as she chases her horse and says:

Devika: " And our goal is to serve beautiful women and men. We are devotees of beauty."

Alwarkkadiyan only follows them again and shrugs before asking another question:

Alwarkkadiyan: " So be it. One more question. Are you going to Kadambur Palace?"

Devika freezes in her tracks before glaring at the man with stormy eyes.

Devika: " Kadambur Palace? Why would we want to go there? Move aside."

They circle around to see Semba and Yamini just relaxing. The two of them let out a sigh of relief as they inched closer and closer as Alwarkkadiyan said:

Alwarkkadiyan: " A huge feast has been organised at the palace today. Periya Pazhuvettarayar is on his way. There will be music, dance and other festivities. I've always wanted to see Devaralan dance."

Devika pulls the saree tops out of the horses' teeth and mutters to them:

Devika: " Semba, Yamini, We'll sell you both."

Vallavarayan tosses the tops into Alwarkkadiyan's hands as the latter says:

Alwarkkadiyan: " Take me there as your servant. I will be most obedient."

The two siblings reknot the bundles and mount their horses without answering the statement.

Alwarkkadiyan: " Thambi, if you will not take me there, may I request something?"

Devika raises an eyebrow and asks:

Devika: " What?"

Devika clicks her heels on the horse, and it takes a few steps as Alwarkkzdiyan goes a little back to give some space.

Alwarkkadiyan: " Will you give the lady in the palanquin a message from me?"

Vallavarayan: " With a belly like yours, you plan to romance a woman? Semba, let's go before we burst his belly."

Devika laughed slightly before whispering in Nila's ear:

Devika: " Let's go, Yamini."

As they speed up, Alwarkkadiyan attempts to catch up with them but couldn't do so.

Instead, he shouts out while waving his hand:

Alwarkkadiyan: " Wait! Take me with you. Thaggachchi! Thambi! Brother! Go! Make your way there! You won't get past the Fort gates."

The two women from before finally find him and snatch their tops from his hand.

Woman 1: " Shame on you! You disguise yourself as a holy man and assault women?"

Woman 2: " Absolutely disgusting."

Alwarkkadiyan looks at the sky with his hands out and whines:

Alwarkkadiyan: " Sweet mother!"

The second woman waves her hand as she says:

Woman 2: " Clear off! You with your tuft of hair."