Nandini

Chapter 18- Virahini

There he is! He looked radiant in the rays of setting sun. Adithar indeed. He smiled and waved when he saw her. Nandini longed to run to him and hug him but she was planning to stop two three steps away from him and stay there. But he scooped her up and engulfed her in his strong arms.

"Nandini, what happened? I heard that you are undergoing some kind of treatment. Darling, are you alright? You look so pale. I should have come to you."

He pressed the back of his palm on her neck and forehead. She didn't answer him.

"Does Madhavi know that you are here?"

"Which Madevi? Doesn't matter. None of them know. Why?

"I am not asking about senior queens. I am asking about the future queen, your fiancee. How is she?"

"She got so furious that she even changed her name from Nandini to Madhavi. She couldn't wait to become a Madevi", he tried to cheer her up. "Honey, what is it? Are you angry that I didn't come earlier? I came to know about this only last night. Who is Ma-dhavi?"

"The one you have been gifting lotus flowers to".

Then realisation dawned on his face.

"So she is the one who stole your lotus flowers. Nandini, when I go back with our flowers, many women tease me. Even our Kalyani paatti and kutti sithappa won't spare me. Does that mean that I am going to marry them? Sometimes they go missing from my room. I hate it but can someone keep beautiful flowers under lock and key, that too in a palace where multiple women obsessed with flowers live"?

"Ilavarase, they aren't obsessed about flowers. They are obsessed with you. I don't blame them".

"Why? Are you too obsessed with me?", he tickled her. She resisted smiling. Karikalan's face too turned serious.

"Nandini, don't call me ilavarasan. I sense it is creating a gulf between us. Call me Adithan or Karikalan or any pet name you love. Anname, I don't mind if you call me tiger, parrot, deer or even monkey in our privacy".

"There is a gulf between us. It won't be reduced if I give you pet names. You have a duty towards this country. You are supposed to take a chief wife from a big family and co-wives from other families. I am an ignorant temple girl who forgot my station".

"Nandini, I know about my official duties. I will fulfill them. By my heart is independent from it. Don't you too have a duty towards my heart? Haven't I entrusted my heart with you? Why are you poking and slicing it? I am yours. I have always been yours and I will always be yours, till the end of my life. As a warrior, I don't know how long will I live, but, . . . ", Nandini placed get palm above his lips and stopped him. He kissed her palms and caressed her cheeks. Then stepped two feet away from her, held her shoulders and gazed at her.

"Hmm, let me see. Burning pallid cheeks, rough hair, neglected nails, droopy eyelids..." *

"Karikalare, you too should learn medicine".

"...tired body like waning moon, deprived of sleep by recurring sadness and consumed by ceaseless pain..." *

She was shocked.

"How do you know? I didn't tell anything to even Bhattar".

"Mahakavi Kalidasan told me. My dear, you are showing all symptoms of a virahini. Moreover, someone planted the seeds of doubt in your heart".

Nandini smiled. When she talks about pasurams or other kinds of devotional hymns or stories, he listens only because he doesn't want to offend her. Sometimes he jokes that kuttisithappa performs enough prayers and austerities for both of them. He started visiting temples regularly only to meet her. Who would have imagined that the tough warrior Aditha Karikalan likes love poems! She is going to tease him, but not now.