The Crown Prince and His Love

Chapter 42|Maaya Kannan|

Unaware of the danger their brother was in, Kundavai and Arulmozhi were in a celebration mood. They had just left for the Janmashtami festival happening at Kodumbaloor. A group of soldiers followed the elephant which carried two of the three crown jewels of the Chola empire, Sundara Chozhan's beloved children.

Arulmozhi's heart jumped up and down in excitement. Kundavai sighed, looking at Arulmozhi smiling to himself from the howdah.

"Thambi, don't push me off the elephant as soon as you see the Kondumbaloor Ilavarasi," Kundavai giggled at her distracted brother. "I shouldn't have trusted you to be my mahout," She said massaging her forehead.

Arulmozhi rolled his eyes. "Akka...Unlike your friend I won't faint,"

"Don't talk ill about my friend!" Kundavai scowled.

"Akka, She keeps avoiding me, whenever I finally get the chance to meet her she just faints..." He ranted to his Akka. "I don't know if she even loves me."

"Thambi, don't fret, she really loves you!" Kundavai assured her brother. "She doesn't stop talking about you, if I heard her praising you one more time, I'll surely lose my mind."

Arulmozhi's heart fluttered. "Really!?" He beamed.

"Yes, Oh god, whenever she talks to me it's always about you or dancing,"

Arulmozhi gasped. "She dances?"

"Don't you know? She's a lovely dancer," Kundavai said.

Arulmozhi frowned, he doesn't even know the first thing about Vanathi, but claims to love her.

"You should've seen her dance," She said, trying to provoke her brother. "Oh! She looks so beautiful and graceful and..." She continued praising Vanathi, eyeing Arulmozhi's expression.

Arulmozhi began sulking, he was jealous to say the least. Why has he never seen her dance?

"She sings well too!"

Arulmozhi now felt like he doesn't even know Vanathi at all. She sings and dance, but all she does when he meets her is faint.

Kundavai tilted her head to look at Arulmozhi, who was fuming with jealousy. He stayed like that for the whole journey.

It was the height of noon when the duo finally reached Kodumbaloor, and Arulmozhi's eagerness was at an all time high.

The people of Kodumbaloor gathered around the fort to meet them. They showered them with flowers, Kundavai was beaming with happiness, while Arulmozhi was distracted, his eyes wandering around trying to get a glimpse of Vanathi Devi.

"Welcome! The Kodumbaloor clan is filled with pride to host the Chozha kulathu Kanmanigal," Periya Velar and Siriya Velar jointly welcomed them both.

Kundavai talked with them and accepted their blessings, while Arulmozhi was glued to his feet, his eyes still looking around for her. Kundavai looked at him and nudged his arm.

"Marumagane, How do you do?" Siriya Velar asked, Patting Arulmozhi's shoulders.

His mouth twitched, wanting to enquire about Vanathi, but what if they thing wrong of him?

"I'm fine, Mama," He said instead.

******

The whole of Kondumbaloor was in a joyous mood, the palace was beautifully decorated with bright flowers hanging down from everywhere to everywhere. Various festive events where arranged to entertain the guests, but Arulmozhi was least bothered by them.