One year later
"Ammu's Periyamma, Salutations. Please come inside"
Maduranthaka Thevar welcomed her, wearing a serene expression on his beautiful face. Nandini gestured to Vasuki to keep the palm-leaf manuscripts on the table and leave. She bowed before Maduranthakan and walked away.
"I am aware of the purpose of your visit, Periyamma. Let me tell you in advance, I am not interested."
"That's so sad. Maduranthaka Thevare, the world has changed. Those who were previously powerless and unconcerned about worldly woes too need to take an interest in the things happening around us. Princesses with Ilaya Piratti get the opportunity to read, write, sing and dance. Isn't it unfair that you won't accord the same privileges to your beloved wife?"
Pazhuvettaraiyars have been forcing him to take more interest in the matters of state. Due to unknown reasons, Karikalar stopped sending money to the central treasury at Tanjore. Some said that he is constructing a palace out of pure gold and gems, which further infuriated her husband. Nandini didn't have to take any initiative because Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar started ranting about Karikalar's disrespect and Maduranthakar's idiocy even before she put her plans into action.
That's why Maduranthakan easily understood that Nandini too has come to advice him. That was her intention, but she wasn't going to do it directly.
"Did you come to teach dance to my pregnant wife?, Maduranthakan asked incredulously.
"My dear husband, our child is always dancing inside my womb. Welcome Periyamma", Ammu hugged Nandini. "Careful, careful", Nandini made her sit on the couch and poked her rounded belly.
"How is our baby tiger doing?"
"Kicking and roaring. He won't let me sit in peace. When I am moving, he will sleep. But when I sit down, he will start doing thandavam. Seems like the boy takes after his father".
Maduranthakan's moonlike face reddened. He looked like he wanted to say something but hesitating because their aunt is sitting there. Seeing his conflicted expression, Ammu crinkled her nose and teased him silently. "Thevar wants a baby girl", she whispered to Nandini.
Though she was in the presence of two love birds, Nandini felt all alone and abandoned. She tried her best to not sound as jealous as she felt: "See, Maduranthakare, we are brushing up our reading and writing skills. When the princesses in Pazhayarai are so educated, can we fall behind? These are the scrolls recommended by my esteemed husband".
"Come on Periyamma, let us start with this", Ammu opened a scroll from the top but Maduranthakan playfully snatched it from her hands and read it aloud: "Padiyamale varum arivu (Knowledge that comes without learning). Aha! Perfect thing for two ladies who are so adamant about learning". Then his face changed. "Darling, take another manuscript".
"Why young prince? Time moves forward, not backwards. I am alright. Let us continue". Nandini took the scroll from him and read it aloud. "Karikalar peruvalattanitam iru mutiyavarkal oru valakkinait tirttukkolla vantanar. Avanutaiya ilamaiyaik kantatum, ivan ilamai paruvattan; collum valakkile mutivinaik kana mutiyatavan enru karutinar (Two old men came to Karikala, the Great Cholan* to settle a dispute. Seeing his youth, they thought that he could not find a solution in the said case)". **
Ammu too squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, but Nandini continued reading. When the great Karikala Cholan came to know about their remarks, he dressed himself as an old man with gray hair and presented himself before the petitioners. To the delight of those who dismissed his youth, he listened to their complaints and dispensed justice. Thus, it should be known that the wealth of knowledge belonging to the clan naturally comes to one without knowing it.
"What a nice poem, isn't it? Your child is so lucky Ammu. He . . . or she too might acquire all this knowledge naturally", Nandini hoped that she wasn't coming across as a bitter and sarcastic woman.
"Periyamma, such things might have happened in the past. Can they happen now?"
"Who knows! We can only hope. Karikala Cholan had to do this at a young age because his father died young. Nowadays, if such a situation arises, other people will assume responsibility. The children won't have to worry about duties or power. Isn't that so?". Though she addressed Ammu, her question was aimed at Maduranthakan who was deep in thought.
"They think small children are good enough to fight in wars but not good enough to make any other decisions", he sighed. Nandini was fuming deep within, but she asked herself to calm down.
"My god! Dear husband, if we lived in old times, we wouldn't have been sitting here like this. You would have been out there conquering countries and I would have been all alone".
"I disagree", Nandini said. "It is the esteemed Arinjaya Cholan who deserves the credit for that. If he hadn't borne the burden of earth on his shoulders, it would have fallen on baby Maduranthaka Thevar's little head".
"True! True!
"Ammu, who said that kings need to be warriors? Can our esteemed Emperor rise from his bed? Don't your father and my husband run this country smoothly? Aren't there thousands of brave and intelligent generals in our army to fight and win wars for the king?"
"True! True! Buddha bhagawan was a prince in the north. Didn't he win the whole world without raising his sword?"
Oh! Nandini realised that the conversation isn't going to the direction she intended. She remembered hearing Buddha's story for the first time. "May you attain eternal bliss", that devaradiyar blessed her. What an absurd and cursed fate!
She redirected the conversation to Karikala Cholan building dams and executing great non-violent ideas for the betterment of his people. Ammu too went on about the exploits of the great king. An old memory clouded Nandini's thoughts. A group of girls circulating their arati tattau and singing about the great Karikala Cholan conquering different countries. A small Karikala Cholan alighting from an elephant and approaching them with a smile.
Stop! That's over. Concentrate here.
Nandini noticed that Maduranthakan isn't contributing to the conversation. Is this working? She was hoping to convince him that there were very inexperienced kings in his dynasty and not all kings need to be warriors.
"Periyamma, I will read the next manuscript. I should thanks to Periyappa for sending these. May my baby too hear about his ancestors". Even when Ammu stressed on the word "his", Maduranthakan didn't look interested. He asked them to continue reading and excused himself. Ammu took another scroll and started reading. Though Nandini had no interest in continuing further, she sat there and pretended otherwise.
*Karikala Cholan is an ancient Chola king from the Sangham era.
** This is an anecdote from Pazhamozhi Nanuru,
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Nandini
Historische RomaneA reading of Ponniyin Selvan from Nandini's perspective. Nandini is the narrator of this story and the events are presented as she (could have) comprehended them. I don't own any of the characters or situations.
