A Matter of Chance

chapter 17- checkmate

The coming weeks saw Nandini converse more closely with her twin, although the world saw them as uncle and nephew’s wife who shared a common interest for spirituality. She notice his eyes, face and gestures and was gaining an idea about his motivations and insecurities.

His doe eyes resembled her own as a youth while mourning fate for parting her from Aditha. The same man who was now her brother’s challenger.

She made use of her ‘admirers’ to shepherd their relatives and friends into not changing sides regarding the succession.

She thanked Perumal daily for Sembiyan Madevi’s and kundhavai's uncharacteristic non-interference  during her wedding plans. But she realised they merely saw her as a candy for tantalizing Aditha into remaining at Thanjai, preventing Madhurantakan from becoming king.

How the tables had turned! they plotted to ensure neither twin reached the throne but now it was destined for atleast one.

She sat in the palace courtyard with Madhurantakan, observing the ornate water fountain and its bubbling when she began.

“Does it hurt? It must, right?

“What?” asked her companion

“Being lied to and led on, only for them pull the ground from your feet?” Nandini continued, looking into his eyes
“Cha! I never thought that your life can be difficult too. I thought hardship was only for folks like us- abandoned at birth, raised in a humble home, exiled for attracting a man beyond her and to live alone amongst the wilderness “ she lamented.

Madhurantakan’s face curled in sympathy, May Shiva forgive him! here he was cursing his fate- bitter over the throne not falling into his lap- while his akka had undergone pain beyond his comprehension.

He bore no ill will for Aditha Karikalan.  He merely resented how Sundara chola ‘s  2 sons seemed to have all glories served to them on a silver platter while he wasn’t given a choice. People whispered that he too deserved the throne and he had believed it.
Only now, the man he thought to be his father wasn’t that and he was left with no basis to question them. His ‘mother’ raised him away from war and politics and now he understood why- he was merely an ornament- admired but of no practical use.

His opinion of his ‘nephew’ was greatly improved by his steadfast commitment to his twin. The stubbornness that once seemed ungodly now showed a brother in-law who’d always protect his sister.

“They’ve used you ill, thambi (little brother). To raise you as a placeholder, to have cornered you such that you can neither lay claim to the throne nor reveal your plight to others” nandini said tutting “they shielded you from the common citizens, but didn’t hide your upbringing from the aristocrats- wonder why?” she trailed.

He realized with every word Nandini spoke that it wasn’t merely his supposed birthright that attracted the chieftains. His cloistered upbringing, away from people, politics and battlefield made him pliable as clay.

They’d press their opinions as facts and he would have to listen. Any minister or courtier would see him as a simple devotee to be influenced.
Before he could think of another existential crises, Aditha’s voice boomed “Sithappa, you have taken up enough of my patta mahishi's time today. I have come to steal her lest you send her back into the temple” he laughed at own joke as his wife fondly rolled her eyes.

Madhurantakan was left perusing his ambitions as the couple skipped away to their bedchamber.

They kept him in the dark all these years, exiled his sister and now they’ve tied his hands.

Perhaps his claim to the throne was invalid, but his twin still stood a chance to one-up those Chola elders.
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Parthibendran and Kandhanmaran were turning out to be miracle workers. They enjoyed being seen as altruistic patriots while they yearned for crumbs of the pattathu ilavarasi’s attention.