Anuradhapura
The welcome accorded to the Pandya envoy was as grand as usual. Honestly, they weren't expecting such a marvelous welcome due to their downfall. Ravidasan was worried about Udayan breaking the protocol to greet and hug him. What will the crown prince and his advisors think?
They all looked very impressed and the only thing Jatilan was a bit miffed about was the king refusing to show him the ancient crown jewels of Pandyas. Jatilan's great-grandfather Maravarman Rajasimhan had entrusted them to his counterpart in Anuradhapuram before he fled to Chera mandalam and no one has seen them since then.
Though he too really wanted to see the renowned crown jewels, Ravidasan consoled the young prince that such loyalty is commendable. Perhaps they even thought that this is Veera Pandyan's secret test. By refusing to show the crown jewels to anyone except the Thennavan himself, they have passed the test in flying colours. If Kotravai wills it, Jatilan himself might get to wear the necklace of Devendran when he marries Uma Maheshwari or ascends the throne wearing the ancient studded crown!!!
Lankans were very receptive to the plan to fight Cholas when they are already engaged in another war. He talked to the Chief Commander when the Prince and his advisors conducted discussions with the royals. An intuition told him that they were already making preparations for this and their arrival was highly anticipated. The Commander tasked a General with explaining their plans and Udayan joined them.
It was Udayan who revealed what really conspired behind the scenes. The splendour of Paranthakan's youngest grandson's beauty has reached the anthapuram of Anuradhapuram. His cousin, the King's daughter Hemalata declared that she accepted him in her heart and she will fast untill death if he their marriage isn't conducted soon. The king was overjoyed since he saw it as an end to his endless troubles. Needless to say, Cholas refused to entertain this proposal. Though he told himself that these people aren't as trustworthy as their demonstrations indicated, Ravidasan was really moved by this one-sided love story.
"Poor princess! It is a pity that she loved a man enough to die for him though he doesn't care that she exists."
"Hi hi hi. Your sense of humour is intact, anne. Now no one is more determined than our Hema to destroy the clan and reign of Cholas. We will get her married to Jatilavarmar in a heartbeat if his father allows it."
"Really! I thought the princess is older than him."
"She is, but who cares about such trivial matters when a lot is at stake? My uncle, I mean the king, is not going to embarrass himself again. But in case your advisors get such ideas, which is definitely going to happen after today's meeting, you should encourage it."
He was reminded of the words of his teachers: "A passionate woman, like a female snake, terrible from the condensed poison she accumulates within, will never, if injured, neglect to wreak vengeance."* Do they really need such a treacherous and toxic alliance? If Jatilan's sisters were unmarried, at least one of them could have been married to Udayan, Senan or little Mahindan. But who is he to make such decisions? It is indeed a good thing that he joined aabathudaivigal and became a brahmachari. He won't have to deal with such women.
°°°°°°
"Jatila, Jatila, kumaraya", Hemalata caressed the prince's forehead and hair as her attendants sprinkled water on his face. Ravidasan felt chills as he saw the princess who looked like bhadrakali. Isn't this the same girl who declared that Sundara Cholan is dearer to her than her own life? Who can guess what transpires in the deep recesses of women's minds!
Jatilan slowly opened his eyes, jumped up from the bed and stood up, seeing all the women surrounding him. Ugravikraman and Ravidasan caught him before he fainted again due to strain. The prince had been unwell since he got on the ship. Though they thought that this is normal sea-sickness, his continued bouts of fainting and shortness of breath were alarming. The royal physicians of Anuradhapuram too couldn't find anything wrong with the young prince's health, except fatigue.
Ugran asked their translator to convey to the ladies to leave them alone.
Jatilan peered through the slits of his eyes and started giggling as the girls left the room. They heaved a sigh of relief. Poor Ugran's thoughts have gone from jumping into the sea to slitting his own throat in an instant when he saw Jatilan lying still.
"Ilavarase, are you alright? Please don't laugh and over-exert yourself".
"I am alright. Anna, please don't tell Uma that this Shoorpanakha akka touched my hair."
"Someone is going to be very displeased if she knows that she was called akka and Shoorpanakha".
"What will they do if Sundaresan deposited all the beauty in the world on Paranthakan's one grandson? He should have divided it and given a bit to all of us."
They stopped Jatilan from talking further and massaged his feet. Who knows whether they will emerge as Raman or Ravanan from this ordeal!
Thennavan - The Lord of the South, a title of the Pandya King
* Indian version of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned", from Kathasaritsagara.
Sundaresan - Lord Siva, Madurai Meenakshi's consort
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The Companion of Honour
Historical Fiction"May the swords raised against them stop on you. May the fire approaching them consume you. May the poison meant for them kill you. May the arrows aimed at them pierce you. May you be the fortress, weapon and shield of our Emperor. Go forth, kill an...
