Aditha's Queen

The Wedding Afterglow

"Is it already dawn?", Aditha asked Nandini, pulling her to himself, as she tossed in bed trying to wake up.

"It's well past dawn. And a good morning kiss is all you will get now." She kissed his cheeks and shrugged out of his grasp, smiling.

"That was cheeky", he said.

He saw her leaving the room to get ready for the day ahead. He smiled thinking of how lovingly they explored each other and voraciously devoured each other at times.

It was nearly three months since their wedding. Oh, how he loved his wife! She has made his life meaningful and his existence purposeful now. How he had missed her for six long years and worried if they would ever come together again! He would make every minute worthy now and make up for the lost time. She trusted him with her being and he was so proud she wrote that letter to him which brought them together again. She had rescued him from misery and had given him a new lease of life by calling him for help. You saved me, my love!

How seamlessly she has adapted to royal life! Her ethereal beauty made everyone look at her with awe, her intelligence fetched her respect and her simplicity won hearts. She knew all the palace staff and their personal histories already and was helping them as much as she was able now. She showed him the common man's viewpoint on issues, which was a bit of a blindspot for him so far. And it felt so good when she sat next to him on the throne at the royal court.

And how she hated the royal attire and adornments and resorted to her usual style of dressing at the first chance! Not that he had complaints about that. She looked equally bewitching in a simple saree and a strand of fragrant flowers hanging down on her glistening tresses. The blush-tinged loving look she reserved for him was enough to stir his senses.

Aditha got up from bed, finished his morning ablutions and joined Nandini in her prayers. It gave him a lot of happiness, peace and perspective when he took part in her puja. Nandini marked Aditha's forehead with sandal paste thilakam over his tripundra and fed him a scoop of prasadam. He had now commissioned to build a proper shrine for the lord in the palace garden for their daily worship.

"I will see you later, Nandini", he said, embracing her before he left to do his royal duties of the day. His ministers, army chiefs, noblemen, representatives of the general public and other visitors would await him.

Kundavai was now married to Vandhiya and he had moved to Pazhayarai to be with his wife. Their wedding was held in Thanjai palace. The entire royal family travelled to Thanjai from Kanchi for Kundavai's wedding in batches. Aditha and Nandini were given a grand reception on arrival. They spent a month in Thanjai on the king and queen's loving pleas. Even staunch opponents of their union in the family now adored Aditha and Nandini after seeing how harmoniously they were in tune with each other.

"I release you from bondage, Vandhiya. You now have the freedom to be my sister's eternal slave." Aditha had put an arm around his dear friend's shoulders and said at the wedding.

"Vandhiya will be my emissary to you and Arulmozhi, Aditha! He will report all tidings between us and assist you both in the battles. I will support Chakravarthi by being in his proximity while you co-rule with him from Kanchi and take care of the north and Arulmozhi advances in the south", the ever pragmatic, lovely bride Kundavai said. 

"Domineering as Pazhuvettarayar Thatha ever is,  not surprisingly, he is also still incensed. Keep an eye on his moves", Aditha told his sister.

"Put the conquests on hold for some time, strengthen the northern borders and then rest the troops, Aditha! Concentrate on the administrative aspects of governance, now that you are my co-ruler. They are overdue and, though demanding, will not take you away from your queen", Sundara Chozhar advised his son.

Parthiva and Dharini got married in Thirukkovilur two weeks after Kundavai's wedding and Sundara Chozhar's entire family attended the wedding. The newlyweds had since started their life together in Kanchi and were now living at the Pallava palace not far from Ponmaligai. Nandini and Dharini were becoming intimate friends now, like Aditha and Parthiva.

Arulmozhi led the naval troops and had just landed in Eazham to fight the first battle of his life. He refused to marry just before his very first battle despite entreaties from everyone. He was still only in his late teens. So Vanathi was anxiously praying for his safety, victory and early return.

Thirumalai now had a government job in the PMO (Aniruddhar's office) and had moved to his official quarters in Thanjai. Nandini's foster parents had moved with him and her sister's family had also moved to Thanjai after Nandini's wedding to avoid any scrutiny and threats in Pandiyanadu.

Aditha was relaxing in a cosy couch, resting his head on Nandini's lap after the hectic work day. Nandini ran her hand through his hair and he smiled at her in his semi-sleep. I am the luckiest girl on earth. He is such a humble man for his lofty stature and is so devoted to me. And how much i love him! Perumale! Don't part us ever again even for a day, my Lord.

Their love, passion and obsession for each other was extraordinarily beautiful and radiated an aura around them that enraptured everyone who saw them together.