The First Empress

Parvati in Sornapattan's Anthapuram

'Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.'

Earlier that morning...

Sangamithra woke up early that day and got ready to visit the temple. As she came out of her chamber, Sembavazham was shocked to see her appearance.

Sembavazham: Enna Parvati idhu??? Naadiyilum (chin) kannilum mai yittu, Kona kondai yittu em Kula pennai pondru selai uduthi enna vesham idhu????

Parvati: Amma... Indru ivvoor makkal meen pidikka sella pogirargal allava??? Adharkaga sivaalayathirku sendru vazhi pattu varalam endru ippadi aadai uduthi irukkiren...

Sembavazham: Pattathu ilavarasar engalukaga uyirai kodukka mun vandhaal thaangalum satrum avaruku kuraiyadhu nirkindrire?

Parvati: en ippiravin kadamai avaruku thunai nirppadhe thaaiye... Veru endha sindhaiyum en manathil illai...

Sembavazham: Vaarthaikenum thangalai engal veettu pen endru kooruvadhil naangal perumperu petru irukkirom...

Parvati: Appozhudhu vaarthaikaga mattum dhaan ennai thangal veettu pen endreera???

She asked with a smile. Sembavazham panicked for a moment.

Sembavazham: Thaaiye enna vilayattu idhu?? Thangalai en magalaga baavithu dhaan naan anaithum seigindren...

Parvati again smiled.

Parvati: Thangalidam naan vilayadinen thaaiye... Naanum vaarthaiyin poruttu thangalai thaai endru azhaikka villai... Manathil irundhe azhaikindren.

Sembavazham smiled at the young princess with tears in eyes.

Sembavazham: Oru vinaadiyil purappattu vandhu vidugiren Parvati. Aalayathirku selvom.

She nodded in response. They left the house once Sembavazham returned.

As they walked to the temple, Parvati noticed many women and men coming out of their houses in the early morning.

Sembavazham: Ithanai kaalaiyil makkalai paarthu Ethanai kaalangal aanadhu theriyuma, Parvati??? Anaithum en marumagan (Eesan) vandha magimai...

They then noticed a group of ladies coming towards them.

Lady 1: Sembavazham akka, ival dhaan Eesanin manaiviya???

Sembavazham nodded her head.

Sembavazham: Aam... Azhagaai irukkiraa illaiya???

Lady 2: Hmmm. Nalla azhagaai thaan irukkira...

They then did dhirushti to her. One of the ladies who was watching her from the beginning had tears in her eyes at this point. Parvati noticed her in the crowd and called her to come closer to them.

Parvati: Thaaiye edharku azhugiringa???

Sembavazham: Ival dhaan Kosalaiyin (the girl saved by Eesan the previous day) thaai.

She whispered to the princess. Parvati then held the lady's hands.

Parvati: Ungal ketta neram vilagiyadhu... En kanavar ivvoor makkalai Kai vida mattar...

Unga pennuku vaakku koduthirukkirar illaiya???

Kan kalangamal irungal Amma...

Lady: Neeyum un kanavarai pola nalla pesure ma... Neenga pala nooru varudangal onna vaazhanum.

Parvati: Aasi koduthutinga illaya ma?? Adhu podhum.. Palikum...

She then held the princess's hands for a moment and moved away from there. After the lady left, Sembavazham noticed tears in Parvati's eyes.