Aditha's Queen

Babyhood! Parenthood!

Although she was very disappointed at first, Nandini then reproached herself for not trusting Krishna enough and seeking out the old mystic's help in vain. She soon dedicated time and immersed herself in her scholastic pursuit of Bhagavatham and Bhagavad Gita that she had put on hold since Kannan's birth. She also resumed archery, dagger attack and some basic sword training with Aditha. She felt equipped and ready to face any challenge as soon as she committed herself to these spiritual and martial learning tasks again.

Kannan was growing up to be a possessive, mummy's boy. He protested when Aditha came too close to Nandini for his comfort. This was impossible for Aditha and he could not bear the affront. And he loved annoying Kannan to enjoy his cute over-reactions. Nandini was losing her patience oftentimes with two boys now in constant competition for her, either really or playfully. Aditha swore to his baby boy, "I will make sure you are married when you are just ten so that you go after your girl and leave mine to me." Nandini burst out laughing.

Kannan, however, calmed down when Nandini sang to him and didn't mind his dad getting close to his mom then. Aditha rested his head on Nandini's lap and Kannan on his chest as she sang pasurams to the father and son and they listened to her divine music and drifted off to sleep in tandem.

Kannan was the cynosure of every eye in the palace. Sundara Chozhar and Vanavan Maadevi doted on him and were ecstatic in his presence. Nandini's parents glowed in delight as Kannan played and they made everlasting memories. Niraimadhi and Poongodhai were to Kannan  like Krithika mothers to Lord Muruga. And Kannan was the drawcard for his aunts and uncles in Pazhayarai and Thanjai. They visited Kanchi from time to time just to see him. And Malayaman Thatha frequented Kanchi for the double treat of seeing Kanna and Mahendra.

Kannan crawled, sat up, stood up and took baby steps alongside his cherubic little buddy Mahendran. And the little prince's first word was Aa-d-tha. He picked it up from his grandparents and mother. And that was what he called his father for some time.

The happy family travelled to Thanjai for Kannan's first birthday. The king and queen stayed back in Thanjai as Vanathi was now in the early days of her pregnancy. As Vanathi was a motherless girl, Vanavan Maadevi wished to be with Vanathi and help her out like a mother. The king and queen promised to return to Kanchi some time after the birth of Arulmozhi's first child. So Aditha and Nandini returned to Ponmaligai with Kannan leaving behind their parents.

Aditha snatched a toy from Kannan's grasp to pique him and the little boy screamed in anger. "Vira-panda", he scolded his dad.

Nandini glared at Aditha ferociously.

"I'm very sorry, Nandini. I called him by that name just once when he was mean and the cunning fellow is turning it against me." Aditha pleaded for forgiveness.

Nandini lifted Kannan and walked out of the room. Aditha could see the tears in her eyes as she left.

Aditha walked into their bedroom after a while, having given his wife some time to cool down. She was putting Kannan to sleep next to her on the bed.

Aditha slid next to Nandini on the other side and took her hand in his. "I'm sorry, my love. That was insensitive of me", he said to her apologetically.

"That's okay. It just brought up unpleasant feelings to the surface. I'm alright now", responded Nandini.

Aditha kissed Nandini and drew her close to himself. He roved his eyes over her appreciatively and said, "You look all the more beautiful after motherhood. I love your rounded hips and fuller..."

Nandini gripped Aditha's cheeks in pinches before he could finish. "Veerapandiya is listening. He is not fully asleep yet", she whispered.

"Fulla sheeks", Aditha completed his sentence through Nandini's pinches and smiled impishly at his blushing wife as she released her grip on his cheeks and circled her arms around his neck.