Aditha's Queen

Flip-Flop Of Feelings

Madhurantakan entered Periya Pazhuvettarayar's palace with his FIL Chinna Pazhuvettarayar. PP warmly welcomed them in and led them to his private chambers. After they were comfortably seated, an elated Madhu said to PP, "By Parameshwara's grace, Manimekalai and I are blessed with a baby boy, Arase! I am here to invite my dear FILs for my son's naming ceremony in Kadambur. I look forward to welcoming you there soon."

"Excellent tidings indeed, Ilavarase! Our hearty congratulations to you. We shall, of course, be present on the grand occasion. We are as excited as you", said PP.

Refreshments were served to the royals and the conversation resumed soon.

"I have other news that will sound sweeter to your ears", Madhu said to PP.

"And what could that be, Ilavarase? I am already exhilarated by the baby news ", said PP.

"What I am about to say is just for my FILs' ears. I hold you both in the highest regard and feel compelled to share my recent experience with you", Madhu said.

"Tell us, Ilavarase! We are very eager to know", said PP.

Madhu told his FILs about his encounter with the Pandiya attackers at Vipineshvarar temple, their assertion that Madhu was Veearapnadiyan's son, their attempt to kidnap him and how Madhu overcame them by a siddhi called Vashithvam. Madhu also revealed his yogi guru's foresight that he would become king soon after his first siddhi prayogam. Madhu then detailed his mother's revelation about his adoption soon after birth, how she later came to know of his true origins and her dream where the Lord Himself appeared and ordained that Madhu would become the chola king soon.

Madhu finished and knowing well that he had just delivered a shocker, gave his FILs some time to assimilate all the information.

PP and CP were dumbstruck and motionless for a few minutes after hearing Madhu's account, feeling as though their world had turned upside down.They were staunch believers of divine shakthi but never would they have imagined in their wildest dreams that the lord's communication of His will could be experienced by mortals in such supernatural ways like Madhu and his mother just did.

But slowly, as the purport of what Madhu said sank in, PP was hit with revulsion at the thought that Madhurantakan was indeed the son of Veerapandiyan and not a pedigreed chola. PP was a die-hard purist. Though he knew that Madhu was a good man because of his chola upbringing, Madhu becoming the chola king did not sit well with him now as he ruminated on the bitter hostility between the cholas and Pandiyas in general and with Veerapandiyan in particular for decades where PP himself had spearheaded many gory battles.

PP suddenly felt too proud of Karikalan's feat of beheading Veerapandiyan. PP was now remorseful about his unjustified meanness towards the crown prince on account of a girl. PP also acknowledged to himself that Karikalan would make one heck of a king. And an authentic chola one at that!

Now that PP knew about Nandini's real ancestry, he saw her as Karikalan's well-deserved prize for his victory over Veerapandiyan and not as the girl Karikalan snatched from right under his nose. He could now wholeheartedly accept Nandini as Karikalan's wife and the future chola queen.

But it looks like the Lord has a different plan. Hasn't Parameshwara just checkmated me in my own game?

CP, on the other hand, held a diametrically opposite view to his brother about his SIL. Madhu's real ancestry did not worry him; his godliness engulfed him. CP had tears in his eyes and goosebumps on his body.

"I am concerned about the possible threat to Karikalan and his queen from the Pandiyas, now that i know how well informed they are about our routines and how far they able to penetrate our security", Madhu continued, completely unaware of PP's thought process.

"No one can hope to survive if they attack Karikalan unless they opt for underhanded means...", PP abruptly ended his sentence as his eyes caught the curtains in the room swaying briskly in the wind except for a huge one at the far end of the room near an exit standing forcibly still. He observed for a minute and suspected that someone was hiding behind the curtain and overhearing their conversation. The person would easily slip away through the exit if PP tried to catch him red handed. PP made a mental note to keep a close watch and get to the bottom of it ASAP.

Durga Parameshwari! Was i blinded by my rage so much that i failed to notice any of this all along?

"We will upgrade security for yourself, Karikalan and his queen, Ilavarase. A hundred velakkara padai veerars will be dispatched to Kanchi soon and an equal number will accompany you to Kadambur", said CP.

"I won't need them. Parameshwara has already empowered me with His grace", Madhu replied and took leave of his FILs.

And Pazhuvettarayars' realisation and efforts to protect Aditha Karikalan from danger were too little, too late.