Dusky Moonlight

23(3)

Kayanangai sat beside the pond and saw the reflection of her face in the clear water. She smiled looking at her blushed face and leaned to touch one of the bloomed Lotus.

The warmth of the sun made her smile, after taking a cold bath in the morning, she sat here to dry her hair. She felt fresh yet tired and sore because of last night. Thinking that still gave shivers down her spine.

When she woke up early in the morning, the new place and environment, she got dressed immediately and looked at Aathiyan's peaceful face while he's asleep. With a smile on her face, she sat next to him and watched him for a moment before walking to take bath. And soon finding her absence, he made his way to the bathing area where she's wearing her saree after taking a bath.

He walked in, making her jump in surprise. He smiled at her brightly and undressed before jumping into the big bathtub. She shyly walked away and he didn't ask her to stay.

When she was in the thoughts, Aathiyan came to her. She turned to look at his face, he stood tall in front of her.

"Why you are sitting here?" he asked.

"It's warm and nice here," she answered.

He sat next to her when he leaned to kiss her she was taken aback looking around the guards and maidens around. He noticed her hesitation, "Everyone, leave," he commanded and all of those people left in a moment, and his gaze turned to her.

She blushed and smiled at him. He kissed under her chin and held her hands. Her senses shrieked when his lips danced on her skin.

"You are so warm," he muttered. She smiled when he tickled her waist.

"Enough, please," she pleaded, trying to stop him. The smile he has last night didn't fade away at all, there she realized that he isn't faking it at that moment.

"We are invited for the breakfast, we should go there soon," Kayanangai said.

"Okay," he nodded.

"What we were going to do after that?" she asked wondering if there's anything that she needs to be prepared beforehand. Because she doesn't want to be clumsy in front of everyone.

"Don't you know?" Aathiyan showered her with kisses which made her skin all flushed by all these rushing emotions.

"I am going to spend the rest of my day with you," he said and pecked her lips. His love is too overwhelming for her and she even forgets to think about her family. How she even forgot their presence? Kayanangai has never been like this but today she lost her thoughts about her father because of Aathiyan. It's not bad and she now understood why Mathinila acted that way when she was around Veera, she felt bad for accusing her sister of being selfish.

Aathiyan got up and walked inside to get ready and she sat there for some more time pondering about her life.

Kayanangai followed him to the dining place. All their family members were gathered there to eat breakfast. Before taking a seat next to her sister, she got a blessing from the elders which surprised his parents that she's not a soft-spoken woman but also a respectful daughter-in-law who's perfectly suitable for Aathiyan.

Mathinila didn't do those things when she came here and seeing Kayanangai does this makes her furious.

After breakfast, she got some more gifts from her mother-in-law. Then she talked with her father and Kumaran as they were leaving the palace in the afternoon. They will go to their village and will be back after a week.

After sending them off, Kayanangai spends some time with her sister on the temple where they talked about how much their life has changed. Aathiyan this time also sent his men to guard his wife's family until their village. Then he left with Narenthiran to watch the construction of the new fort court at the other side of the palace.

"Is he treats you well?" Mathinila asked.

"Yes," she nodded.

"That's surprising. Everyone told that he's a rude person."

"No, sister. He's such a gentleman. We all misunderstood him," says Kayanangai.

"Yes, maybe. But be careful, Kayanangai, you can't believe a person totally. If you have any problem with him, you need to tell me," she said it like she's concerned but Mathinila, she doesn't like her sister having the same amount of happiness she has. She knows she's greedy and doesn't think it's bad; she wants to be happy always more than Kayanangai.

"Of course, sister. You are the only family I have here to share what I am going through. But I think my husband is a good person," Kayanangai smiled yet she felt anomalous in her sister's perception.

Mathinila smiled and held her hand. "I want you to be happy, that's it."

Kayanangai nodded giving an assuring smile.

In the evening, she returned back to their place without Aathiyan. She walked to the garden for the first time and it's so breathtakingly beautiful.

From there she could see the distant waterfalls, the place is hooded in all colors of flowers and herbs. The ambiance smelled like the purest drop of nature and the oozing wind mixed with the sound of small creatures.

Like Aathiyan says, no one will come inside the garden without his permission. The garden is connected to the forest adjoining that and leading to the waterfalls at the far end.

She sat down on the grass and watched the bright moon glowing brightly on the dark sky. She wondered how much her mind is changing with each passing day. Until yesterday she believed she's unfortunate to marry Aathiyan, then now she realized life isn't what we think. It will surprise us any moment by showing us the other side of what we think and thus changing our beliefs.

She decided not to come to judgments without seeing the actuality.

When she was in her thoughts, someone's footsteps got her attention. She turned to see Aathiyan.

He smiled at her pleasantly like he's has found the treasure he has been searching for all this time.

Kayanangai got up with a smile, "I have been waiting for you, highness," she said.

"You don't have to give me too much respect," he said.

"But still, you are a prince and it won't be good if I didn't give you the proper respect," she hesitates.

"Who's going to punish you here other than me?"

"Will you punish me?" she gaped.

He smiled, "No, how can I punish you,"

She looked down in shy when he came a little closer. "I won't say this again, stop giving me too much reverence like you are someone else."

Understanding that, Kayanangai, "Okay, I will do what you say,"

"Good, now come with me," he said and held her hand.

"Where to?"

"To a place, you should see that," he said and walked further inside the garden.

"Do you like this place?"

"Yes, it's so beautiful," she replied while they were walking.

Aathiyan stood before a Mango tree, "I planted this tree when I was four years old. It's ages twenty-one now," he said.

Kayanangai thought what so special about that, "You know the mango from this tree tastes better than any other fruit,"

"Oh, I want to taste one,"

"Yes, you can taste it, I will ask them to add this to your dinner,"

Kayanangai smiled, he seems so kind and genuine then how could people talk to him that way. It's not at all fair, she felt bad for her husband.

"I will come to see this tree often. It often reminds me that I should be strong and fruitful like this tree. Grow bigger and wiser,"

She admired how he sees this world and held his hand.

"I am fortunate to marry you," she said. Aathiyan snuggled his arms around her in a gentle hug.