Dusky Moonlight

25(1)

"Taste this," Sumitra gave a piece of raw mango. She took a bite, the taste of sourness shivered her.

"It's too sour," she said.

"Yes, that's why I like it,"

"Do you really want to eat this?"

"Yeah, I want to," she took two more bites and that made Kayanangai squint her eyes.

"How could you eat that?"

"If you get pregnant, you will understand," Sumitra said.

"Where did you get these mangoes from?"

"I don't know; brother came with a basket when I told him that I want to eat mangoes."

"He's such a sweet brother," Kayanangai smiles and thought, He's not just a sweet brother but a sweet husband too.

"Yes. He is," Sumitra nodded.

"He does whatever I ask, after my parents he has a tremendous love on me,"

"Don't mistake me for asking this," Kayanangai hesitantly started the conversation.

"Why some of the people talk badly about him?" she asked. They were more like friends now but still, she's afraid because she might take this wrongly.

"Who said that?" she says.

"The maids," she answered and she doesn't want to hide this anymore. Those maids should be ashamed of talking about their King like that, and they even deserve punishment.

"Oh, come on. Did you believe those things?"

"No," she nodded.

"People will have their assumptions. The maids here have had a great attraction on my brother, but he refused their advances, and even he fired a few of them. So the angry maids started spreading false stories. Most of them were fired from the position but the story still circulates, I guess," she said.

"Don't worry, I will ask someone to look into that matter. Did you say this to him?"

"Yes, I did. But he didn't care that much,"

"I know. Brother won't take this seriously, but only we know how it is to hear something wrong about him," she said.

"Yes," Kayanangai smiled, "He's a gentleman."

"You were with my brother, didn't you understand that he's a good man," she asked.

"Yes, I know but I wondered why they have to talk bad about him, I really hate that,"

"Don't you have classes today?" Mathinila asks.

"Yes, I totally forgot that. Thanks for reminding me," Kayanangai ran to the class and her guru already waiting for her. After apologizing to her teacher, she started her practice and in the back of her head, she starts to think about her sister, who isn't here.

Days have passed since she talked about the brothers' feud with Aathiyan, Kayanangai was hesitant to talk about this matter to her sister even though their relationship has turned bitter as each day passes. She doesn't know how to change all of this and stayed silent yet she's in a long battle inside.

She's waiting for her brother and father's arrival. She can talk to her brother about all these things because, somethings, she can't openly talk with Aathiyan. Her brother will understand her situation better. She has to maintain her family's honor and not let anyone think they have a problem with each other.

If it was someone else, then she won't feel nervous like this, it's her sister.

Kayanangai felt awful when her sister started to distance from her. It saddens her and she only speaks with her when they happened to meet accidentally.