Aditha's Queen

A Great First Impression

It was Janmashtami and Nandini dressed up Kannan like Lord Krishna. Naravahana and Renuka arrived at Aditha's quarters to take part in their puja. Aditha had set up the Krishna idol of Ponmaligai temple on an altar in the puja hall. The lord was devotedly worshipped and prasadams were served to everyone.

They all sat down for a chat.

"Nandini and Adithya! What a beautiful puja that was. Our hearts are swollen with happiness", said Renuka.

"Don't they say music transcends languages? We felt the divinity in your tamil music, Nandini", said Naravahana.

"And little Krishna indeed!" Renuka couldn't stop petting and pampering Kannan.

"Adithya! Shall we go together to meet Maharani Dhiddha? She will forgive my long absence from the royal court as soon as she sees you and realises what an unmatched warrior i have brought along to our side. Are you ready to start your new life yet?", Naravahana asked Aditha in his usual considerate manner. It was just a fortnight since their arrival in Kashmir and they were still acclimatising themselves to the weather, culture and language of their new home.

"I am ready to meet Her Highness, Sir. Please feel free to command me", Aditha said without struggling too much to speak in the new language. Nandini was training him intensely in the language for hours each day while quickly expanding her own terminology and phraseology as well. What an amazingly intelligent woman she is! Even Kannan had already learnt about two dozen words in Sanskrit and Prakrit from Renuka and her maids Charu and Bindu. And he taught his father by babyishly repeating them to him. But Aditha and Nandini were determined to speak to the little boy in their mother tongue only.

"I see that you are already starting to speak well in Sanskrit. Obviously, you are as much a man of brains as you are of bodily valour", Naravahana said to Aditha. "Be ready at the start of the second prahara of the day on Dashami, Adithya."

Naravahana and Aditha reached the queen's palace at the appointed hour on Dashami day and their entry was announced to the queen. The Maharani was proudly perched on a high throne in the royal court and a series of courtiers sat on either side of her.

"Welcome Mahamantri!", the queen said after Naravahana had greeted her with reverence and Aditha folded his hands in respect. The queen's curiously appreciative gaze settled on Aditha.

"I have brought Adithyodaya (sunrise) from Dravida to cold and gloomy Kashmir, Maharani", Naravahana said figuratively.

"So  your Theerthayatra (pilgrimage) bore fruit then and there. Why did this kshatriya give up the comfort of warm Dakshina Bharath and come to this land of harsh weather?"

"Adithya gave up his right to the throne and left his kingdom to marry his love, a brahmin girl. He is a pure warrior of the highest merit." Naravahana conveyed to the queen what the seer had told him. "I was fortunate to have met him by the blessings of a venerable yogapurusha. My pilgrimage did indeed bear its fruit immediately."

"Welcome to Kashmir, Adithya!", the queen greeted Aditha. The queen was about forty five years old. "Which kingdom did you disown for your love?"

"Victory to Her Majesty! I was the prince of Thirumangai, a petty kingdom in the far south of Bharathavarsha." Aditha remembered Thirumangai Azhwar whom Lord Krishna had mentioned as one who loved his wife and the lord. He used the Azhwar's dominion as his own to conceal his identity. I will have you as my role model, Azhweer! Please forgive me.

"Pandithvar! Make sure you familiarise Adithya with everything about Kashmir. Let us give our guest some time to master the new language and adapt to the weather here. He can meet the Senapathi after the winter months and become part of the army in a suitable position." The Maharani affectionately addressed Naravahana as Pandithvar (esteemed scholar) whenever she was extremely pleased with his accomplishment. And she had no doubt that Naravahana would impress Adithya with his intellect and verbal eloquence. Now, why do i want Adithya to be impressed with Kashmir and stay? 

Because his physique, his countenance, his poise and his speech - though minimal, ooze class! 

And how many kshatriyas would give up their power for love? He is different!

Though Aditha did not have to give up his power for love in the end, he had certainly been ready to do so.

"I will do as the Maharani commands." Naravahana said.

"Adithya! In the meantime, would you like to travel with my retinue to Udabhandapura (Hund, Pakistan) next week?  The weather and terrain will get much worse in Shahi-desh than here in the winter months."

"I would, Your Majesty. Exposure teaches a lot more than enclosure", said Aditha.

The queen smiled. "You can bring your family with you. This is an annual ritual i undertake with Naravahana's family."

Aditha folded his hands in acceptance.

Naravahana was a happy man. The Maharani liked Adithya. He had made an impact on her already. The queen was very clever and was quick to estimate Adithya's potential. An invite to Udabhanda along with her retinue was not a small thing. She extended it only to a trustworthy few.

The queen had been upset with Naravahana since his return because of his long absence from royal affairs due to the pilgrimage. She did not know that Naravahana's pilgrimage was for the welfare of Kashmir and not just a personal religious tour. He had waited until Adithya could somewhat come to terms with his personal loss and adjusted a little to the new environs before presenting him to the queen.

Naravahana and Aditha took leave of the queen and drove home. "Maharani was very close to her maternal grandfather who was a great king. She makes a trip each year for his shraddha rituals (ceremony to a dead ancestor) to Udabhanda since his death some years ago", said Naravahana.

Aditha's eyes filled with tears as he thought of his own maternal grandfather, Malayaman Thatha, to whom he was very attached. Malayaman Thatha was his first well wisher, mentor and guide. He would be devastated due to Aditha's loss now.

"The Maharani likes you, which is why she has invited your family to Udabhanda, her dear grandfather's city", Naravahana proudly declared to Aditha.

We have at least one thing in common, thought Aditha.