Dusky Moonlight

31(2)

Aathiyan walked to the courthouse recalling the smile on Veera's face and the disgust on Kayanangai's face. He frowned and wanted to punch Veera as hard as he could.

"Aathiya," his mother's voice stopped him.

She came near him and after taking a look around she asked, "Is there anything you are not telling me?" she asked.

"I told you everything, mother. But you are hiding so many things from me,"

"What did I hide from you?"

"I don't want to talk about this now," he said because there are a lot more important issues than this. And if he digs this, he's afraid to face the truth about his family.

"I hope your journey was safe,"

"No, it wasn't safe at all. I nearly escaped from getting killed. If I wasn't alert your daughter would be a widow by now and I could have never seen my child," Aathiyan blurted out his frustration. "You don't know what I have gone through,"

"I am sorry, son," His mother apologized.

"I don't know how they tracked and trailed after me?" Aathiyan questions.

"I said where I am going to you because you demanded to know. I haven't said it to anyone else and no one could have known that I was there,"

His doubting made his mother anxious.

"Are you doubting me, Aathiya?" she asks.

"No," he nods. "Did you say this to Veera?" he asks.

"No, I didn't say it to anyone. Trust me," she said.

"I couldn't trust you because of your affection for Veera," Aathiyan said. "I know how much you love and you can do anything to protect him. But mother, you are making a big mistake,"

His mother didn't talk back to that and Aathiyan took that as he's right.

"I am your mother and I'll always do the right things for you," she said.

Aathiyan stared at his mother blankly. He couldn't believe those words.

"I don't know," Aathiyan said and walked to the hall where all the nobles gathered to meet him.

He wanted to ensure the safety of everyone more than anything. It's clear that he has to face Maravarman on the battlefield and he wants everyone's cooperation.

When he walked inside, he explained where he went and what happened exactly.

"You should have let us know,"

"You should have sent another person to go there,"

"You have bought this unnecessarily,"

Like that, many accused him, criticized him and Aathiyan expected this from everyone.

He has thought about all those scenarios if anything goes wrong after taking that decision. In the end, his heart pushed him to go on this trip alone. So he made sure to keep it a secret. But the one biggest mistake he made was telling his mother but it somehow turned out to be a good decision because from now on he won't trust his mother.

Now he's in trouble and he also knows what to do in this kind of situation.

"I know what I didn't isn't a better option but he's my father and I need to do everything for him. If you are all in my place, you'll choose what I did," he said. Others considered that because Aathiyan's father has treated them all with respect and compassion.

"Somehow he found that I was there and I escaped. It's all happened and now we have to think about what we have to do next," Aathiyan looked at everyone and Veera was sitting behind with his pals. Narenthiran wasn't here as he's too tired to even walk so he's resting without minding anything.

"He's going to come after me because I killed his cousin,"

"The general Karkkilan?" Veera asks in shock.

"Yes," Aathiyan nods.

"I don't think we can solve this by talking. So I want everyone to be prepared for everything," Aathiyan said.

"Yes, I think my brother is right," Veera said, "We should face Maravarman on the battlefield,"

Aathiyan knotted his eyebrows hearing that. He's surprised that Veera took his side, which he has never done before. Others agreed and the meeting dispersed after that.

Aathiyan heaved a sigh and looked at his brother.

Like always his face is plastered in a smile. "Why didn't you ask me to come with you?" he asks.

"I wanted you to be here, to look after everything," Aathiyan went in his brother's way because he's acting as if he's so concerned about everything.

Veera nodded with a smile. "Yes, you are right. I looked after everything and everyone,"

Aathiyan plastered a smile. "I hope you'll stand beside me,"

"Yes, brother. I'll do anything for you," he said.

Aathiyan didn't believe that at all and walked to his place.

Kayanangai was sitting beside the pond and waiting for the Aathiyan. Watching the crescent moon's reflection she thought she shouldn't say anything and just forget that as a nightmare.

Hearing his footsteps, Kayanangai's face lights up in a smile.

"You didn't sleep?" he smiles.

"How could I sleep without seeing you," Kayanangai replied.

"We should go inside," he said and held her hand.

Once they were in, Kayanangai asked, "Why didn't you tell me where you are going?"

"I am sorry, I should have said to you but I thought you'll worry about me," he reasoned.

She chuckles, "I didn't feel less worried now," she countered.

"I know how you feel, but at that moment, I couldn't tell you," he said, not able to tell what's in his mind.

Kayanangai left his hand. "I feel suffocating here, even my sister acts like I am her rival. I don't like this place and I don't like anything around here," she said.

Aathiyan stared at her, "So what can I do about that? You married me knowing everything," he said.

"I know, but you left me alone most of the time and I feel like no one is here for me," she had tears in her eyes.

"You aren't a small kid, Kayanangai. You have to be strong," he said.

She stared at him thinking he won't understand her feelings right now.

"Forgive me," Aathiyan said.

She nodded. "Take rest," Kayanangai sat on the bed and he laid there holding her hand.

"Do you have anything else to say?" he asks, hoping that she will say something about Veera. He can understand he's bothering her in some way and he felt ashamed to ask her directly.

"No, go to sleep," she smiles at him.

He nods and closes his eyes, holding her hand against his chest.