Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.
The next morning, when Sangamithra woke at dawn, she found Aditha's place empty.
For a brief moment, she looked around the thinnai, wondering where he had gone.
She then walked to the nearby pond and washed herself in the cool morning water.
When she reached the temple a little later, she noticed that the lamps were already lit.
A gentle smile formed on her lips when she saw Aditha standing within the temple premises in simple attire.
He too noticed her at the same moment.
A quiet smile appeared on his face.
He walked towards her and stopped right in front of her.
Aditha: Kurai edhum ulladha, devi?
Sangamithra: Oru kuraiyum illai, aiyyane!
En panigalai neengal edutthu kondaal naan enna seivadhu?
Aditha turned his gaze toward the lingam inside the temple and spoke softly.
Aditha: Itthanai aandugalaga en poosaiyaraiyil vaitthu ivanai naan vazhipattu vandhen...
Tharpodhu dhaan ennai ingu anumadhitthu irukkiraan.
Maalaigalai anindhaalum, aniyavillai endraalum...
Naam anivarume avanudaiya adiyaar dhaane, devi.????
Sangamithra: Aam, aiyyane.
Aditha looked around the quiet temple.
Aditha: Innum naam enna seiyya vendi irukkiradhu?
Sangamithra: Avarai suttham seidhu kaalai poosaiyai muditthaal podhum.
Aditha nodded.
Aditha: Appadiyendraal... adhaiyum inaindhe seivom.
Sangamithra hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
Sangamithra: Thangalukku niraiya panigal iruppadhaaga Periya Piraattiyaar solla ketten.
Aditha gave a small smile.
Aditha: Unmai dhaan, devi.
Pudhiya arasarukkaana paadangalaiyum... kanakku vazhakkugalaiyum sari paarththu oppadaikkum poruppil irukkiren.
Aanal adharku innum neram irukkiradhu.
She nodded quietly.
Aditha looked at her face carefully.
Aditha: Unnudaiya nettriyil irukkum keeral kooda innum gunamaanadhaga theriyavillai.
Sangamithra smiled faintly.
Sangamithra: Thangal meniyil irukkum kaayangalai vida... idhu ondrum peridhalla, aiyyane.
Aditha looked at her for a moment, still unconvinced. But she had already turned toward the sanctum.
Sangamithra: Kaalai poosaiyai thodangalaamaa?
For a brief moment he continued looking at her. Then he nodded.
Together, they stepped toward the lingam.
Rukmani visited the temple early that morning.
As she entered the temple premises, she saw Aditha carrying a water pot on his shoulder, while Sangamithra walked beside him.
They seemed to be in the middle of an engaging conversation.
Sangamithra was speaking animatedly, and Aditha was listening with quiet amusement. At times he said something that made her burst into soft laughter.
YOU ARE READING
The First Empress
RomanceThis story is the continuation of PM&I. A clueless girl from a colonised country dies and reborns 500 years back. She wasn't reborn as any commoner but as the fourth wife of the handsome crown prince who was about to become a king and be killed by h...
