In the distance came the roar of drums. The trumpets sounded. The voices of men shouted. There was the sound of the gates opening and closing, and the tramp of elephants and horses.
Vandhiyathevan understood that the noises had attracted Nandhini's attention. The nurse who was guarding the guard got up with a start, came a little closer and said, "Mother! The master seems to have come."
Nandhini said, "I know; You go to your place!"
Then he looked at Vandhiyathevan and said, "The treasurer enters the fort. He will inquire after the welfare of the emperor, speak to the commander of the fortress, and come here. You must go before he comes. What is the message that Azhvarkadiar said?" she asked.
"Mother! The brave Vaishnava Shikhamani claimed to be his sister; Is that true?" asked Vallavarayan.
"Why do you doubt that?"
"Can you easily believe that the green parrot and the wild monkey are the children of a mother?"
Nandhini laughed and said, "In a way, what he said is true. We grew up in the same house, in the same family. He was as fond of me as a sibling. Sin! I have disappointed him greatly!"
"All right, then! Azhvarkadiar's message to you was that Lord Krishna was waiting for you. Millions of Veera Vaishnava devotees are also waiting to see the wedding scene where you marry Krishna!"
Nandhini sighed. "Aha! It seems that he has not yet lost his temptation! If you see him, tell me this. Tell him to forget me completely! Tell me that I am not at all worthy to be a devotee like Andal!"
"I don't agree with that, Mom!"
"What didn't you confess?"
"I don't agree that you can't become Andal. Andal had to perform bhakti, sing songs, weep and weep, garland flowers and marry Krishna. But you don't need that kind of trouble. Lord Krishna should see you. Rukmini will immediately abandon Satyabhama, Radha and the gopikastris and put you on the throne where they were sitting!"
"Sir! You are good at flattery. I don't like it at all."
"Mother! What is flattery?"
"To praise someone to their face."
"Then just turn around and sit with your back to yourself."
"What for?"
"Just to look at your back and not your face. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"You are very clever in speech."
"Aren't you flattering now?"
"Why don't you turn your face and turn your back?"
"Queen! I never turn my back on the battlefield or women. You can flatter me freely!"
Hearing this, Nandhini laughed 'Kaleer'.
"You are a magician; No doubt; It's been a long time since I've laughed like this!"
"But madam! It is dangerous to make you laugh! The lotus in the lagoon laughed and rejoiced; The bee beetle fainted!" said Vandhiyathevan.
"You are not only a magician; It's like that!"
"I am not afraid of flattery; I won't be disturbed."
"Who put you?"
"You just called me 'Kavi'?"
"What do you mean?"
"When I was a kid, some people used to call me 'monkey face!' I heard it today, after a long time, with your coral Mars."
"Did you say 'monkey face'? Who are such smart people?"
"None of them are alive now."
"I didn't tell you that. I said he was like a poet."
"I'll sing a little; But I will sing in front of my enemies. Those who don't die by a bow, let them die by saying!"
"Sir, Kaviraja Veerasingham! You haven't told me your name yet!"
"My real name is Vandhiyathevan; The title is Vallavarayan."
"Royalty?"
"He is a descendant of the old famous Vanadhi Raja clan."
"Your kingdom now?"
"The sky above; Earth below; Now I am the sole emperor of the whole earth!"
Nandhini stared at Vallavaraiyan for a while.
"Nothing like that is impossible. You may regain your ancestral kingdom."
"How is that possible? Will what went into the belly of a tiger come back? Will the government that joined the Chola empire get back?"
"I can make it available."
"Mother! Do not! I never had the desire to rule the kingdom. Today, after seeing the emperor Sundara Chola, it has been completely gone. It is better to be a free man who does not know where to get food the next day than to be an emperor waiting for the hand of others."
"That is also my opinion!" said Nandhini. Then, as if remembering something she had forgotten, she asked, "Why are the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar's men looking for you?"
"Like your nurse, she became suspicious of me."
"What's the doubt?"
"How did I get the stamp ring with the palm logo?"
There was a slight hint of fear on Nandhini's face.
"Where's the ring?" she asked in a startled voice.
"Here it is, madam! Shall I get rid of it in a little while?" he said, pointing to the ring.
"How did he know that you had this?" asked Nandhini.
"I had a desire to see Sundara Chola emperor for a long time. I used this seal ring for that. After watching it, the fort commander asked me how I got this ring..."
"What did you say?" asked Nandhini in a voice filled with horror.
"I didn't tell you your name, madam! I said that the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar gave it. I also told him that he gave it to Kadampoor palace..."
Nandhini sighed. The horror in her face and voice vanished.
"Did he believe what you said?" she asked.
"I don't think I'm entirely convinced. Shouldn't I have let people follow me? When my brother returned, he might have thought of putting me in front of him to find out the truth!" said Vandhiyathevan.
Nandhini smiled and said, "Don't be afraid of the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar. I'll see to it that he doesn't bite you and eat you."
"Mother! The world knows how much influence they have on the treasurer. But I have urgent business outside. That is why I ask your help to escape."
"What's the hurry?"
"There are so many. For example, you should look at Azhvarkadiar and give your answer. What shall I tell him?"
"Tell them to forget that he had a sister called 'Nandhini'!"
"I can tell you; But it's not going to happen."
"Which one?"
"It's about forgetting themselves. I have seen you twice by chance and I cant forget you. How can you forget someone who has been with you all your life?"
A hint of victory appeared on Nandhini's face. Her spear eyes looked into Vandhiyathevan's chest as if they were piercing.
"Why were you so eager to see the emperor?" she asked.
"Is it any wonder that I wanted to see that world-famous Sundara Purushar? Heroic kings in the world want their valour and pourusha to increase and to expand their kingdom and fame. In the same way, they ask the citizens to pray. But what prayers do the monks offer in monasteries about our emperor?
"... Sundara
Chola Vanity and 'Beauty'
Strength is for the best of the world"