When the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar finally returned to his palace, it was past midnight and the third jamam had begun. The storm that swept through his heart stirred up more dust than the west wind that whirled and whirled the dust of the street. He felt a little sorry for having to rebuke his dear brother so much. His brother's admiration for him knew no bounds. He had said something out of admiration. Still, why should the skeptic complain about Nandhini unnecessarily? Such is human nature, perhaps. It is the nature of ordinary people to try to escape by blaming others for their mistakes. But why should he adopt such a disgraceful manner? Would it be befitting of his bravery and manhood to let go of that rogue thief who was caught in his hands and blame a woman, and that too on Madani? Let's go! Hadn't he apologized for it? And why should we think about it?
But could there be an iota of truth in what he said? Maybe we are mad at our old age? For the sake of a girl he had captured from somewhere in the forest, he had to reproach his brother, the man who had stood by us in a hundred battles, who had risked his life many times to protect us from danger. So what is she lifting? We do not know her antecedents. Her actions and words are sometimes suspicious. Cheechee! Brother's words have created such confusion in our hearts too! What injustice? How does she love us so dearly? How limited is she to behave? How enthusiastic she is in all our activities? Sometimes she even helps us with ideas. Dont you want to see how she dared to marry this old man of over sixty? Even Devendran will come running from heaven if a swayamvaram is given to that beautiful woman who is jealous even by the celestial women? Who would not want to marry her? Aa! If only she had caught the eye of this Sundara Cholan. How foolish is it to doubt such a woman in any way? We have heard that old men who marry young women make their lives hell with doubts that do not exist. We have seen such examples in the world. Should we make ourselves a place for such laughter?
Nevertheless, it was necessary to get some information from her mouth. Why does she often ask for a seal ring? Why does Lata often go and sit alone in the hall? We hear that some magician comes to see her often, and she herself admits, what is that for? What was she going to ask the magician? Whom should she enchant with magic? With all this, how long is she going to keep me in the position of 'married and celibate'? She is saying something like fasting, fasting, not what fasting and what fasting! Isn't it like the way the cunning women in the stories dodge? Don't let that happen any more! We must talk about it tonight.
When Pazhuvertaraiyar came to the entrance of his palace, the palace ladies, servants and nurses were waiting to welcome him. But his eyes roamed around but he did not see the Ilayarani he wanted to see. On enquiry, it was found that Lata was still in the hall. In his mind, with the question, "What is she doing there after midnight?" arose in her mind and suspicion that she was ignoring him. He made his way to the flagpole with some anger.
When he reached the entrance of the flag hall, he saw Nandhini and her friend coming in front of him. When she saw him, she stopped and began to look not at him, but into the darkness that dwelt in the garden. The nurse stood at a distance.
Even after Pazhuvertaraiyar came near Nandhini, she did not look back at him. Instead of thinking of rebuking Nandhini, he had to try to calm her anger!
"Nandhini! My darling! What anger? Why are you indifferent?" he asked, placing his iron hand gently on her shoulder.
Nandhini pushed his thunderbolt-like hand with her hand flower, soft as a flower. Mother! Is softness and softness so powerful?
"Oh my life! It is my privilege that you have pushed me away by touching me with your silken hand! Thou hast done what none of the valiant warriors from Trincomalee to Vindhya could do! That's my luck! But why not be angry? My ears are thirsting to hear your honeyed sweet voice," pleaded that great warrior who had won a thousand battles.
"How long has it been since you left me? Hasn't it been a full four days?" said Nandhini, her voice choking with sobs. It melted Pazhuvertaraiyar's heart like wax in the fire.
"Is that why you are so angry? Can't you stand the four-day separation? What would you do if I had to go to the battlefield? You will have to be separated for months, won't you?"
"Did you think that if you went to the battlefield, I would be away from you for months? Change that thought. Like your shadow, I will continue to come to the battlefield."
"It's beautiful! If I take you to the battlefield, I will fight! Kanmani! These chests and shoulders bore many sharp arrows and spear points. The world used to praise me as sixty-four such wounds. But if I put a thorn in your delicate floral body, my heart will be torn apart. The little thorn in your leg will accomplish what many swords and spears could not do to me. How shall I take you to the battlefield? It pains me that you have been standing all this time on the granite floor. Come this way; Come and sit on your flower bed! I see your face. Don't think that the four-day separation was painful only for you! Every moment I didn't see you was an age for me. At least now to quench my thirst, I see your golden face!" he said and took Nandhini's hand and made her sit on the couch.
Nandhini wiped her eyes and looked up at Pazhuvertaraiyar. The treasurer saw the pearl smile on her face in the golden light of the golden lamp. Aha! Why not give three worlds to this smile? Since we do not possess the three worlds, we can sacrifice our body, material and spirit for her! But she doesn't ask us anything! – So thought the brave warrior. The intention of questioning her and reprimanding her was gone! Nandhini has come to a stage where she has to carry out the work with her feet! Any form of slavery is wicked! But nothing makes a man so mad as the slavery of women!
"You have been out of town for four days, haven't you? Why didn't you come here as soon as you came back? Isn't your brother more important to you than me?" asked Nandhini. She asked, glancing at him with sly anger.
"Not so, my dear! My heart longed to come to you like an arrow from a bow. But I had to delay at Thambi's house just to find out if that silly boy – Mathuranthakan – would return safely through the tunnel..."
"Sir! I am interested in everything you have done. I also wish that all your efforts will be successful. But it pains me to think that you are carrying a male child in the covered palanquin in which I am to climb.
"Do you think it's just me happy? Not at all! But it was a big deal. I endure and do it in order to accomplish it. Besides, have you forgotten that it was you who suggested it? Didn't you tell me to take Mathuranthakan in your covered palanquin? You also told me how to send him alone in the tunnel on his way and out of the fort?....
"I was only doing my duty. Is it not a wife's duty to help her husband in what he has undertaken? I told him what I knew. So for you...."
"Is that all you did? This Mathuranthakan was smearing vibhuthi all over his body, wearing a Rudraksha mala and chanting Nama Sivaya! He was proving that he was the son of his mother by saying that he was a temple and a pond! We tried our best to inculcate a desire to rule, but could not. You talked to him twice, and he changed at once. His desire for the kingdom now cannot be described. Now his mind has spread from Lanka to the Himalayas! It extends from the earth to the sky. He was in no hurry than we were. He is eager to ascend the Chola throne. Nandhini! I don't know what magic you did with that child....Yes, you are such a magician? Why do you call another magician? People don't talk about it unnecessarily..."
"King! If anyone talks about it unnecessarily, it is your responsibility to cut out the tongue of such wicked people and teach them a lesson. I have already told you why I call the magician. If you forgot, I will tell you again. The woman in Pazhaiyarai was to unload the venom of the snake. You are manly men. You will fight with boys face to face on the battlefield. You will say 'shameful girls'. It is a shame for you to fight with girls. But a girl can do more harm than a hundred boys. The snake knows the leg of the snake. You don't know all that Kundavai's deceit; I know. You may have forgotten her insult to you and me, but I cannot. Looking at me in the midst of a hundred women, he said, 'That old man, when he was about to die, became mad with women; Why did you go and marry that old man?' Can I forget that? 'You are shining like a celestial Mohini? What prince would love you and garland you and make you a queen? You went and married that old buffalo! Can you forget that she asked me!" said Nandhini and started sobbing. Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks and drenched her breasts.