The events of that day had irked the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar very much. Was it not an occasion to demonstrate the loyalty of the people to the emperor and his family? "The people, the people! Ignorant cattle! Four thousand people will go the same way as four people go! How many people know how to make use of self-knowledge?" he repeatedly muttered to himself. 'It seems that the emperor will leave the empire in ruins before he goes to heaven! ' Drop the tax for this town!' and 'Make that village a godless village!' In a short time there will be no village to pay taxes. But we had to send money for the battlefield and grain for food. Where shall I send it from?" he shouted, and his servants were a little frightened.
"Brother! Whats the use of making such noise? We have to wait until the time comes and show us in action!" the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar had to teach him patience.
When he came to know that Kundavai was going to come to his palace, the old man's irritation was beyond measure. He went to Nandhini and asked, "What is this I hear? Why should that monster come here? Have you called her? Have you forgotten how she insulted you?"
"Nor shall I forget the good done to me by any one; I will never forget the harm done to me by another. Don't you still know this nature of mine?" said Nandhini.
"Then why is she here?"
"She's coming, she's coming! She comes with the arrogance of being the emperor's daughter!"
"Why did you call?"
"I didn't call; She called herself. 'Sambuvaraiyar's son is in your house, isn't he? I want to see him!' and can I say, 'You don't come!' The time will come when we can say so. Until then, I'll have to put up with all the humiliation."
"I can't stand it. I cannot be in this palace when she comes. I cant stay in this city. There is some work in Mazhapadi. Goodbye."
"Do so, Lord! I was going to tell myself. Leave that poisonous snake to me. I know how to unload her poison. If you hear some wonderful news when you return, don't be surprised..."
"What kind of strange news?"
"You may hear that Kundavai is going to marry Kanthamaran or that the dominant Karikalan is going to marry Kanthamaran's sister..."
"Oh my God! What do you mean by this? If that happens, what will happen to our ideas?"
"If there is talk, will the whole thing happen? You have been telling all your friends that Mathuranthaka Thevar is the next title? Is that really going to happen? Are we striving so hard to crown Mathuranthakan, who blushes like a woman?" said Nandhini looking at the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar with her dark eyes. Unable to bear the force of that gaze, the old man bowed his head, took her hand and put it to his eyes and said, "My darling! The day will come soon when you will sit on the throne of this Chola empire as the empress!"
*
Ever since Kanthamaran came to know that Kundavai Devi was coming to see him, he had been in a state of excitement. Isn't the country aware of Kundavai's knowledge, beauty and other virtues? How proud it is that such a junior stateswoman is coming to see her! Couldn't he have suffered many more punches in his body for this? Damn! Couldn't he have been lying on the battlefield with such a wound on his chest? How proud it would be if Kundavai Devi came and saw her at that time? Besides, shouldn't she have learned the same lesson from others about the treachery of a friend?
From time to time he remembered his secret attempt against the queens family, and it pained him a little. Kanthamaran is a decent child. He is ignorant of tricks and tricks. Though Nandhini's lustful beauty intoxicated him, he kept his mind fortified by the thought that she was someone else's wife. But Kundavai Pratti is not married. How to behave with her? How to speak? Can you speak sweetly with vengeance in your heart? Or would he be so enamoured of her beauty that he would be tempted to renounce his vow? You must never allow that to happen.... Aa! Why should the princess come to see us here? Let it come; Let it come! You can say something outrageous and send it away so that it doesn't come back.
The decision made by Kanthamaran in this way dissolved completely at the sight of Kundavai stateswoman and disappeared. Her charming form, her radiance, her generosity, her modesty and her sweet words of sympathy made Kanthamaran lose his mind. His imagination swelled. He pretended not to want to boast, but at the same time told her of his exploits, as if at her insistence. He showed himself on his shoulders, chest and all over his body, as if he did not want to show the wounds he had received on the battlefield. "I don't care if that friendly traitor Vandhiyathevan had stabbed me in the chest. I am sorry he stabbed me in the back and left. That is why I have to tell you about his treachery. Otherwise, wouldn't there be disgrace on the back of the war? If I had stabbed him in the shoulder or chest, I would have forgiven him!" There was a suspicion that Vandhiyathevan would have done this and that we had been deceived about him. When asked to tell him in detail what had happened, Kanthamaran said. Even Nandhini was surprised that his imagination had reached its peak that day.
"Look, Devi! He deceived me the day I stayed in Kadampoor. He did not say what he had done for Thanjavur. He has come here and entered by showing some false sign. He has also gone to see the emperor. He said that he had brought a letter from Athitha Karikalar. Did he stop there? The commander of the fortress got suspicious when he told them that he had brought a letter linking their name to them. Suspecting that he might be a spy, he ordered him to be taken into custody. Somehow he escaped. His ingenuity in that matter must be commended. When I heard these reports, I could not believe that my friend was an enemy spy. There are some crookedness in his nature. I was convinced that he had done something nonsense. "I'll find him somehow and bring him back. He should be forgiven,' I said to the fort commander and left. In the middle of the night I went along the northern bank around the fort. I didn't want to take anyone behind and humiliate my friend. Shouldn't the escapee from the fortress have to come out of the fort through the wall anyway? Even if he had come out earlier, he must have hidden in the neighbouring forests. So I went along the banks of the North River. In the dim moonlight I could see a man descending through the steep fortress wall. I immediately went and stood there. When he got off, he said, 'Friend! What kind of work is this?" The Chandala immediately punched me in the chest. What will his punch do to my chest that is not healed by elephants? However, I went in search of him with good intentions and could not bear to be pierced by him. I also got stabbed. We both fought a bitter battle. In half an hour he lost his strength and was subdued. "Tell me the truth about why you came! I will forgive you and help you!'
'I'm tired,' he said, 'I'll sit down somewhere and tell you.' I said, "Okay," and took him. I led the way. Suddenly the sinner stabbed him in the back with a knife. The knife was half a span long. His head was spinning; I fell down. The traitor has fled! When I woke up again, I saw that I was in the house of a dumb woman..."
Hearing Kanthamaran's imaginary story, Nandhini laughed in her heart. Kundavai Devi could not decide how far to believe it.
"How did you get to the dumb woman's house? Who brought it?"
"That's the mystery I don't understand. The dumb man didn't know anything. Even if I knew, I couldn't tell. She has a son. He has not been seen since. I don't know how he disappeared. If he comes back, maybe he asks. Otherwise, I will have to wait till the Pazhuvur soldiers catch my friend..."
"Do you think he'll get caught?"
"How can you escape without being caught? You can't fly with your shoes on, can you? Thats why, Im waiting to see him. Otherwise, I would have gone to town. I still hope to seek forgiveness from the Pazhuvur kings for him."
"Sir! Your generosity is magnanimity!" said the junior stateswoman. Her mind thought, 'Vandhiyathevan should not be caught, even if he is a traitor!'
At that time, a palace nurse came running and said, "Mother! The spy has been caught! They're getting caught!" she shouted.
Both Nandhini and Kundavai had painful expressions on their faces; Nandhini soon changed that. Kundavai couldn't do that.