That evening Nandhini was sitting on the Hamsathulika couch in Latha Mandapam writing a letter. She wrote only a few lines. Sometimes, as she wrote, her body trembled like a young flag in a whirlwind. She sighed often. In the cold weather, the nurse was standing beside her, fanning herself with a peacock fan, and her marble forehead was beaded with beads. She wrote:
"Queen! Hesitating, hesitating, frightened, afraid, I ventured to write this letter. We hear all kinds of news about the state of the kingdom. You don't notice anything. You did not come to Thanjai despite repeated requests from your father, who was emaciated due to illness. I wonder if I am to blame for this. If I meet you once, I will remove all doubts. Will you have mercy on it? If you don't want to come to Thanjavur, you can meet at Kadampoor Sambuvaraiyar's palace. I am in your grandmother's place today. What objection can there be to our meeting? The brave young man who brings this can trust Sambuvaraiyar's son completely and send him any message – thus Nandhini, the unfortunate woman who was born with misfortune."
After really hesitating, thinking and thinking and writing the above epistle, he looked at the nurse who was fanning and said, "Go! Go and bring the Kadampoor prince immediately!" said Nandhini.
The nurse went and fetched Kanthamaran and stood a little away.
Kanthamaran's eyes narrowed to look at Nandhini. Kanthamaran stood somewhere looking at the garden.
"Sir! Sit down!" said Nandhini and the trembling in her voice made Kanthamaran stare at her face.
Nandhini continued, "No wonder you can't see me with the eyes that saw Kundavai Devi!"
Those words pierced Kanthamaran's heart. Her smile made his head go crazy.
Faltering, he said, "A thousand Kundavais are not equal to one Nandhini Devi!"
"However, if the junior stateswoman moves her finger, you will go to heaven and bring back Indra's throne. If I beg you, you won't even sit down!"
Kanthamaran sat down on the platform opposite him and said, "If you instruct me, I will go to Brahmalokam and cut off Brahmma's head and bring it back!"
Nandhini trembled. Without looking at Kanthamaran, he looked away and said, "After Paramasivan's death, Brahmma has four heads left. Even if you cut another one, Brahma will survive!"
"Devi! Say anything else. But don't praise me only about Kundavai Devi. My blood boils when I think of her interceding for the friendly traitor Vandhiyathevan!" said Kanthamaran.
"But it is true that your imagination was magnificent this morning! How imaginatively you spoke about the war that took place between you and your friend," Nandhini's words made Kanthamaran a little ashamed.
"There's something to be said about how you met him, right? So I said. It is true that he stabbed me in the back!"
"Sir! Wouldn't it be good for you to recall all that happened that day?" said Nandhini.
"Do you even doubt my word?"
"I don't doubt it. However, you have forgotten a few things. One day they will imprison Vandhiyathevan. Then your accusation against him should be proved to be true, right?"
"I'm not interested in that. I still want to forgive him."
"I appreciate your generosity. But it is better to be sure of the truth among ourselves. Recall all that happened that night. When you came through the cellar, you met Pazhuvertaraiyar and me on the way. Do you remember that?"
"I remember it well. As long as there is life in my body, I will never forget it."
"Do you remember what you said then?"
"I don't remember what I said. I was mesmerized when I saw you."
"But I remember very well what you said. ' Sir! I have heard so much about your daughters beauty. But you said, 'That doesn't cover the truth'..."
"Oh my God! Did I say that—? Thats why his face is so flushed! Even now he doesn't like me very much..."
Nandhini laughed and said, "There is no harm if he does not like you; You like him, don't you? That's enough!"
"Devi! I tell you the truth. What's the use of hiding from you? I don't like him either," said Kanthamaran.
"It doesn't matter! I like him; That's enough. How much penance have I done to obtain such a husband?"
Hearing this, Kanthamaran's heart was confused. He didn't know how to say anything.
"Let it go; What did you do after seeing us in the cellar?" asked Nandhini.
"The guard who came with the torch led the way. I even went in remembrance of you. The guard opened the secret wall and moved away. I got into it. Someone stabbed me in the back, that's all I remember. Vandhiyathevan must have somehow known that I would be there and waited outside."
"No, sir! Your assumption is very wrong. He didn't wait outside."
"You have also joined his party?"
"Why should I join his party? What do I gain? Or what does he gain? I'm pretty sure now that this is how it must have happened."
"Tell me, Devi! Tell me how!"
"Vandhiyathevan is not waiting outside..."
"Then who was waiting?"
"There is no one else; Didn't I say that Vandhiyathevan wasn't waiting outside? He's waiting in that treasure cellar!"
"What? What? How is that possible, My Lady!"
"He disappeared that day suddenly. How could he have hidden? Think for yourself! Somehow he managed to get into the treasure cellar and learn all the secrets of the place. Then he has followed you. When he opened the door, he stabbed them from behind and left himself. Then perhaps his own conscience troubled him. He has taken you to that dumb man's house and left you..."
"Devi! It must have happened as you say; No doubt. All this time it has not reached my understanding; Others don't see either! If you ask me who is the wisest person in Chola Nadu, I will say that it is you. There are intelligent people in this world; There is a beautiful one. It is rare to find a combination of the two in the creation of Brahma. I see beauty and wisdom in you!" said Kanthamaran excitedly.
"Sir! Was what you just said a heartfelt word? Or is it the flattery that men say to other women than in the world?"
"Not flattery; I swear I said what's on my mind."
"Then will you trust me completely? Will you do me a favor?"
"Whatsoever I am able to, I am willing to do."
"You have to go to Kanji for me."
'Even if you ask me to go to Kashi, I will.'
"You don't have to go that far. I will give a letter to Prince Athitha Karikalar in Kanchi. You have to deliver it to him. After delivering him, invite him to your Kadampoor palace as a guest..."
"Devi! What word do you mean? Don't you know the arrangements that your husband, my father and many other Chola Nadu dignitaries are making about the kingdom?"
"I know very well, but there are a few more things to know. Sir! Your family, my family and many other great families are standing on the threshold of great danger. Do you know who caused it?"
"Tell me, Devi!"
"That wretch who came here this afternoon as a guest!"
"Oh my God! Do you mean the junior stateswoman?"
"I mean that cobra. The snake knows the leg of the snake. Only this Nandhini knows Kundavai's trick. She has sent your friend Vandhiyathevan to Ilankai. Do you know why? To bring herbs is a big lie! She was not desperate for Sundara Cholar's survival. Mathuranthakar should not succeed him. Athitha Karikalan should not come to the throne. She wanted her dear brother Arulmozhi Varman to come. If Arulmozhi Varman comes to the throne, she can dance as she wishes. Then Kundavai Devi is the empress of the Chola empire! Do you know who the emperor is? Your friend is Vandhiyathevan!"
"Aha! Is it? This has to be prevented somehow. I must tell my father and the Pazhuvertaraiyars immediately..."
"It's no use telling them. They won't believe it. Kundavai's trick has to be overcome by an alternative tactic. If you help, we can win!"
"Command, My Lady!"
"Here, take this letter with utmost care and give it to Athitha Karikalar in Kanji. Will you give it?" she said and held out the scroll and the pipe to be put in.
Instead of taking the leaf scroll and the flute, Kanthamaran who was immersed in lust held Nandhini's hand and blurted out, "I will do anything for you!"
At that moment there was a loud noise. Pazhuvertaraiyar was hurrying from the palace on the way to Latha Mandapam. Suddenly, the nurse saw the unexpected visitor and stood aside. There was a large parrot chained to a triangle hanging from the beam of the hall. As fast as he came, Pazhuvertaraiyar involuntarily grabbed the parrot with his hand. The impulse in his mind flowed through his hand. The parrot's wings flapped violently. Unable to bear Pazhuvertaraiyar's cruel grip, the parrot 'screeched'.