The chirping of the parrot and the frightened crows of the nurse girl came together and startled Nandhini and Kanthamaran. When Kanthamaran turned around and heard that Pazhuvertaraiyar was coming, he was terrified. I wondered if he had heard him say 'I don't like Pazhuvertaraiyar either' a while ago. Even more terrifying was the thought that he might think something bad about Nandhini and himself, terrifying him. Isn't the attitude of those who marry in their old age peculiar? Is that why he should be so angry? I don't know what he's going to do. You have to be ready for anything.
The thoughts that swept through Kanthamaran's mind in such a moment. But that day he had the opportunity to see a great miracle. Contrary to what he had imagined, the miracle happened. As Pazhuvertaraiyar approached, Nandhini smiled and looked at him with her dark eyes and said, "Natha! I wondered if it would be a long time before they returned. Fortunately you have come!"
Pazhuvertaraiyar's anger vanished when he saw her face and heard that voice. He melted like wax in the fire. A silly laugh said, "Yes; The past is over; I'm back."
Then he asked Kanthamaran, "What is this child doing here? Did he invent a love poem and bring it to you?" and he laughed at his own ridicule.
Kanthamaran's face turned red. But Nandhini laughed more than Pazhuvertaraiyar and said, "He doesn't know love; I don't know poetry, I know how to fight. Fortunately the wound healed. He was saying that he had to go to town!"
"What do you call the bravery of the children of this age? I have suffered sixty-four wounds in twenty-four battlefields. But not once did he lie down in bed. His wound has been healed for more than a half. But all my injuries were on the chest, shoulder, head and face. Isn't this child wounded in the back? So it's been so long. Fair!" he said and laughed derisively.
Kanthamaran got up in a rage and said, "Sir! You are in my father's place. So I will tolerate your ridicule!"
"Otherwise, what would you have done?" asked Pazhuvertaraiyar and put his hand on the knife in his sheath.
Nandhini interrupted at this time. "Oh my God! He wasn't just injured in the back. You know that his chest is also wounded. The thought that the man who thought he was his friend had stabbed him in the back like this had caused a great wound in his heart. The wound on his back healed, but the wound on his chest did not heal. Shouldn't we talk like we're putting a stick in that wound? Don't you know what happened that night, the night he was injured, what?" Pazhuvertaraiyar's face changed instantly!
"Yes; You're right! Poor fellow, he is an ignorant child. His father is my best friend. I shouldn't mind that he said something stupid. Let it be. Nandhini! I have just come to tell you something important. He ought to know that, too. A man has been arrested on suspicion of being a spy in Mathottam of Ilankai. He has a letter for Prince Arulmozhivarman. From the marks of his features, I think he could be our Kanthamaran's handsome friend. He must be a big man. See, he escaped from our men and went to Ilankai!" said Pazhuvertaraiyar.
The other two did not notice the momentary change in Nandhini's expression.
"Oh! Has he escaped? Has he gone to Ilankai?" said Kanthamaran disappointedly.
"Oh my God! His escape did not strike me as a surprise. How many times have I told you that your brother is not fit to guard this fortress? Won't the men he sent be like that?" said Nandhini.
"When you said that before, I didn't get it right. I think so now, too. Listen to one more wonder! The spy caught in Mathottam had our Pazhuvur emblem. He didn't tell me how he got it...."
Nandhini sighed slightly and asked, "What is this funny? How did he get the palm leaf logo? What does your brother say to this?"
"Is he? You'll laugh when you hear him! Kalanthakan wants that palm leaf symbol to have gone to him from you!" said Pazhuvertaraiyar and laughed like a thunderbolt. It was as if the whole hall of Lata shook with that laughter. All the trees in the palace garden shook and trembled.
Nandhini also laughed along with him and said, "My brother-in-law is there, there is no one in this world who is as intelligent as him!"
"And do you know what your brother-in-law says? Good fun! It makes me laugh when I think of it! When you were coming in a palanquin at the entrance of the Thanjai fortress, that Indrajith met you and spoke to you. Then that Mayavi had come to this palace too. So you should have given him the Pazhuvur seal yourself! Otherwise, you must have gone through some magician who often comes to you! He is imagining all this to hide his foolishness!" said Pazhuvertaraiyar and laughed again, 'Hahahaha' with all his long teeth visible.
"I was very wrong in doubting my brother-in-law's intelligence. His knowledge is the flame of the world! No doubt! But I am surprised that you kept quiet listening to all this!" said Nandhini. Her expression changed again, now cracking with sarcasm. Sparks flew in his eyes.
The elder Pazhuvertaraiyar, the brave warrior who boastfully withstood many spear blows in the battlefield, could not bear Nandhini's little anger. There was a sudden relaxation in his appearance and speech.
"Devi! Do you think I was just listening to it? I spoke so harshly of his helplessness that I made him cry. If you had seen it, you would have taken pity on him!"
Kanthamaran, who was listening to all this, became embarrassed. He felt a little afraid of Nandhini and pity and contempt for Pazhuvertaraiyar. He wanted to get away from the conjugal affair of these conspirators. He cleared his throat and said, "Sir..." He said.
Nandhini interrupted and said, "When my brother-in-law talks about cleverness, we have forgotten him. He says he is going to town, let's go, can't he?"
"Fine, let's go. His father must be worried about his staying here for so long!"
"இவரிடம் ஓலை ஒன்று கொடுத்தனுப்ப விரும்புகிறேன், கொடுக்கலாம் அல்லவா?"
"ஓலையா? யாருக்கு?"
"காஞ்சியிலுள்ள இளவரசருக்கு!"
பழுவேட்டரையர் நந்தினியையும் கந்தன் மாறனையும் சந்தேகக் கண்ணால் பார்த்து, "இளவரசருக்கு ஓலையா? நீயா எழுதுகிறாய்? எதற்கு?" என்று கேட்டார்.
"இளையபிராட்டி தம்பிக்கு ஓலை எழுதி இவர் சிநேகிதரிடம் அனுப்பியிருக்கிறார். பழுவூர் இளையராணி அண்ணனுக்கு ஏன் ஓலை எழுதக்கூடாது? எழுதி இவரிடம் ஏன் அனுப்பக்கூடாது?" என்றாள் நந்தினி.
"இவன் சிநேகிதன் கொண்டு போன ஓலை இளைய பிராட்டி குந்தவை எழுதிய ஓலையா? உனக்கு அந்த விஷயம் எப்படித் தெரிந்தது?" என்று பழுவேட்டரையர் கேட்டார்.
"பின்னே எதற்காக என்னிடம் மந்திரவாதி அடிக்கடி வருகிறானாம்? அவன் மந்திரத்தின் மூலமாகத் தெரிந்தது. என் மைத்துனர் ஆட்களின் இலட்சணம்தான் தெரிந்திருக்கிறதே! பழுவூர் பனை இலச்சினை அவனிடம் இருப்பதாக கண்டு பிடித்துக் கொண்டு வந்து சொன்னவர்கள் ஓலை குந்தவை அனுப்பியது என்று சொல்லவில்லை, பாருங்கள்!"
"இலச்சினையைப் பற்றி நம் ஆட்கள் சொல்லவில்லை; அன்பில் பிரமராயர் இராமேசுவரம் போய்விட்டுத் திரும்பி வந்திருக்கிறார். அவர் கொண்டுவந்த செய்தி…"
"அந்தப் பிராமணனாவது குந்தவை தேவியின் ஓலையைப் பற்றித் தங்களிடம் சொன்னாரா?"
"இல்லை."
"Oh my God! Remember what I warned you. Didn't I say that all the people in this kingdom are trying to deceive you? Do you now know that this is true? I didn't just believe what the magician said. I also brought the doctor's son from Kodikarai and inquired. He confirmed it. He said that the junior stateswoman has sent a letter to her brother!" said Nandhini.
It was as if Pazhuvertaraiyar had been blindfolded and left in the forest. He looked at Kanthamaran with disgust. He did not like to talk like this with the little child by his side.
Realizing this, Nandhini said, "Our story is still there. Why should his journey be delayed!" and looking at Kanthamaran, he said, "Sir! This letter should be handed over to the Kanchi prince directly. If he gives a letter back, he should be very careful. Don't forget to invite the prince to your Kadampoor palace!"
"What can I tell my father? Isn't it the Pazhuvur king's wish?" asked Kanthamaran with some hesitation.
"Feel free to say. My wish is also the wish of the Pazhuvur king. Nada! Am I right?" said Nandhini.
"Yes, yes!" said Pazhuvertaraiyar shaking his head. He didn't understand. His head was dizzy. He could not even speak against Nandhini.
After Kanthamaran left, Nandhini turned her magnetic eyes on Pazhuvertaraiyar and said in a parrot's voice, "Natha; You seem to have lost faith in me! My brother-in-law's bad teaching seems to have won!"
"Never, Nandhini! Even if I lose faith in the spear in my hand and the sword in my waist, I will not lose faith in you. Even if I lose faith in the heroic heaven, I will not lose faith in your word!"
"If this is true, why did you ask me so many questions with that little child? I felt ashamed!" said Nandhini and tears began to welled up in her eyes.
Pazhuvertaraiyar was shocked. "No, my dear! In this way! Don't punish me!" he said and wiped the tears from Nandhini's eyes.
"But some of your things don't make sense to me. Don't I have the right to ask what, what, and why?"
"You have a right to ask. I have a right to say. Who said no? I told him not to ask in front of strangers. Ask me what you want now!"
"Why are you sending a letter to Athitha Karikalan? Why are you asking me to invite him to Kadampoor palace? Isn't he the first enemy to the fulfillment of our idea?" said Pazhuvertaraiyar.
"No, no! Athitha Karikalar is not our first enemy. That Pazhaiyarai female snake is our first enemy. Why did I invite her to our palace? It is for that reason that I am asking you to invite Athitha Karikalan to Kadampoor. Nada! Now remember what I have often said. Didn't I say that the junior stateswoman Kundavai has a special idea in her mind? Now I have found out what it is. She has decided to put her younger brother Arulmozhivarman on the Thanjavur throne to the exclusion of all others. Her intrigue must be counter-conspired to thwart her purpose. Don't you see now why I sent the letter to Kanji?" asked Nandhini and the look she looked at Pazhuvertaraiyar pierced his heart and upset his mind.
"Yes, I do!" the brave old man blurted out, though he didn't know anything.
"Oh my God! It is because of the great deeds of your and your ancestors that this Chola empire has expanded so much today. The eyes of this sinner will not sleep day and night until they see you mounted on the golden throne of Thanjaipuri! In the meantime, if you suspect me in any way, cut me down with your sword and kill me!" said Nandhini.
"My dear! Don't torture me with such harsh words!" said the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar.