His Ilavarasi (Ponniyin Selvan OS)
Italics is for flashbacks and most Tamil words.Â
————————————-
Where had the Ilavarasi gone?
Arulmozhi was flabbergasted, for he had been spending time with her since she had set foot in the choodamani viharam, and she had suddenly vanished. He could still remember her tear filled eyes as she peered into the small window to see him, and their eyes had met for a split second before she had turned to hide.
This had become some mischievous habit of hers, he thought fondly, remembering their second meeting, the first one with him as Arulmozhi Varman, the Prince of the Chozha empire, rather than the yaanai paagan she knew him as.Â
Even then, once she had known he was Arulmozhi Varman, she had taken to hiding every time their eyes met. Whenever she could afford it, rather, given that his Akka Kundavai rarely allowed the Princess of Kodumbalur away from her, being as attached to the latter as the Princess was to Kundavai.Â
In all fairness, the Ilavarasi had not been anything but Vaanathi in his mind for a long time, even before he had been sent to Eezham with his forces.Â
After being celebrated with him, walking along his left side, she had now chosen to completely vanish, which was unacceptable to him. He had gotten so used to Vanathi’s presence during his days, that a sudden absence was like losing a limb.Â
And this was why he did not want anything to do with falling in love.Â
Arulmozhi groaned softly, knowing that if his elder sister were there, she would ask pointedly obvious questions. He could not deny that he had indeed fallen in love with Vanathi, and was also not in the mindset of denying it. He knew of Poonguzhali’s affection for him, and while she was incredibly important to him, and he respected her highly, her eyes were not the glow of the stars that filled his night’s vision.Â
Vanathi had become an integral part of him, a part he knew Kundavai had been hoping for, ever since she had gotten to know the Ilavarasi.Â
“Akka, why did you put these thoughts into my head?” he mumbled to himself, sitting down on the large, ornate couch, looking to his right, and seeing the vision of Vanathi in bright red and orange, simple but effective jewelry adorning Her ears, neck and arms.Â
They had made a statement with their appearance together, and he knew of the turmoil and the envy that would have caused. His elder sister’s companions, all Princesses of the small Chola Kingdoms, all had their eye on him as their husband, and disliked Vanathi for her purity and sweetness that had won over Kundavai so easily, without the former trying to do so.Â
And now, she had taken to going missing, definitely due to some plan she had, though he could not think of her as devious. She was the opposite of that, simple, pure and gentle, a devadhai in human form, one he had been blessed with.Â
He also knew well that many of the elders of the Chola empire had hopes on their marriage, including her Periappa, Poodi Vikrama Kesari.Â
And that brought him to his current problem.Â
“If I do marry Ponniyin Selvar, by his own will, I will only stay in his Antahpura, but not rule the Chola empire.”
He sighed again and again, knowing he was broadcasting his confusion as well as astonishment. Despite understanding why she had chosen to make that vow, he did not really want to rule without her by his side…
But should he even rule?Â
He felt the idea settle into his veins, and he wondered if he could make it work that way.Â
“Om Namaha Shivaaya ||”
He whispered a prayer to his Shiva, his Aaradhya, and got up, now energized and enthused by his idea.Â
Arulmozhi could not contain his happiness, and he had no problems showing his happiness as well.Â
He had gotten Madurantakan crowned, and was now going to be part of naval expeditions, after ensuring the stability of his Kingdom. His sister had started insisting on him getting married now, and Madurantakan had also expressed his wish to see Arulmozhi’s marriage.Â
“Akka,” he had smiled at his radiant sister, whose eyes held a hope that he would listen to her.Â
“I think it is time for your Kalyanam, Thambi. Our lineage has to continue,” Kundavai said. However, Arulmozhi knew his sister very well. While she did believe in her own words, she also nurtured a deep hope that he would marry her best friend, who she could have as her sister-in-law then.Â
“Who should I marry Akka? Your companions have all fawned over me whenever they could. Who among them should I marry?”
“Do all my companions fawn over you, Thambi?” frowned Kundavai, narrowing her eyes at him, as if knowing that he was up to something. He controlled the smile that was suddenly threatening to burst from within, and he shook his head, knowing it was the truth.Â
“Only the Kodumbalur Princess does not fawn over me, Akka.”
He could not prevent the smile that formed on his face, so he allowed his emotions to overtake his expression instead, smiling wider at the surprised but delighted expression that had alighted Kundavai’s features.Â
“Has my thozhi managed to find a place in your heart, Thambi?” Kundavai asked, the tiny inflection in her voice betraying her joy.Â
“She is my entire heart, Akka.”
The happy conversation that had followed would be etched in his mind, and would be one he would revisit as often as he could. He had also managed to convince Kundavai to allow him to speak to his Ilavarasi, for he wanted to formally discuss the situation with her.Â
And that was where he was headed.Â
Kundavai had told him that Vanathi was in the garden near the Kaveri, and he had taken a secret shortcut, and now stood in the corner, watching Vanathi silently. She was seated in the same place they had met, and was smiling softly at the birds that chirped around her.Â
“Is there no bird for me to rescue today, Ilavarasi?”
He called out and stepped into the grove, the sudden reaction from Vanathi telling him that he had succeeded in hiding from her.Â
“Ponniyin Selvare!” she exclaimed, a rosy hue flooding her cheeks, making him smile more. He should have caught her like this before, in retrospect.Â
“I am unable to find you much these days, Devi. What wrong have I done that you have deprived me of your presence?”
“Ilavarase,” Vanathi exclaimed, in a tone that sounded completely astonished. “You were busy, and I was staying out of the way.”
“Out of whose way, Devi?” Arulmozhi did not know what came over him, but he just wanted answers in that moment. He still stood at a respectful distance from her, despite wanting to be much closer.Â
“Ayya, I was trying not to disturb anyone, especially after everything Periappa did. Even now, I am here for one of the last times. Periappa wants to take me back to Kodumbalur, but Akka has been insisting that I not leave.”
She had not left Kundavai’s side in years, and now, when things had settled down, and he could finally be in Tanjai, she is leaving?Â
“You are leaving, Ilavarasi?” he blurted out, though chided himself internally at his blathering of sorts.Â
“It is Periappa’s wish, Ayya,” she lowered her gaze, not meeting his eyes. He stepped forward, a little closer this time, waiting for her gaze to lift up once more. Without her permission, he would not go closer.Â
“What about yours, Vanathi?”
He used her given name, choosing to forgo all formalities, wanting her to know he was serious with his question. She looked at him, her doe eyes wide, shining like the sun’s glow on amethyst.Â
“Ayya…” she hesitated, faltering in her words, though her eyes expressed everything he needed to know. Joy dancing through him like Shiva’s blissful dance did through the Universe, he stepped straight into her personal space, peering down at her deeply, reading through her star-like eyes.Â
“What about your wish, Vanathi?”Â
“Ponniyin Selvare,” she said, looking back deeply into his eyes. “If I had it my way, I would not set even a foot away from you.”
“That is my wish too, Vanathi. Will you be my Queen?”
“Swami,” she responded, lowering her head out of bashfulness, her body language indicating the same. “I will not go back on my words. I will not rule the Chola empire, but if you want me as your wife, I will be so. I will be your sahadharmini in everything but ruling the Chola empire. I will be yours as I always have been, Ayya, but do not ask me to rule the Kingdom.”
“Ennavale,” he whispered, softly, gently touching her chin with the tip of his fingers, raising her lowered gaze back to meet his. He took a moment to admire the red blush on her moon face, before continuing. “I will not make you rule as the Queen of the Cholas, but I will go to you for advice, much like I do to Kundavai Akka.”
“And as your wife, I will fulfill it, Swami.”
He nodded, content with gazing at her at that moment. Everything else could be and would be discussed in the future, but he wanted those few moments with his beloved, to have this poignant silence which spoke all their love into existence as if new.Â
Everything else could wait.Â
—————————————————–
Yaanai Paagan- elephant mahout
Periappa- elder father or father’s elder brother
Aaradhya- the One who is worshipedÂ
This OS is completely inspired by the movie- though I have a couple of book references here. I hope you all like it, and I hope to write much more of VanMozhi, including multi chaptered fics. Hopefully, by the grace of HariHara, all will work out.Â
Dedicated to @vibishalakshman and @dumdaradumdaradum <3Â
