Inaidhal [Chapter -1]
Shopnobhongo (broken dreams)
Collab with @harinishivaa
Standing in front of the window of Arulmolzhi's room in the Buddha Vihar , looking at Vanathi taking care of her thambi , Kundavai for the first time in her 22 years of life felt regret. Kundavai has grown up in a midst of a busy household in Pazhayarai, she was always followed by battalions of servants and her sakhis. But loneliness never seems to leave her alone, It always comes crawling back to her at the end of the day when everyone falls asleep, leaving Kundavai all alone to deal with her emotions . Kundavai was always a happy child, she was known for her charming smile and happy demeanor but since that fateful day 5 years back when her Anna accused her of betraying his trust something broke inside of her. Since that day Kundavai has stopped sharing her feelings with anyone, how can she ? Her only friend , her Anna , had abandoned her . She had learned to suppress her emotions and become more logical and practical. She had vowed to herself from that day onwards that she will always let her head rule over her heart, because letting your heart become your leader means ending up like Anna , broken and devastated. But now seeing her Uyir Thozhi and her thambi together , Kundavai feels a certain kind of regret for that decision. She has guarded her heart with care for all these years but now she is feeling left out looking at them, she felt as if she is missing the eternal joy of life. How lucky is her brother to get someone like Vanathi in his life , someone who cares , someone who is always there , someone who fits perfectly with his kind heart. Arulmozhi needs Vanathi by his side to succeed in the battles of life , she was the Sita to his Ram .
" Ilavarasi!" the sudden call broke Kundavai's chain of thoughts , she looked up to find a certain Vaanar Warrior looking at her
Ah him, Finally he is here. Vallavaryan has been a part of Kundavai's thoughts for some months now , Unknowingly Kundavai has ended up giving this veer a special space in her heart. Kundavai gazed lovingly at his face, he looked tired , his beard was unkempt and his ever messy curls were falling on his forehead. But his sleep deprived eyes still have the same charm, the same twinkle in them...
" Is everything all right Devi?" - Vandiyathevan enquired once again
" Yes it is, why wouldn't it be Vallavaryan?"
" Well maybe because of the fact that you are standing here all alone in the balcony, you should go inside and meet your brother, ilavarasi."
Kundavai smiled at Vandiyathevan, and his heart missed a beat...
Ahh that smile , that beautiful smile.
‘How can a smile be so intoxicating?’ Vandiyathevan thought
That smile has captured his heart since the day he first saw her in the hut of Kundandhai jothidar. He had lost his heart that day.
" Come here and see for yourself Vallavaryan."
Vandiyathevan walked towards Kundavai and peered in the window.
Kodambalur Illavarasi was sitting there by Arulmozhi’s side, her face shining with happiness, the sunlight caressing her black tresses as she gazed lovingly at Ponniyin Selvan's face.
"Aren't they just perfect?"
Vandiyathevan was taken aback by the question, he had heard before from his friends back in Kanchi that Ponniyin Selvan is supposed to marry the Kodambalur Ilavarasi but after seeing him with Poonkuzhali he can't really imagine him with anyone else.
"They do ...but"
" But what Vallavaryan?"- Kundavai scorned at him
" It's not my place to say this Illavarasi but i think that Ponniyin Selvan's heart belongs to someone else and that someone else is definitely not the Kodambalur Ilavarasi."
Kundavai reeled in shock when she heard Vanthiyathevan’s words.
Another woman had her brother’s heart? Who was it? Last she knew… was it the boat girl who had saved him?
“Who is it, Vanarkulathavare?” her voice sounded cold and furious, she did not even sound like herself. But she felt blinded by her worry for Vanathi. What had her brother done?
“Devi, adhellam edharku? (Devi, why all that now?),” Vanthiyathevan asked, triggering Kundavai’s fury.
“Who is it, Vana Veera?”
“It is Poonkuzhali,” he submitted, sighing softly, looking at his dearest’s face, now cold like stone, eyes carved into the fury of an angel.
"That , that boat girl?"
"You are claiming that she has my brother's heart? The Arulmozhi’s heart?"- Kundavai almost screamed out of frustration causing all the vikshus around them to look in their direction with curiosity.
"Illavarasi!, Calm down,” Vandiyathevan took an unsuccessful of attempt to calm the raging princess down but Kundavai was not listening to him.
"How can this happen again? How can another of my brother fall in love with a girl like that? Is history going to repeat itself again? Am I going to lose another of my brother to this girl? To This mere boatwoman?" anger clouded in Kundavai's lovely eyes.
"When did this happen Vallavaryan?"- Kundavai enquired
"It, actually..."- Vandiyathevan mumbled
"When?"- Kundavai enquired once again in a low voice
"Devi, i think we should step out before we discuss anything about this. This is sensitive news, You don't want anyone to know about this right? Especially the Kodambalur ilavarasi?"
Vallavaryan was not wrong - Kundavai sighed as she glanced at her Uyir Thozhi. Still sitting beside Arunmolzhi gazing at him as if he is the only thing in the whole world. Vanathi shouldn't know about this. This news can shatter the flower maiden's delicate heart, the heart she has given to Ponniyin Selvare since she was nothing but a mere child.
Vanathi had heard the talk turned into an argument between her Akka and Vanthiyar.
She had known, from the second she had stepped into the Viharam and met Vanthiyar once more, that his friendship was not on her side. Even if she was his beloved’s uyir thozhi, to Vanthiyar, Vanathi seemed like a problem. Her silent, and often bashful nature was mistaken for timidity, resulting in none but Kundavai seeing her for who she is- a woman who can understand another’s heart just by looking at them.
The only person she had had trouble with was the man she was gazing at, the Prince and King of her heart.
He was a closed book to her, a confusing enigma of emotions. He was also the one who had captured her heart, her ‘Ullam Kavar Kalvan’, for he had taken it and had decided not to give it back, like a thief.
Not that she wanted it back.
Her heart felt heavy, for she understood that her Kalvan will not return her feelings, despite what Akka had told her- Vanathi completely trusted Kundavai, but Vanthiyar had been with Ponniyin Selvar more recently than even Akka… why was everything suddenly confusing?
But how could she just leave him like that?
Even if her Lord of wonders did not return her feelings, her duty would always be to him… so she would stay and take care of him, till Akka or Vanthiyar came back.
She drifted to her mindscape, where he shone once more, like that golden skinned Yaanai Paaga she had met and fallen for her, who had given her delighted smiles and sweet eyes, his baritone voice like the sweetest nectar she had ever heard.
His brown eyes had sparkled with so much life, so much gentleness and spoke of a happy nature.. Till he had heard who she was. That had put a frown on his face, and she would do anything to remove that frown, one that her mere title had caused.
The Chozha Prince… who did not want to marry the orphan Princess.
How could she blame him? When even she knew that she was no match for him? It was Kundavai Akka and Sembiyan Patti’s benevolence and the blessing of Parameshvari that made her lucky enough to even be considered his potential bride.
One he had every right to reject, one he seemed to have from his heart.
And yet..
What could she do?
She had been born for him, even if he did not want her.
The sudden restless movement of her Prince brought her back to reality, and she leaned over, making sure he was comfortable, when he whispered a name that stunned her entire heart to a stone still statue.
“Poonkuzhali.”
Vanathi felt her entire body burn with pain at the words he pronounced, her being tear from her heart almost. Her Prince did love the boat girl!
But she could not blame him.
What did Vanathi have? Misfortune.
Poonkuzhali had saved his life bravely… how can he not love her? Why would he want this Princess who had nothing as compared to the brilliant woman who was exquisite, strong and independent?
She saw his Lotus eyes start to flutter, and she scrambled up, suddenly not wanting to be the first thing he saw when he woke up. As his eyes opened, she turned and ran out, wanting to get her Kundavai Akka.
So intent was she, that she did not hear the name he whispered when he saw her retreating form.
“Vanathi?”
So here it is ! The first chapter! It is a bit angsty but don't worry, everything will work out in the end... Please give me your honest opinions!
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