Edhuvum Avanukaaga: Chapter 4: Avalirku Vaaku
Avalirku Vaaku- A vow to her and for her
Arulmozhi hurried to Thanjai on his elephant, and having tricked the people at Naagai reluctantly so that he could leave. There was a lot that had happened within two days, and he had to celebrate a function with the people of Naagai before making his elephant run mad on purpose so that he could leave and go home to Thanjai. As he made his way to Thanjai, as fast as he could, he spotted a familiar stocky figure crossing the street and stopping to look at him. Arulmozhi sighed and patted the elephant gently, slowing him down as they reached the man.
He got down in a trice, and smiled with an exasperated sigh, speaking, "Thirumalai, thaangal inge?"
"Ilavarase, it is my fortune to see you alive, hale and hearty," said the student of Aniruddha Brahmarayar. Arulmozhi was not surprised that the Prime Minister of Chozha Nadu knew of his alive status.
"It is not like you did not know I was alive, Thirumalai," the amusement he felt was made obvious in his tone. "There is nothing you do not know."
"And yet, Ayya, I am unaware of why you are coming to Thanjai now," the Vaishnava said in a dry tone, eyes twinkling to give away his amusement as well.
"I have my own reasons, Ayya," Ponniyin Selvar said calmly. "There are things that need my presence in Thanjai and Pazhayarai. I am just awaiting an active response from my thamaiyanar."
"Ilavarasar Aditha Karikalar insisted on going to Kadambur anyway, even after your letter came. Or so he informed the Ilaya Piratti," Nambi said casually. "So, the Princess, along with her uyir thozhi, the light of Kodumbalur, have gone to Kudanthai."
"To the Jothidar? Again?" Arulmozhi was exasperated with his elder sister and her love for astrology. "But are you sure that they are there?"
"I am, Ilavarase. I myself was heading there to talk to the Ilaya Piratti for my next set of orders."
"Then let us make our way there, together," Arulmozhi determined.
Vaanathi jerked when she heard Arulmozhi's voice. She had already put up with his dearest boat woman for days, and her nerves were jagged, on edge. His voice soothed them some, though the sweet look on the said boat woman's face was getting to her. She was about to look away, when her eyes caught his, and she froze. Why did he look like he knew something... her breath caught in her chest, as she met his eyes, the ones which touched her heart and soul. His eyes were intense, aflame with an emotion her soul identified, though it went unnamed in her mind. She knew she was captivated once more, but this time, his emotions shone as powerfully as hers always had, and that sent thrills of delight through her body.
"Ponniyin Selvare," she whispered, even before her Akka could, making the latter smirk at the two of them, seemingly content in allowing their interaction to happen first.
"Vaanathi," he stepped closer to her, his towering height making her gaze up at him, blushing when his eyes traced the shape of her face. She blushed, feeling her skin light up with the depth in his eyes, and she looked away shyly, her eyes widening when they met Kundavai's smirking eyes.
"Akka," Vaanathi whispered, running to her side, making the Ilaya Piratti laugh, before she turned to Arulmozhi.
"Vaalu," Kundavai said entirely exasperated. "What are you doing here?"
"Ask your Thozhi, Akka. She scares me sometimes," he said, nodding at Samudrakumari, but entirely focused on the Velir magal in front of him.
"What did I do?" Vaanathi was confused. What was he talking about? She stilled when their eyes met, and his penetrating gaze told her the truth. Oh... oh no. He had found and read the letter, which had accelerated his plans. He was not supposed to read it so soon. He also looked a bit... displeased.
"You know what you did," he said firmly. "I am here to stop you, Vaanathi."
"But Ilavarase..." He interrupted her, rare for him but much needed at that point, at least in his perspective.
"No Vaanathi, whatever it is, we can talk it out. That step is unacceptable," he said firmly, looking at his Akka innocently. He added, "It is just an argument between Vaanathi and I, Akka, don't worry about it."
"You know Akka will find out right?" Vaanathi's tone was dry and deadpan, her sassy nature coming out once more due to his presence. Kundavai had already gone forward with Samudra Kumari and Thirumalai, leaving her younger brother with her chellam.
"I am aware. But maybe let us not worry her when Chozha Nadu is already going through so much," he whispered in her ear and pointed to the hut of the Jothidar, as if asking her to enter first.
Vaanathi felt shivers run down her spine, and she closed her eyes. His ability to affect her had somehow increased, despite her decision to stay strong and formal with him. Instead, she had lost herself in him once more, something she had told herself she would not do again, as it was bound to hurt her. But his gaze had unlocked something in her, something deeper, a reflection of his own expressions. Steeling herself, she turned to him and asked, "What are you really doing here, my Prince? Akka asked you not to come, and you don't disobey her. So why suddenly?"
"I got your letter," he said, searching her eyes. "You did not want me to find it so early, and yet, I am thankful I did. What were you thinking, Vaanathi?"
"That I do not want my honour to be besmirched, that my honour should not be tainted," she said quietly. "My honour and my chastity are my highest values, and I refuse to let anything or anyone taint it."
Her heart tore at the pain that danced across his handsome face, but what could she do? She had to be truthful, even more so because she had vowed that she was his alone, in her heart of hearts.
"Then punish me however you want. Just don't take the oath," his low voice broke her heart. No, her Selvar should never have such pain, and yet, here she was, causing him such pain. Tears sprung in her eyes, and she looked away in an attempt to control her emotions. From the corner of her eyes, she saw him making an aborted motion to comfort her.
She turned back to him, tears now shining in her doe eyes, which fell when she saw the tears forming in his own.
"Selvare, do not tear, not for something so small and simple," she tried to say, but he shook his head.
"I promised myself that I would always protect and honour women. To think that I tainted yours with my doubts breaks my heart, Vaanathi," he said quietly, his expression suddenly turning neutral.
"You did not taint mine," she said, horrified at his words. "You doubted because you heard rumours. And who does not when they hear such, my Prince? Did I also not think you felt something for Samudrakumari?"
She winced at her words, and turned to leave, but his hand stopped her by gently gripping her wrist. She turned around to meet his eyes, not making any action to move her hand away.
"It is my fault for hurting you so, Vaanathi," he said, determined to make this right. "Vanadevi of Thirunallam, will you allow me to at least rectify my mistake? Will you allow me to repent?"
"You have no need to though, Ponniyin Selvare. You are free to love who you want," she said quietly, about to turn away, when his words stopped her.
"No Vaanathi, my heart has been given a long time ago at Thirunallam. It just took these dire situations for me to understand."
She looked at him with shock, surprise and entire love in her eyes, and he smiled back quietly, indicating that they enter the hut, for Kundavai would not be too happy otherwise. She nodded, her eyes still on his as they entered, before she walked to Kundavai's side, shaking her head with tears in them.
Kundavai nodded, taking in the tense frame of her brother's. She had to talk to both eventually, and she would. For now, they all had to focus on Chozha Nadu first.
Vaanathi and Arulmozhi walked out of the hut, both entirely flummoxed. The astrologer had waxed poetic about them as a couple and the supposed future of Chozha Nadu the moment he saw them together. Vaanathi had blushed a whole lot, but had also avoided looking at him, more out of shyness than anything else. The apparent power of their pair was also recited in great detail. Vaanathi had noticed Samudrakumari's building fury, but most of her was focused on the awed expression on her Prince's face.
"Yes my Prince?" she turned to meet his eyes, her breath yet again stopping at her chest when his eyes, alit with passion and love, met hers.
"I will prove your worth to you. This is my promise, on Akka's golden feet."
Do I know what I am doing? At this point, this is my flow-
@ahamasmiyodhah @thegleamingmoon @yehsahihai @mahaswrites @hum-suffer @theramblergal @moon-880 @arachneofthoughts @whippersnappersbookworm @rang-lo @celestesinsight @willkatfanfromasia @mahi-wayy @ragkee @houseofbreadpakoda @sambaridli @nidhi-writes @leoprincess21 @anushyaselvaraj @chaliyaaa What do you all think?
