Some men past their youth, who marry young maids, always dwell in the illusory world of jealousy. They feel a natural dislike and disgust for any stranger or newcomer. Lord Pazluvoor had more than enough reason for such feelings. He did not like Nandini coming out in front like that and starting a conversation with a young man; nor could he chide her for it.
Therefore, he answered Nandini with some scorn, "My Dear, there are several people on this earth unfamiliar to us. We cannot know everyone; we have nothing to lose by that!"
Parthiban Pallava replied to this, "My Lord, the Consort of this empire's Tax Official has nothing to lose by not knowing me. The loss is really mine own. Therefore, let me make my own self known. My Lady, I am known as Parthiban Pallava."
"Oh! Is that so? I have heard of your name!" said Young Queen Nandini of Pazluvoor.
"Parthiban why have you forgotten all the titles and ranks? When did you turn so humble and modest? Nandini, he is not merely Lord of the Pallavas. He is Parthiban Pallava who conquered Vengi and Kalinga and He who took the head of Veera-pandiya!" said Lord Pazluvoor with more contempt.
Nandini's face clouded like skies crowded by gathering storms. Lightning strokes flashed from her dark eyes and vanished in a second. She laughed lightheartedly. "Sir! How many men bear the title `He who took the head of Veera-pandiya'? Is there no account of that?" she asked.
"My Lady, Lord Pazluvoor gives me that title because of his esteem for me. In truth, I really have no claim to that title. The only person who can truly own that title is Prince Aditya Karikala."
"Why do you say that Sir? Don't you want a share in the reputation of killing a dead snake?" asked Lord Pazluvoor with a thundering laugh.
"No, My Lord, no. Aditya Karikala did not kill a dead snake. When he raised his sword, Veera-pandiya was a fully alive serpent. A maid more divine than a heavenly nymph stood before him with folded palms, begging for his life. If it had been me who was there with the raised sword, I would have immediately thrown the sword away; Veera-pandiya would have escaped with his life." Parthiban Pallava was answering Lord Pazluvoor, But his eyes were peering at Nandini's face.
Nandini realized that the talk was turning towards dangerous shoals. She turned her face around, "My Dear Lord! Why rake those old stories now? Perhaps we should question why this young man is here now?"
Upon that, Lord Pazluvoor asked with some urgency, "Yes, Sir. Forget that old story. What is your story? When did you leave Kanchi? Where are you going and why have you landed here?"
Parthiban Pallava who had been captivated by Nandini's charm, recalled why he had come to Kodi Karai. "My Lord, forgive me. I have been digressing. I have come with some very important news. It is news that will drown all of the Chozla Empire in sorrow. Prince Arulmozli Varma who left Lanka on this ship, with me, jumped into the sea in the whirlwind storm. I do not know his fate. I came here with the hope that he has perhaps reached this shore."
Even before he had finished, Lord Pazluvoor roared, "Oh! What did you say?" He fell to the ground like a palm tree uprooted by the storm.
Parthiban ran forward to hold him, when Nandini stretched out her hand and stopped him. She then knelt on the ground, lifting Lord Pazluvoor's head onto her lap. "Water, water!" she shouted.
A maid ran out from the tent with some water. Some footmen and the Lighthouse Keeper and his family also ran forward. Nandini imperiously ordered them all to go back. She sprinkled some water on Lord Pazluvoor's face. "My Dear! My Dear!" she called softly. Soon, the old man opened his eyes; consciousness returned immediately and he sat up.
"Nandini, the words I heard just now, are they true? What did this fellow say? Did he say that the ocean took Ponniyin Selvan? Oh! When that brave young man was a child, I carried him with these hands of mine and enjoyed him riding on these shoulders mine! Oh! And with these same hands I sealed the orders to arrest him! Oh! What will the Chozlas think of me? What will Tamil Nations think of me?" He knocked his forehead with his palms and began wailing.
Nandini had never seen him in such a state! No one had ever seen him like that!
"My Lord, do not be distressed, he has not given us all the news. Let us listen to all the news and decide on the next action," said Nandini with a clear head.
"Yes, you are right. Parthiban, speak quickly. You said that Arulmozli drowned at sea. Is it true? Are you making up stories with some evil intent? Do not play with a hungry tiger! Be warned!" growled that old soldier with anger brimming eyes.
"My Lord! Forgive me. I did not say that the Prince died. I cannot believe that the Tamil Nations would suffer such a grave loss. All that I said was that, during the height of the storm, he jumped into the sea from my ship. With God's grace he must be alive. He must have been washed ashore near this beach. I came here with that hope, looking for him.... "
"He jumped into the sea during the whirlwind? Why? Why did he jump? Why was he in your ship? What were you doing when he jumped?" asked Lord Pazluvoor in some agitation.
Nandini intervened, "Sir, let him explain in detail, from why he went to Lanka."
"Yes; explain everything. Speak the truth, if not, you shall not live to...." Lord Pazluvoor ground his teeth.
"My Lord, I have no practice in speaking anything but the truth. Even if I intend to speak falsehood, my tongue will not utter it. Please listen to me! News reached Kanchi that you and Sambuvaraya and other nobles were plotting treason against the Chozlas."
"Lies! Utter lies."
"Let the news be a lie! That is what I wish. I merely repeated the news that came to Kanchi. Upon that, Prince Aditya Karikala and Thiru-kovalur Malayaman sent me to Lanka. Asking me to accompany Arulmozli Varma back to Kanchi." Parthiban Pallava then told them to the extent he knew, about everything that had happened since he landed at Lanka.
Finally, Lord Pazluvoor said, "Oh Good Lord! Evil times have befallen the Chozlas and this empire. All because of me! I ordered that the Prince be arrested! I sent those ships!"
Nandini tried to calm him down, "My Dear King, it is not your fault. Even if you had not given any orders, the Prince would have set sail for Kanchi in this man's ship. Do not be distressed unnecessarily. Fate is more powerful than our human intentions. Moreover, ...." at this point Nandini lowered her voice and whispered into Lord Pazluvoor's ears.
His face brightened a little, "Yes, yes. I did not think of that!" He turned towards Parthiban Pallava saying, "Sir, I need to board your ship and search it. Till I finish, I command you to stay right here on shore. Do not try to escape. I shall order my lancemen to kill you instantly if you try to escape. Do not die with wounds on your back! You have a brave lineage!"
"Thank You My Lord! I have no intention of trying to escape. If I do try none of your men can really stop me. I have no intention of being wounded on my back."
"My Lord, do not worry about this man. I shall watch him. If he tries to escape, here this knife will pierce his heart. You can go without worry and examine that ship. Question the sailors carefully, ask if he speaks the truth," saying this, Nandini drew a small knife from her waist belt.
"My Dear! Why do you concern yourself in this? You go into the tent and wait. Or go to Mr. Thyaga-vidangar's house. Our men will watch this fellow. Or I could take him with me..."
"Sir, I prefer not to accompany you. If I come with you, your doubts will never be cleared. You will think that the seamen spoke for me. I promise not to move from this spot. You may go without concern."
"My Lord, I too shall remain rooted to this spot till you come back from that ship. My eyes shall follow you wherever you go." she further whispered in Lord Pazluvoor's ears, "Who knows if he has not come here to spy out something? Moreover, till you come back none of the others should hear the news he has brought back."
Lord Pazluvoor agreed and boarded the boat. The boat man began rowing towards the ship. Nandini stood with her eyes fixed on that small boat for some time. She recognized that Parthiban Pallava was watching her face without blinking an eyelid. Quickly she turned her face to him, expecting him to turn away with a blush. But will a bee which had spotted a honey bearing flower, turn away? Nandini twirled the sharp knife in her hand and spoke softly, "Careful, do not try for an escape!"
"Lady, why frighten me with that knife? Escape? From you? How can a fish caught in the nets escape? You have spread the net.... catching ...."
"Sir! Are you demeaning me? Calling me a fisherwoman? If Lord Pazluvoor were to hear it...."
"I am not bothered. Neither do I mean nets that catch fish. I speak of your darting eyes that cast their enchanting spells...."
"Chee! How dare you! It is not bad to think of me as a fisherwoman. Do you call me a whore who spreads her amorous nets at all men?"
"Forgive me! I do not mean any such offense. Do you have to cast nets intentionally? Does the spider weave its web with malice? It spins its own dwelling and flies fall unwittingly..."
"You call me a spider... am I that frightful?"
"No, no! I should have spoken of the lamp. It does not burn for the fireflies. A lamp burns and spreads light around itself; foolish insects are attracted to fall into a burning death..."
"A tiny breeze can instantly turn that light off. A puff of breath can blow the lamp away; it is powerless."
"A lamp can be blown off; who can turn off the brilliance of the full moon? A moon does not rise for the Ocean King. It rides the skies because of its nature, spreading its cool beams on heaven and earth. But look at the foolish ocean; it stretches its hands noisily trying to reach for that unattainable prize."
"I have heard a lot about Pallava nobility; their love for art and poetry. Their creative genius... now I know it to be true."
"I never believed anything that I read in the myths and poems till this day. I now believe them all."
"What do you mean?"
"I have read that some spirits in the form of women could enslave all the earth and sky. When the Asuras and Devas churned the ocean of milk and obtained divine nectar, they were fooled by the beauty of Mohini. The brave brothers Sunda and Upasunda of the myths killed each other for a woman named Tilottama. Vishwa-mitra the great, lost his ascetic powers to Menaka's beauty. Kovalan was entrapped by Madhavi's allure. Dasaratha sent beloved Raama to the forest because of his love for Kaikesi. The great Roman Empire is said to have begun its decline because of Egypt's Queen....."
"Oh, stop it, Sir! Why do you speak of such things?"
"Do you not know? Do you not understand of whom I speak?"
"If you speak of me, you cannot be making a bigger mistake!"
"There is no mistake. Your powers are in no way less than that of all those women."
"Your speech is your enemy!"
"Why My Lady?"
"I sent Lord Pazluvoor away intentionally. I have need to ask you something."
"I understood your wish. That is why I stayed back, instead of going with him."
"You spoke of a girl who tried to save Veera-pandiya's life and that Aditya Karikala did not heed her prayers."
"Yes, I did."
"Do you know that foolish girl?"
"She is Young Queen Nandini Devi who now shines in the palaces of Pazluvoor.
"If I really had the power like those women you described just now, would I not have saved the life of one man I wanted to save? Why could I not do that?"
"Yes, Aditya Karikala who was lost in the bloody rage of war did not heed your wish. But I know how he is tormented by those memories for all these three years."
"How do you know that? Did he speak to you about that?"
"He buried it in his heart for all these three years and tortured himself. I knew that some distress troubled him. About ten days ago, the day before I sailed to Lanka, he opened his heart to me. Since then..."
"Since then?..."
"My heart was also gripped by the desire to meet the Young Queen of Pazluvoor."
"Do you remember saying that if you were in the position of Aditya Karikala at that time, you would have let Veera-pandiya live?"
"Yes, I do remember saying that."
"Is that true?"
"I swear it, My Lady. You can test me if you wish."
"Sir I have a concern; shall I speak of it?"
"Any word spoken in your pleasing voice will fill my ears with happiness; permeate my heart with joy."
"I suspect that you speak such words to test me. You speak of amorous nets that I cast and try to enmesh me. You are trying to learn my secrets."
Parthiban Pallava was taken aback. He had started speaking to Nandini with such an intention; but his intent was soon forgotten. The sly conversation treacherously threw him into a sea of real passion. He was concerned, "Lady, if I try any such deceit and spy upon you, let lightning strike me down."
"Sir, please do not swear such things," said Nandini hastily.
"Why not My Lady?"
"That other fellow who came from your Prince, that man... what was his name now....?"
"Vandiya Devan Vallavarayan?"
"Yes, him! He tried to spy on me very cunningly. From what you say, am I to surmise that lightning truly struck him?"
"Unfortunately, lightning did not strike his head. It struck the mast of the ship on which he was standing. Because of that, the danger which plagued him has enmeshed the younger Prince also."
"Pitiable! I feel sorry for that Princess of Pazlayarai. Two men she loved the most on this earth have died at the same time. How unfortunate!"
"Lady, two men? Who?"
"The two you spoke of. The Younger Pirati has a special love for her younger brother."
"The whole world knows that. Who is the other recipient of her affection?" asked Parthiban Pallava.
"Why ask? It is that messenger sent by the elder Prince."
"Do you mean Vandiya Devan?"
"Yes."
"Chee! Princess Kundavai of Pazlayarai who has the power to influence every segment of this Chozla Empire -- she and that insignificant, boastful, impudent youth...."
"Yes; she fell in love with that youth. That is why she tried to help him escape the wrath of Pazluvoor nobles; sending him away to Lanka with letters. Poor man, my old man thinks he is responsible for the misfortune of the Prince. In truth the Younger Pirati is the real culprit. If she had not sent that letter..."
"Yes, it is true! This misfortune would not have occurred."
"When my husband returns from the ship, you must explain this truth to him. If you do that, I shall be very thankful to you."
"Madam! Is that the only way to earn your thanks? Do you have no other orders for me?"
"Sir there are several hundred ways in which you could earn a poor girl's thanks."
"Tell me now... Aditya Karikala had an opportunity, which he let go. And now he suffers for that by day and night. I shall never make that mistake."
"Do you promise that, Sir? Are you a man who will do anything to fulfill the desires of a woman?"
"It depends on who the woman is. My Lady, till today, I would not have done anything for any woman I had met till now. If anyone had asked I would have laughed about it. But now it is not so. Tell me.... If I have a hundred lives, I shall offer them all in your service. If they say that I shall have to forfeit my soul and conscience for that, I shall readily do so. I will forgive my worst enemy, if you ask. I shall bring the head of my dearest friend to lay it at your feet if you wish...."
Parthiban Pallava was speaking as if he were possessed of some rage; his whole body shivered from head to toe. His words were confused and unclear; lips trembling, eyes bloodshot, hairs standing on end and breathing much strained.
Our readers may be very surprised by this sudden change in Parthiban Pallava. Why? If anyone had said that he would change like that, he himself would not believe it. It was a most surprising thing even for him!
But that is the nature of human emotions. Men dwelling in the deepest pits of sin and debauchery will one day turn into saints. They earn the grace of God and serve humanity with limitless devotion. On the other hand, those that have led a blameless life will one day slip and fall into the pits of perdition. Much research has gone into the secrets of human behavior; But none know all the secrets.
Nandini stopped Parthiban Pallava's passionate words, "Enough Sir, enough! I shall never ask any such atrocious deed of you. I shall ask you for a favor that will bring us both happiness."
***