Sumeetha Manikandan's Blog, page 10

Chapter 23: Nandini’s Letter

Nandini Writes a Letter
That evening, Nandini sat alone on a decorated couch shaped like a swan in her garden. She was writing a letter on the palm leaf olai. She would write a few words and then hesitate and stop. Sometimes her body trembled like a small leaf caught in a storm and despite the soothing cool winds blowing through the garden and she had a handmaiden fanning her with a peacock fan while droplets of sweat appeared on her forehead.
“My Prince, I write this letter after much delibera...

Chapter 22: Senthen Amuthan in the Prison

The mint where the Chola Kingdom made its coinage was as heavily guarded as the Thanjavur fort. That evening, Kundavai and Vanathi made their way through its heavily guarded corridors even as the goldsmiths were departing after a hard day’s work. The guards checked each of the goldsmiths thoroughly before letting them leave. When the guards and the goldsmiths noticed the arrival of the Princesses, they raised a cheer, “Long live Elaya Piratti!” The commander of the Mint and the Dungeons came...

Chapter 21: The Dungeons

Life is a mystery. One can't really predict the reason for sorrow or happiness in one's life. Sorrows, pain, anguish, happiness, contentment and peace are a part of this mystery. For some, life is an endless canvass of joy and happiness without a dark cloud in the horizon but when fortunes change their sky is crowded with dark clouds and fierce storm blows through their life. Kundavai felt that she was living through such a storm. For many years, this Princess was the apple of everybody’s eye...

Chapter 20: Two Tigresses

Kundavai and Nandini with Kandan Maran
When Nandini’s handmaiden announced about the spy being captured, all present in the room became restless. Kundavai’s anxious heart grew more worried when she heard that the soldiers were dragging the spy through the streets of Thanjavur.
“Devi! Shall we go and see this cunning spy?” asked Nandini.
Kundavai hesitated and said, “Why should we bother?”
“Alright” said Nandini and sat down with a smile.
“I am going to see this spy.” Said Kandan Maran and got up...

Chapter 19: The Spy is Captured

Periya Pazhuvetrayar was irritated beyond words at the end of the festivities that day. The event had ultimately had bolstered the popularity of the King and his children and had also served as an opportunity to learn how unpopular he and his clan had become.
“These people! Brainless creatures! When will they grow brains?" he ranted. “By the time Chakravarthy is dead, I am sure the Kingdom will be thoroughly ruined! ‘Make this village tax free! Let’s not collect taxes from them.’ If...

Chapter 18: What is the Worst Betrayal?

Those who have read the history of ancient Tamil Nadu would know that women played a very important role in the social affairs of the kingdom. This is true, especially of women belonging to the royal family. Royal women, princesses and queens had their own income and assets through lands, villages and pastoral property. They used the income that came through these assets in various ways. Some devout women used it to renovate and rebuild temples, while some donated huge sums to temples to ligh...

Chapter 17: Can the Dead Haunt us?

King Sundara Chola who was so long narrating the story in third person now started telling it from his own perspective.
“My dear daughter! I am about to tell you things that a father wouldn’t normally tell his daughter.   Only my dear friend Anirudhan knows about it but even he, doesn’t know my present tormented condition. But I am determined to tell you everything. I think it is important that someone from our family know about this. I cannot talk about this to your mother. I have w...

Chapter 16: King Sundara Chola’s Hallucinations

Next morning, the King summoned his daughter to his chambers after bidding his servants, bodyguards, handmaidens and the physicians to stay away. He asked Kundavai to sit next to him on the bed to talk confidentially but she could sense that he was struggling for words.
“Appa! Are you angry with me?” asked Kundavai.
Her words brought tears in his eyes and he asked, “Why would I be angry with you, child?”
“I came here ignoring your commands.”
“Yes. You ought not to have come here. This Thanjavur P...

Chapter 15: A Voice of Distress

The Chola Kingdom in those days was the epitome of art, dance, drama and music. In particular, the theatrical artists and their plays were very popular with the general populace. There were many streets in Thanjavur dedicated solely for the performance of drama and arts. However the best of the artists lived right at the royal palace of King Sundra Chola.

Well renowned for their creative plays, the playwrights of Chola Kingdom wrote many new plays inspired by the glorious history of their king...

Chapter 14: Two Full Moons

Princess Kundavai and NandiniThere was a flurry of action in Thanjavur city that day. Their beloved princess who had stopped coming to the capital city for some reason had consented to come, at last. That was cause enough for a celebration among the citizenry. Kundavai had a special place in their hearts. Her beauty, intelligence, grace, wit and benevolence became a matter of pride for them. Many quoted her as an example to their children, while young women of the kingdom aspired to be like h...