Sumeetha Manikandan's Blog, page 2

Chapter 45 – Vanathi in Danger!

“Akka! Do you remember how I almost drowned when I was five years of age? Do you remember how Kaveri Amman rescued me and took me back to the boat?”
“How can you ask me this question thambi? How can I forget that? Don’t we call you ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ because of that incident?”
“I met the ‘Kaveri Amman’ who saved my life in Elangai… Akka why are you silent? Aren’t you surprised?”
“I am not surprised nor am I shocked but I do have an ardent interest to learn more about her. Tell me everything you k...

Chapter 44 – And the Nandi Grew!

The boat sped through the narrow canal that had thick vegetation shielding them from prying eyes on both the sides of the bank. The place where Poonguzhali pointed out was an isolated corner with the statue of huge Nandi (the divine bull who guards Lord Shiva) that had obviously given the place its name ‘Nandi Mandapam’. The Mandapam was used by the Shiva Temple at Nagapattinam where once a year, Lord Shiva and his consort Devi Parvathi were brought there to give darshan to their devotees. Du...

Chapter 43 – Nandi Mandapam

The next day, a younger Bikshu came to the Prince’s chamber. The Prince was awaiting the arrival of someone or anyone who could answer his questions but the Bikshu didn’t give him any answers. He listened to him patiently and said, “Ayya! Our Gurudeva will answer all your questions.”

The old Bhikshu finally came to the chambers and asked, “Prince, How are you feeling now?”

“Ayya! I am feeling so fine that my body is questioning my motives. It is asking, ‘why are you sitting quietly? Get up and...

Chapter 42: Fever Subsided

In the meanwhile, at Nagapatinam Choodamani Viharam, Prince Arul Mozhi Varman lay on a wooden cot in one of the chambers allotted for the head of the Viharam. He battled through three days of fever that soared higher and higher. For most part, he lay unconscious in sleep, induced by the fever during which the old Bikshu sat next to him monitoring his progress and fed him medicinal milk and water.
The Prince woke up sometimes from his fever and wondered incessantly where he was lying. He kept l...

Chapter 41: Madhuranthakan’s Gratitude

When the Prime Minister tried to lift the Prince, he wailed in pain.
“Ayyo! I am dead! Don’t touch my legs…. they are gone and broken.”
Anirudhar asked him, “Prince! What happened to you? How did this mishap occur?”
“My legs are gone… they are broken. I can’t walk… nor can I stand.”
The Prime Minister called out his men to bring the palanquin nearby and then turned towards the Prince and said, “Ayya! What happened to you? How did you end up alone in the forest, hurt and broken? Where is your ento...

Chapter 41 – Madhuranthakan’s Gratitude

When the Prime Minister tried to lift the Prince, he wailed in pain.
“Ayyo! I am dead! Don’t touch my legs…. they are gone and broken.”
Anirudhar asked him, “Prince! What happened to you? How did this mishap occur?”
“My legs are gone… they are broken. I can’t walk… nor can I stand.”
The Prime Minister called out his men to bring the palanquin nearby and then turned towards the Prince and said, “Ayya! What happened to you? How did you end up alone in the forest, hurt and broken? Where is your ento...

Chapter 40: Aanaimangalam

We know that one of our heroines Vanathi, had the annoying habit of fainting at the end of momentous chapters. We hope that you would excuse her this one time because she would soon be cured of this habit.
When Vanathi gained consciousness again, she felt as though she was swaying in the sky. Drops of rain fell all around her and she could smell the rain and the freshness of the earth and the drip drop sound of the rainwater. Though it was dark all over she could still make out flashes of ligh...

Chapter 39: Gajendra Motcham

Vanathi got down from the palanquin and stood out watching the procession arrive near the temple. Her kidnappers, the Kalamugars too stood next to her silently. The silence was so absolute that she could hear the croaking of a lone frog at a distance.
Vanathi didn’t think she could run and escape the approaching party or her captors. She knew the Prime Minister’s reputation. She might probably escape the Kalamugars with schemes and tricks but the likelihood of Anbil Brahmarayar falling for it...

Chapter 38: What happened to Vanathi?

Vanathi, the Kodumbalur Princess’ palanquin was travelling towards Thiruvaroor even when the sun had begun to set. As she started on her journey, she found herself totally confused. She wished to go to Nagapattinam Choodamani Viharam and nurse Prince Arul Mozhi who was ailing but there were many hurdles to pass through. Firstly, she wondered whether she would be allowed inside the Viharam. Secondly, the thought that she had to go to Nagapattinam alone scared her. She tried to build courage by...

Chapter 37: Disguise Removed

Seeing a fierce looking Kalamugan in the middle of the forest, at the dead of the night, was a fearsome prospect but Vandiya Devan’s natural fearlessness asserted itself after a while.
He wondered, “Where have I seen him? He looks very familiar. Ah! He looks like the same Kalamugan who had commented about him when he was sleeping in the forest after meeting Nandini at Harichandra River. His face looks too familiar. Why? Where else have I seen him?”
The Kalamugan who had been staring at him fo...