In
the middle of the sea, the boat was drifting along the placid sea. It seemed
rather inconceivable that this gentle sea could throw up huge waves big enough
to swallow a war ship!
In
the boat, the Prince, Vandiya Devan was arguing vociferously while Poonguzhali
with an oar in hand, was watching them silently. The subject of the argument
was what they ought to do once they reach Kodi Karai? Vandiya Devan wanted the
Prince to come with him to Pazhaiarai. He came forth with many reasons for
this.
“Your
sister wishes to see you most urgently to discuss the affairs of the Kingdom. I
swore to her that I would bring you along with me. You will need to heed this
request of mine,”
“I
can’t refuse to obey my father’s commands just so that you could honour your
word!”
“Those
are not your father’s commands. They are Pazhuvetarayar’s commands!”
He
further added, “Moreover, do you wish to meet your father as a ‘free man’ or as
a ‘prisoner’. Listen to me! If the people of this Kingdom learn that the
Pazhuvur lords have imprisoned you, they will take up arms to free you but at a
heavy cost of blood. Do you really want that to happen? God in his benevolence
sent that storm to aid us. Do you really wish to go against the God’s will and
surrender yourself to the Pazhuvetarayar?”
Vandiya
Devan’s words slowly changed the Prince’s intention to meet his father. He knew
the love and devotion that his people had for him and it was all too possible
for them to rise up and revolt on his behalf if they heard that he had been
imprisoned. After thinking about it for a while he said, “Even if I were to
agree to your idea, how do we avoid the Pazhuvur soldiers who would be waiting
for me at Kodi Karai?”
“We
have Poonguzhali to help us. She will take us through the Kodi Karai backwaters
away from these soldiers. Poonguzhali are you listening?”
Poonguzhali
was in the seventh heaven! Saving the Prince’s life in the sea had given her
more happiness than she could imagine but she was also pained by the fact that
she would have to part with him, once they reached Kodi Karai. When Vandiya
Devan proposed that she help them hide away from the Pazhuvur soldiers she was
elated!
“If
we go towards the west of Kodi Karai there is a narrow canal that takes us
through the dense woods. I could take the boat through there. It is a very
dense wooded place and very secluded,”
“You
could leave us there and go back to Kodi Karai to learn the news, couldn’t
you?”
“Yes.
There are many places where the boat can be hidden,”
“Prince!
Did you hear that?”
“I
heard! You are asking me to enter my own kingdom like a thief. Samudra Kumari!
Why have you to stopped the boat?”
Poonguzhali
immediately started plying the boat.
“Poor
woman! How long will she ply the oars without any help? Let me help you. Here,
give me that other oar,”
The
Prince smiled at his friend and said, “My friend! All your schemes will go
waste. I don’t think I will reach Pazhaiara or Thanjavur. In all probability, I
will die here and reach Kailasam soon!”
Vandiya
Devan turned towards him worriedly and said, “Ayya! What has happened to you? Why is your body shivering
uncontrollably?”
“This
is the shivering fever, my friend! Don’t you remember I told you how this fever
had claimed many lives in Elangai. Only a lucky few have escaped the ravages of
this fever,”
Vandiya
Devan who didn’t panic even when the sails of his ship caught fire panicked
now! Poonguzhali who looked up to see the Prince, dropped her oar in shock and
stared at him silently.
The
Prince’s body started shivering uncontrollably and Vandiya Devan cried, “Ayya! What do I do? Where do we take the
boat? Poonguzhali! Is there a physician in Kodi Karai?”
But
Poonguzhali was in great shock and wouldn’t respond. The Prince immediately
stood up and shouted, “Take me to my sister immediately. Take me to Elaya
Piratti,”
Vandiya
Devan’s confusion vanished when he heard this but the Prince in the grip of his
fever shouted, “Akka! I am coming to
you. I will not heed those who try to stop me,” and tried to jumped out of the
boat.
The
Prince who was very strong became uncontrollable and Vandiya Devan found it
impossible to restrain him. He shouted for help, “Poonguzhali! Come here fast,”
Poonguzhali
sprang forward and held the Prince’s hand in hers and the Prince became a
docile child.
“Akka! Don’t be angry with me. I will
listen to you. I will lie down now,”
After
this, Ponniyin Selvar lay down shivering. His eyes looked around blankly
without recognizing anything or anyone. His mouth churned out gibberish and
long-forgotten conversation that largely didn’t make any sense!
Vandiya
Devan had by then realized that it was pointless to ask the Prince’s advice. It
was his responsibility to save the Prince’s life but thankfully he had the aid
of this intelligent boat girl who was not only resourceful but also loyal to
the Prince.
“Poonguzhali!
Let us not tarry anymore. We need to reach Kodi Karai as soon as possible,”
Poonguzhali
immediately took up the oars and started plying them fast. The boat veered
through the waves intent upon their destination.
Vandiya
Devan sat next to the Prince. He was alarmed by the fact that the Prince tried
to jump into the sea. What if he tried
the same again? He also tried to chart out the next course of action.
“Poonguzhali!
What do you think we should do? Shall we dare our way to Kodi Karai? Will your
family help the Prince?”
“Ayya! It is difficult to know whom we
can trust these days. My brother’s wife is a greedy woman and our family is
employed by Pazhuvetarayar to take care of the lighthouse. Moreover, the soldiers
who had come chasing you, might still be waiting to catch you. And the number
of Pazhuvur soldiers might have increased as well, in the hope of Prince’s
arrival,”
Vandiya
Devan was glad that he took her advice and thanked his lucky stars that sent
her to aid him.
“So
it is best that we do not go to Kodi Karai immediately,”
“Look
there!” said Poonguzhali suddenly.
There
was a large ship standing in the direction that she pointed out and beyond the
ship the lighthouse of Kodi Karai was visible.
“Aha! That’s a big ship. I wonder if it
could Pallava Parthibendran’s. If that were so, wouldn’t it be better to take
the Prince to Kanchipuram,”
“It
could be Pazhuvetarayar’s ship as well. Did you notice anything beyond the ship?”
“I
could see the lighthouse,”
“Did
you notice anything strange about it?”
“No.”
“I
did. There were some people atop the lighthouse looking at the sea,”
“Will
they be able to see us from there?”
“No.
But if we go near the beach, we will be visible,”
“Then
it is best to be careful, let us go through the canal that you mentioned
earlier,”
“Let
us go there when the dusk begins. Ayya! Do you remember I made you stay in that dark
mandapam for a whole day? This canal flows near that place. If you could take
the Prince there for a while, I could go and find out who has come,”
“Does
that canal stop there, Poonguzhali?”
“No.
It goes all the way to Nagapattinam,”
At
that moment, the Prince started his fevered talk again, “Yes, Akka! You had mentioned about Buddha
Bikshus of Nagapattinam Choodamani Viharam. Everything happened just as you anticipated.
The Maha Boddhi Sangam of Anuradhapuram came forward to crown me as the next
king of Elangai but I refused it. Akka!
I have no interest in ruling the kingdom. I will listen to any other advice
that you give me but please do not make a ruler of me. I would prefer to sail
in the sea in a small boat. Nothing gives me more happiness than that. Akka! Do you know, I met this boat girl
in Kodi Karai…”
Poonguzhali
blushed when she heard the Prince talk about her in his fevered state. Vandiya
Devan listened to all this curiously and waited eagerly for the Prince to
continue but the Prince regained consciousness now. He got up and looked around
asking faintly, “Have we reached Kodi Karai yet?”
Vandiya
Devan said, “There! We can see the beach,”
Even
when Vandiya Devan was thinking about whether to consult the Prince, the latter
lost consciousness yet again!
Poonguzhali
found it difficult to meet Vandiya Devan’s eyes or to look at the Prince after
that fevered speech. She looked ahead instead and mechanically plied the oars.
She deftly set the boat in the western direction and they soon moved away from
the beach towards the backwaters of Kodi Karai.
Even
while the sun was setting, they reached the canal that she spoke of. The dense
woods and the thicket that surrounded the forest shielded the canal from many
prying eyes that were roaming in the beach.
Poonguzhali
stopped the boat near a dense thicket and said, “Ayya! If you could mind the boat for a while,” and then got down
near the bank and nimbly climbed the nearest tree. “Thank the Gods we came
here. There are over a hundred men watching the sea near the beach. Near the
lighthouse a huge tent has been pitched and there are many soldiers there too!”
“Who
do you think it could be?” asked Vandiya Devan.
“I
can’t tell but it must be Pazhuvetarayar. Who else could it be? Let us go to
the place where I hid you. And then I will go home once it darkens well enough
and find out all the information,”
“Poonguzhali!
If something were to happen to you, our fate is sealed,”
“Ayya! I have never worried about my life
before but I am now. Do not worry. I will take care of myself and nothing will
happen to me,”
Poonguzhali
got into the boat and slowly plied the oars so that no one hears them
approaching. After rowing thus for about an hour, she stopped near a dense
thicket and got down. She bid a silent farewell to Vandiya Devan and went
through the woods. Walking swiftly through the woods, she made her way to
Kuzhagar temple. She reached it just on time to watch the priest close the
temple gates.
Poonguzhali and Kuzhagar Kovil Priest |
“Oh!
It’s you Poonguzhali! I wondered who it could be. There are too many people in
Kodi Karai today. Where did you go all these days?”
“I
had gone out in the sea, Ayya! You
said there are too many people in Kodi Karai, who are they? Who are those
people standing near the beach?”
“Didn’t
you go home Poonguzhali?”
“I
did, but I turned away when I saw many strangers. You do know that I hate
meeting new people. Who are they?”
“Periya
Pazhuvetarayar has come along with his younger queen and a huge entourage.
Parthibendra Pallavan from Kanchi too has come and he didn’t come empty handed.
He has brought bad tidings that will soon engulf this kingdom in sorrow.”
“What
bad tidings? I know nothing about this,”
“Prince
Arul Mozhi Varmar had come in this scoundrel Pallavan’s ship it seems and on
the way a fierce storm hit their ship and the Prince jumped into the sea to
save somebody. They searched everywhere for him and then came back ashore.
That’s why Pazhuvetarayar has stationed his men all through the beach, hoping
that the Prince might have survived the storm somehow. Why, even he is roaming
around the beach restlessly and so does his queen! Poonguzhali! All those
people who talk about the Pazhuvur Queen are woefully wrong. I have never seen
anybody else so concerned about the Prince’s fate than her,”
“Is
that so ayya? Thanks for telling
about the good nature of Pazhuvur queen but why did she come here?”
“She
came here to pray for the welfare of the Prince and to beseech the Kuzhagar to
spare his life. Not everyone is stone hearted like you are. I don’t see you
mourning the Prince’s fate,”
“I
don’t think mourning his death is going to help him in any way. Who can
overcome fate indeed? I don’t wish to go home when so many important people
have come there. If you could give me that Prasadam
that you bear in your hand, I would be grateful to you. I will eat and sleep in
the temple tonight,”
“You
are a strange creature indeed, Poonguzhali! When important people come to our
home, one would want to make their acquaintance but you shy away from them.
What do you think they would do to you? Why do you want to stay alone in this
forest tonight?”
“Ayya! If you do not wish to give that Prasadam, it’s fine. Please don’t scold
me thus,”
“Shiva
Shiva! Now why would I scold you? I am worried that this Prasadam might not be enough for your hunger. Take it,” said the
Priest and handed over the cloth bundle that held the prasadam.
Poonguzhali
opened the bundle and said, “You are right, this is not enough to fill my
belly. What do you have in that jar, swami? Is that water?”
“No.
It is the anointed milk. I was taking it home for my child.”
“Today
let me be your child. Please be kind enough to give it to me,”
“Well.
Here take it. At least, return the jar later,”
As
the priest exited the temple, Poonguzhali heard an owl hoot near the temple.
“Ayya! What’s that sound?”
“Don’t
you know? That’s the owl hooting. There is no dearth of owls in Kodi Karai
woods but they won’t harm you,” said the priest and left.
After
he disappeared, Poonguzhali went in the direction of the owl’s hoot. Weaving
her way through the thicket of shrubs and wild plants, she reached the dense
part of the woods and waited. And there she heard them talking. A man and a
woman!
“Mandiravadi! Everybody believes that the
Prince is dead. Pazhuvetarayar too is very shaken up by this news but I don’t
believe it,”
Previous Chapter Next Chapter
Previous Chapter Next Chapter
No comments:
Post a Comment