Chapter 57: Maya Mohini

Right from the time, when Aditya Karikalan had started his story, Parthibendran had been listening to him without much sympathy. But when his friend held his heart, he could truly experience his pain and his eyes grew moist.

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Chapter 38 - Nandini - The Seductress

It was past midnight, when Pazhuvetarayar finally headed back to his palace. As he rode back fast, he was full of remorse for having shouted at his brother. He knew deep down that his brother was devoted to him.

"Maybe that's why he took the liberty of saying such things. But he has such a suspicious nature, why should he blame Nandini of all the people? Such is human nature. He wanted to cover up his mistakes, so Nandini became his target. That wicked youth escaped thanks to his foolhardiness and he goes around blaming his own sister-in-law!"

"Anyway since he has apologized, it is no use thinking about all that. But could it be true? What if it is true? Am I really becoming a womanizer after all these years? And I really don't know many things about her past. Am I being fair to my brother? After all, he was the one who has stood by me all these years, and fought along with me in so many wars. Why should I be so partial to her anyway? Sometimes even I get suspicious about her...

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Chapter 28 - The Iron Grip

The chief of the royal poets got up and asked, "Lord! Then you are the great poet who wrote this poem..."

"Yes, I am that great poet," said the King sarcastically.

The poets were flabbergasted.

Princess Kundavai

Sundara Chola then began, "My dear poets! You don't have to be so surprised at this. Years ago, when we were all in Pazhaiarai we had a small gathering of poets just like today. And many poets came and sang poems and obtained gifts from me. Kundavai who was with me was full of praise for them. I then told her that I could compose a poem too. And as a joke, I composed this poem and asked her to give me a gift. But that naughty girl gave me only two playful slaps, as a present. This happened, some eight years ago but I can still remember it very clearly."

When the King mentioned Kundavai's name, Vandiya Devan's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't wait to meet this wondrous princess. He also noticed how proud Sundara Chola looked when he spoke about his daughter.

Vandiya Devan's hand instinctively went to the bundle of cloth that he had tied around his waist because that was where he had kept the olai that he had give to Kundavai. But he had a shock when he realised that the bundle was empty.

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Chapter 22 - The Velkarars

Nandini and Vandiya Devan

A fair hand parted the veils of the palanquin. Vandiya Devan immediately got down from his horse and went near the palanquin sayi

ng, "Maharaja! Maharaja! Your palanquin bearers..."

When he looked up, he was dazed. His speech slurred, "No! No! You are the princess of Pazhuvur. Your horse came and hit my palanquin."

All this happened within a blink of an eye. The palanquin bearers and the other soldiers immediately surrounded Vandiya Devan and held him and his horse. Despite all this activity around him Vandiya Devan was unable to take his eyes off the beauty that was before him.

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