AVAL - SHE

The hot and humid breeze flies through the area, accompanied by the gliding sound of leaves trying to hold on to the branches like two lovers trying to hold on. But as the breeze strengthens, the unlucky ones are dropped to the ground to be eaten slowly by their surroundings. Just like them, human life falls apart because of their likeness.

As the sun started to go down, evening came immediately, with a promising cool breeze that was much needed for the people experiencing the last few days of summer.

As a waving air that flows through a voyage without a destiny, lotus-like feet wandered around Veeranam Lake. Eyes like fish clouded with only one image, with the tired body of the innocent rose of Kadambur, the youngest princess Manimegali wandered around trying to find her love. Her love, who doesn't even know or care about her. A tried smile erupted on her lips when she saw the mandapam standing through time. She softly went near the walls, where it read many small markings in the stone, embarking on the journey of many warriors who had left for war from this place.

There it is, where she had scribbled on a stone quite a while ago, it reads 'Vaanar kula Veeran, tham manathai venra veeran' (A hero of Vaanar clan, the one who conquered by heart). A sad smile itched its way onto her pale lips; with a whimper, she traced those words again and again and fell as the fatigue and fever took their way into her.

Her mind traced the first instants she saw him when he came to their home and how she was hiding to glimpse his face to feel the ecstasy of love. Her brother always talked about his friend, who was loyal, intelligent, quick to resolve problems, and had a heart of gold and a child. She knew it was him and would always be him from that moment. Even when her brother told her to forget about Vaanar Kula warrior and marry the Prince, they would fix it for her, but she couldn't do it! How could she!

She smiled sadly at the thought of being angry with him when the news circled about how her love had backstabbed her brother. During those moments when she knew that it was not who he was and would never do it, she was also scared that she was overconfident with him and would get disappointed.

But she felt relieved after knowing the truth about him and meeting him in the cellar. Just one look and she knew that she needed to do something so that he would be freed from here and could live his life. Many asked her why she should take the blame for some man. But to her, he was not just any man; he was hers, and she was his, even though he may never know.

The short time she spent with him was enough for her, as it felt like she had lived her life purposefully. As her eyes started to drop and her mind went still, she felt someone before her. Her eyes opened to see, and she gasped, wondering how it was possible.

'Why is my Mani being dull?' Her love voice made her heart skip a beat

'Vandiyadeva?' Her fatigued face brightened up, and he was finally here after all this time.

'It's me, of course! Who else would be here to be with my Mani besides me?' He smiled and kissed her forehead. The action made Mani feel more alive than any other medicine she had ever had. She wanted this to last forever, and she would gladly take any hardship if his shoulder were ready to take her head.

'I am not feeling well, Vandiyadeva, and I know my time here is not for long.' Her words made her heart bleed. She wanted to be with him and live her life to the fullest, but she was scared it would all end quickly.

'My silly Mani, How would you ever leave me? We are going to be one happy couple forever. You are not going that easily away from me.' She smiled at his words, but her head felt heavier, and her vision went black and dizzy again.

'Vanthiyadevare-' She couldn't able to finish the sentence.

'Manimegali! Mani,'  Vandiyadevan's voice went down as her dizziness increased. She took a big breath, and her vision returned to normal; her brother was shouting her name with panic in his voice.

'Manimegali! Where have you been? We were searching for you all day. Oh, Mani!' Kandamabaran cried, lifted his little sister, and returned to the Palace. He knew he was also part of why his sister felt the way she did now. If he hadn't mentioned Vandiyadevan back then, had he not made her separate from him, and had not sought marriage for her with some other prince, maybe his sister would be happy now and married to his once best friend.

As the Raja Vaithiyar examined and Mani shook his head at the Prince and his father, they knew there was nothing more they could do but pray and hope.

Kandamaran shook his head and wrote a letter to his ex-best friend, hoping he would receive this sooner and make his way here for one last time. He knew Vandiyadevan didn't owe anything to him and his sister, but as a brother, he wanted his sister to have at least one last wish come true. He heard her murmuring for Vandiyadevan while he went in search of her. At that moment, he knew only Vandiyadevan could cure or give his sister the last love.

Next day

Vandiyadevan is currently riding his horse at full speed, as he received a letter from his friend Kandamaran, asking him to visit more like pleading. He can sense terror in his words, and with the mention of his sister Manimegalai, he knew that he had to visit. Although he had only seen his friend's sister a couple of times and didn't interact with her often, the time when she was ready to accept the penalty to save him before the court, he knew that this girl was more than anything. Even though he couldn't reciprocate Manimegalai's feelings for him, he had her at a high place in his heart. Unfortunately, his heart has only been reserved for his Princess Kundhavai since they met; he knew that's who his heart wanted.

And he knew that Manimegali deserved someone who was not only a warrior but also a loveable one who could give the world to that innocent golden flower of Kadambur. But nothing prepared him for the sight he thought he would witness as he reached the room where Manimegali was currently. Kandamaran's eyes held sadness and many emotions.

A weak footstep was heard as he went inside the room. With tired eyes and sunken cheeks stood the once bubbly and always smiling Mani he knew. Tears fell from his eyes as he took in the state of the Kadambur flower now standing before him. Is this his dream? He wished to be and hoped that Manimegalai was healthy and thriving in her home. But life is not fair, and this is the reality.

With a small smile on her dried and pale lips, Mani limped forward. She couldn't contain her excitement, and her heart was filled with joy. Finally, he was here, and this time was for real. As her heart started to slow down, she went faster, and her legs gave up and started to fall down. But the angel before her caught her just before her body hit the ground.

She wanted to say so much, but her voice couldn't get it out. She smiled a teary smile, and Vandiyadevan cried seeing her in this state. He could see she was struggling to get her words as he combed her hair with his hand and lightly kissed her forehead. At that moment, Mani knew this was her last moment, and her wish was finally over. She nodded at him, and he nodded without fully knowing what was in her mind. With one last breath, she went into a sleep state from which she would never wake up. With a heart-wrenching sound, Vandiyadevan cried, hugging the once bubbly and cheerful girl he knew, now lying lifeless in his arm.

Nobody knew that a warrior like him was capable of crying like this, and he did, even though he fully didn't know why, but his heart told him to cry it out.

Later that night

Kandamaran asked Vandiyadevan to stay as they finished the final rituals of Manimegalai. They offered him a room to stay for the night and travel tomorrow, the least they could do.

With tear-stained cheeks, Vandiyadevan lay on the bed. He could still feel the weight of Mani in his arm. Oh, what he was going to do? How was he going to come out of it? Sleep took over him, and his breathing became steady and slow.

A pair of eyes were watching over him, one the soul of the beautiful flower who had just passed away and another the once crown prince of the Chola Dynasty, Aditha Karikalan. Both of them loved this man. To one, he is the love of their life, and to another, he is the one who saved their lives on many occasions and was a brother to them. Their wandering souls stopped to visit the person who was very important to them.

'Why did you love him?' Aditha asked her.

'How can I not! It's him! It's always him!' Her voice held sadness and many emotions.

'Would you change things if given a second chance?' The question made her look at her love, who was currently sleeping, and dried tear marks were now adorning his cheeks

'No, I won't. Because I know I love him, and for that, I can't make him lose his love. I want him to be loved as I would love him.' Her words expressed her innocence and her love towards Vandiyadevan, who didn't reciprocate the same feeling.

She turned and looked at the person who had questioned her, smiling. 'Would you?' Her question made Aditha stop thinking.

'What would I?' asked Aditha, hoping to see what she was implying.

'Would you change things if you had been given a second chance for your love?' She asked, smiling sadly,

With deep breaths, Aditha replied, closing his eyes and smiling sadly. 'I would,' he answered.

He imagines his life with his Nandhini if he were able to change the things he did if given a chance.

She smiled and softly caressed Vandiyadevan's hair, all he felt is the air moving his hair.

From that day onwards, Mani guarded him and everyone important to him. She was his secret angel who looked after him as he lived his life with Kundavai and started a family of his own. She played with their child and waited for him to enter the afterlife. She knew that her life purpose was to be with and by him. After all, he is hers, as she is his, even though the world says otherwise.

Aval - is his heart string that connects his life.