Veera Rajendra chola. ..one of the greatest emperors of the magnanimous chola dynasty was gazing at Lord shiva ' s portrait. ..which was hung at his private chamber. ..

Vanama devi. ..His wife arched her brows uncertain about veera chola ' s mind. ..

Veera chola, tall and well built, with a youthful face. ..He was fit for his 65 years and looked 20 years younger. ..the only sign that betrayed his age was his mop of white hair. ..

Being a warrior, he had spent so many years in Warfield. ..His continuous practice on sword fight had sculpted his body and mind. ..

Vanama devi touched his shoulder. ..

" does anything trouble you. .? "

He turned with a sigh to her concerned enquiry. ..

He nodded to her with a deepened sigh ...

" devi. ..I was worrying about our child. ..Suman. ."

Devi threw a quizzical look at him...

" devi. ..sorry I should have told you before itself. ..jaya simhan, had sent marriage proposal for suman a week ago. .."

Devi shocked as if she had stepped on fire. ..

" then. .?"

" I said yes. ..I was not in a position to deny as per the kshatriya dharma. .."

He hung his head down. ..

" did you think of our daughter. .?How could you do this. .?"

Her blaming words pricked him. ..

" devi. ..I knew about jaya simhan. ...I thought that if he is committed to the relationship ,he would be okay. .but, I heard from our spy that he had abducted a distant dynasty 's princess yesterday. .."

" we heard from epics that king dhasaratha had 60, 000 wives. ..jaya simhan may exceed him if he used to continue ..."

" devi. .I couldn't deny his proposal. .but I have hope on my suman. . she won't agree to marry him. ..moreover, guruji was against my opinion in this issue. ..I hope he would guide her in right way. ..that's why, I permitted her to go to the princess fort with him .."

" if suman don't agree to marry jaya simhan, I will be happy. .."

Devi sat in perplex. ..and asked. ..

" I have heard that he is adament and cruel. ..what if he tries to harm suman if incase he knew that she had rejected him. ..she is alone in princess fort. .."

Veera chola touched her shoulders warmth. ..

" devi. ..don't worry. ..I have forseen everything. ..that's why, I have heighten the fort wall and I have modified the princess fort to act as a minor war fort at emergency. ..moreover, I had set the secret soldiers at the nearby villages to the fort. .."

" even if he think to touch my daughter. ..I won't hesitate to destroy him. .."

" the only thing I am expecting is suman s reply. ..I pray to Lord shiva that she shouldn't agree. ..jaya simhan ' s messenger is now waiting in our fort for her reply. .."

Devi knelt down to the Lord, pleading to save her daughter. ..

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Princess fort. ...

" krithika. ..where is suman. .?"

Guruji was searching her. ..

" guruji. ..she looked upset. ..she wanted to be alone. ..so, we left her undisturbed. .."

"Okay. ..I will see her. .."

Guruji was about to go. ..Krithika stopped him. ..the other girls too joined her. ..

" guruji. ..we heard that the king had decided to accept jaya simhan 's proposal for suman. .."

Guruji observed the clouds of worries in their faces. ..

" What to do with that. ..it's your King's decision. ..moreover, suman too accepted. ..i had sent reply to the capital that we are arriving there soon. ..we are not in a position to do anything against the king. .."

Guruji sighed. ...

" guruji. ..if you think. ..you could save her. ..i knew well that she didn't like that beast. .."

Krithika pleaded him for her lady suman. ..

" it's all in God's hands. ..we could do nothing. .."

Guruji touched her head and went. ..

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Capital fort. ..

The important courtiers were present in the chola royal court. ..the interior of the court spoke volumes about the art and architectural efficiency of the kingdom. ..

The court was well furnished with the luxurious amenities. ..the walls were carved with stories of epics and goddesses. ..

The enormous lights that hung here and there gave an eminent beauty to the hall. ..the vibrant coloured curtains uplifted the elegancy. ..

King veera chola was sitting in the royal chair. ..either sides important ministers were seated.
.amidst, the courtiers, jayasimhan ' s messenger had a seat. ..they all were waiting for the royal messenger from princess fort. ..

Little while later, the guard got in and anounced the arrival of the messenger. ..

With the King's permission. ..the messenger stepped in. He bowed to the royal court. ..

He read the scribble on the cloth which was sent by guruji on behalf of suman. ..

Every body keenly observed ...

" I Sumantha. ..wishes everyone on the capital to stay happy. ..my regards to all. ..

As a princess, I guess I had the right to choose my life. ..I don't have a good opinion on jaya simhan. ..I openly disagree to marry him. ..

Dear father,

If it hurts you I am really sorry. ..

'Long live chola dynasty. ..
Let it's reputation grew further. ..'

Suman. ."

King's mind bloomed with relief. .His hands moved to his mustache deliberately in thinking of his daughter's bravery. ..

The messenger drew his sword and roared. ..

" how dare she. ..she had defamed our prince...He will kill her for this. .."

That's all he spoke. .at the very next moment, he was surrounded by the court guards. ..

The head of the guards vela... spoke ..

" don't you dare to say that. ..we loved our princess. ..we kept silent since it was the royal decision. ..now, the scenario is different. ..if you ever think to harm her, I swear you won't reach your dynasty with life. .."

Veera chola beamed with pride. ..

" vela. ..leave him. ..it's not a dharma to harm a guest. .."

" And. ..you. ..tell your prince that my daughter don't like him. ..don't even think to harm her. ..you are alive till now only because we follow dharma.

Now. ..leave the court. .."

On King's order, jaya simhan ' s messenger left the court with outrage. ..

Vela bowed to the king and spoke. ..

" your majesty. ..i guess we should be ready to face his arrogance. ..we should alert our secret soldiers to reach princess fort for the princess's safety. .."

" do it imediatly. .."

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Princess fort

Suman was staring at the full moon which was reflected in the pond....it was like a pretty portrait. ..

She was sitting on the marble stone built around the pond. ..she tangled her feet at the pond water which was cold. ..she dipped her fingers and played with the lilies that were bloomed in the moon light. ..

She was clueless about her mind. ..certainly she didn't like jaya simhan. .but she told guruji to send a favorable reply. ..

On the other hand, she had lost her heart to shravan. ..who was entirely a stranger and low at position ...

She wished to tell her heart openly. ..but her princess mask curbed her to do so. .

She recalled his eyes. ..even now, she got a spark of the light. ..her body felt chill at his thought. .she couldn't override her mind. ..she let it go. ..

After all, it was really heartwarming that she was surrounded with his chill thoughts. ..she rubbed her arms with a heartful smile. ..

She spoke to the pond lilies with love. ..

" lilies. ..do you ever came across with those kind of eyes. .?"

" that's impossible I guess. .."

Suman frightened to hear his voice and suddenly stood up. ..she had lost her balance ...she was about to fall. ..

Shravan grasped her right hand...He slided his other hand to her bare waist to steady the hold. ..Suman felt her feminism. . ..she clenched her eyes as she couldn't manage her soared feelings. ..

Shravan looked her with lot of love. ..she had worn the angavastra in a typical manner where her elegancy was uplifted. ..her nose pin was gleaming in the moonlight. ..but, it's brightness failed in front of her face. ..

The pearls embedded in her jewelry had lost its power in front of her skin's smoothness. ..

Shravan continued to stare at her necklaces with intense jealousy. ..it had been fortunate enough to touch her ...

He leaned to her reddened lips. ..He snuffed the fragrance of the flowers which was worn by her. ... ..Suddenly, suman came out of spell. ..she pushed him away. ..

" how dare you to enter into the brindavan. .."

Her chest rose up and down in extreme emotions. ..

" I have entered into the owner's heart. .so, obviously, nothing serious in entering to the brindavan I guess. .."

Shravan naughtily pointed her. ..

Almost she had been died in embarrassing. ..

" why did you come here. ..that too at this late night. .?"

She somehow succeeded in managing her embarrass. ..

" well. ..I have to leave now. ..so. ..I came to thank you. .."

Suman 's face dropped to hear those words. ..

she looked him with moist eyes. ..she left brindavan without turning to his side. ...

Shravan understood her mind. He knew he and his touch had made enormous change in her mind. ...He smiled broadly. ...

Guruji who was in search of suman stood dumbfounded after witnessing the status of shravan and suman. ...

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Friends. ...the next chapter is up. ..do read and comment as usual. ..I am open to clarify your questions. ..thankyou for your support. ..

Love

Arulpirai. ..