An olai came to Thanjai informing about Adithan's victory in Rashtrakuta. Nandini's countless prayers to the gods were fulfilled. Oh how worried she was about Adithan going to war, these seven days, nightmares about him dying haunted her every night. She got her soul back only when she heard about Adithan's victory. (Olai - news scroll)

Nandini sat at the stairs of the temple pond and plucked on the flowers ideally. When will you come back Karikalare? She thought to herself, yearning to meet him. She chuckled to herself thinking about him.

"What are you laughing at?" She heard a familiar voice. Karikalan's manly voice echoed in her head. She turned back to see the source of the voice but found no one.

"Just my illusion," She hit her head with her hands and sighed sadly. It's been a week since she had seen him, she thought of him every single second, she wondered if he did the same.

The trumpets were blown.

The cheering of the Chozha people could be heard from the other side of the Kaveri river. Nandini got up as she heard the thunderous sounds of the melam.

"The Prince arrived it seems," Cheered the other temple girls as they ran off to meet him. Nandini jumped up in excitement and joined the girls to see her lover. But someone stopped her.

****

"All hail Prince Aditha Karikalar!" Cheered the people as Adithan rode his horse slowly through the crowd. His smile was brighter than the moon, that day. The glory he had been waiting for was presented to him on golden plates. The people showered him with flowers and blessings. The priests sang their pasurams and sang of the Prince's victories.

But no matter what, the Prince's eyes searched for only one person, the girl who stole his heart.

The palace gates were closed as soon as Adithan and his army entered. He got off his horse and paid his salutations to his father and mother.

"Appa, Amma," Adithan smiled as he touched their feet to get their blessings.

"You did it, My son," Sundara Chozhan patted Adithan's back proudly. Vanavan Madevi hugged her son and kissed his forehead and checked his body for wounds, Adithan felt a little embarrassed.

"I was scared to death," Vanavan said. "We should thank God for sending you back home safely,"

"I came home no amma? Don't worry nothing will happen to me," Adithan said.

"Anna!" Arulmozhi came running upto Adithan and jumped onto him.

"Ough," Adithan scoffed as he held Arulmozhi. "Thambi don't attack me like this, you're not a kid anymore," he hid his pain with a smile and set Arulmozhi down.

"You and Akka always mock me," Arulmozhi folded his arms and stood with his mother, she laughed at his antics and ruffled his hair.

"Where's my dear sister?" Adithan asked.

"Akka went to the temple to thank the god for bringing you home safely," Arulmozhi announced.

"The temple?" Adithan asked arching his eyebrows, that's were Nandini used to stay. She's probably fighting with Nandini right now, Adithan thought. He had to go there and intervene right now. But no one was in the mood to let their young prince go anywhere. They showered him with wishes and blessings continuously. First came Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer, then Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyer, then Anriuddha Brahmarayar.

****

The palace calmed down at the night time. The visitors who came to see the prince had left and Adithan finally had the time to breath.

Adithan jumped down from his bedroom balcony and rushed off towards the stables.

****

That snake Kundavai, Nandini thought and fisted her hands. Because of her she was not able to see the Prince, she bit her fingers in anger.

But what if she wasn't able to see him, Karikalan will come to see her.

"Nandini," Adithan whispered. Nandini ignored the voice thinking it was her illusion again. Adithan's horse neighed as he got down. "Shh,"

Nandini turned back startled due to the horse's noises. "Karikalare!" Nandini got up and rushed towards him with tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

Adithan smiled and welcomed her with open arms. She hugged him tightly and let out a sigh of relief.

"Were you scared?" Adithan asked playing with her hair.

Nandini sniffled and nodded.

"Why are you crying now?" Adithan asked pulling her back.

Nandini shook her head and wiped her eyes. "Did you get hurt?" Her voice broke and she held Adithan's wounded hand. Adithan nodded.

"Does it hurt?" Nandini asked carefully touching it.

"It did, but after you graced it with your hands, it healed," Adithan said with a smile. Nandini blushed a little and hid her face in his chest and kissed his shoulders.

"Aha, what is this magic? I couldn't even feel a thing now," Adithan laughed as Nandini blushed even more. "Come, let's go for a ride," He said pointing to his horse.

"At this time?" Nandini asked.

"Yea, don't you trust my horse riding skills, Nandini," Adithan joked as he walked towards his horse.

Nandini agreed to the ride nervously. Adithan held out his hands and carefully guided her on top of the horse. "Please bear our weight," Adithan told the horse as he got on top of it, he sat behind Nandini.

He brushed her hands as he reached out for the lead. Chills shot down Nandini's spine as he felt the Prince breathing down her neck. "Hold on tight," he whispered in her ear as he kicked the horse's muscles, the horse neighed and started to walk in a slow pace.

Adithan's soul left his body each and everytime her hair brushed his face when a gust of wind blew, When her body hit his when the horse jerks. Adithan made Nandini hold the lead with him.

Adithan looked at Nandini's face hoping to see her playful smile, but he was only met with a frown.

"Something's missing," Adithan commented.

"The only thing which is missing is your sister interrupting us," Nandini said in a fed up tone.

Adithan sighed, "What did she do this time?" He asked.

"She told me to stay away from you," Nandini said, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

Adithan laughed. "She's just a child, don't take her words to your heart,"

"A child? No child would speak with that much venom in her tongue," Nandini said furiously.

"Okay, okay," Adithan calmed her down, "What do you want me to do?" He asked as he brushed her hands while holding the lead with his other.

Nandini shrugged, "I don't know Karikalare, but her words hurt me so much," Nandini said in her enchanting voice.

Adithan simply nodded. "I'll talk to her," Adithan said resting his head on her shoulder. "Forget her," Adithan muttered. "Did you miss me when I was gone?" Adithan asked playfully.

"Of course, I did!!" Nandini said. "So much! Do you know how much I suffered without seeing you?" Nandini looked back at Adithan who was looking at her as if she was magic.

"I know," Adithan gleamed.

"Did you miss me?" She asked back. Adithan nodded.

"I couldn't sleep at night, your beautiful smile kept me awake," Adithan said as he kissed her softly on her cheek. Nandini turned away swiftly, trying to hide her blushing face.

"Don't," Adithan kept a finger on her chin, preventing her from turning back. "You look cute when you blush," Adithan complimented which made Nandini blush even more.

"Ada da!" Adithan exclaimed. "It looks as if the goddess of moon descended to the earth," Adithan complimented.

"Stop, Karikalare," Nandini turned her face and his it under her palms. Karikalan hugged her from behind, Nandini's breath hitched.

"What should I do to keep you with me at all times?" Adithan asked.

"By marrying me," Nandini suggested. Adithan smiled at Nandini's suggestion.

"Soon, I'll make you my queen," Adithan said kissing her neck. Nandini bit her lips nervously "And the princess to the Chozha empire,"

This made Nandini smile but there was one big obstacle, in the form of a ten year old girl. "Will your sister accept it?" Nandini asked.

Adithan looked down nervously. He was ashamed to admit it, But truth be told he was scared to talk to his sister about Nandini. "I'll talk to her, Nandini," He assured her and himself.

A/N

What will be Kundavai's reaction? What will she do?

Had fun writing Karikalan-Nandini's love segments. Stay tuned for more!!