Adithan was losing his mind. He paced around the temple grounds repeatedly looking at the exit. His heart was beating out of his chest. His head throbbed. Adithan held his head and sat down with his back against the wall. Adithan tapped his foot on the ground impatiently.

Where was his kanmani?

Seconds passed. She didn't come, Minutes passed, but no signs of her, hours passed, and Adithan grew anxious. Adithan refused to go to lunch without seeing her.

Adithan's lips were shivering, his heart felt heavy, the lump in his throat got painful. "Screw it," Kairkalan got up. As he walked towards the temple, He heard the temple girl's laughter. He scanned for Nandini's laughter but he couldn't hear it.

"Devi," He called out to one of the girls. The girl looked back, confused about who called her, but when she saw Adithan, she yelped. The other girls ceased their laughter as they saw Karikalan standing before them, all manly and handsome. They all had a huge crush on the prince. Well, who doesn't? But his heart only belonged to Nandini, and Nandini only.

"Y-yes, Ilavarese," The girl replied. Shyness played around her face. They all stood up and approached him.

"Did the pooja end?" Adithan asked. The girls all nodded jointly. Adithan arched his eyebrows wondering why she hadn't come to see him yet. Adithan swallowed the lump in his throat and decided to ask them straight away.

"Where's Nandini?" Adithan asked. The girls looked disappointed and looked at each other with a frown at the thought that the Prince had lost his heart to someone else.

"She left an hour ago, Ilavarese," A young girl replied, everyone shot her dirty looks.

"I was waiting outside, I didn't see her leaving," Adithan asked.

"She left through the back entrance," Informed another girl.

Adithan thanked the girls and left the temple premises. Why did she leave through the back exit? Did she see him waiting outside?

Nandini did this to avoid him. He had a guess about what Kundavai told Nandini, She would've told him about the Jodithar's words, and Nandini would've gotten scared again.

Adithan rode his horse through the woods trying to find Nandini. "Nandini!" He called out, but only the birds replied. Adithan roamed around aimlessly trying to find Nandini

Adithan pulled back his hair and stopped his horse. Adithan got down, he sensed something, "Nandini," No reply, He paced around the area searching behind every bush, every tree, every rock, but she was adamant about staying away from you.

He kicked a tree in anger. Adithan was sweating profoundly, "NANDINI!" He screamed. "I know you're here!" Adithan yelled. He was right. Nandini was right there, hiding behind a broken tree bark, on the ground crying her eyes out.

Nandini bit her hands trying to stifle her cries, her eyes were red and puffy, and Adithan screaming her name added to her agony. Her heart felt like a thousand needles were piercing it at once. She was screaming inside. Her tears watered the plants.

"If you don't come out now! I'll cut my own heart out Nandini, I swear," She heard Adithan screaming. Her eyes widened in fear, Her heart skipped a beat when she heard Adithan drawing out his sword.

"NO!" Nandini shrieked. Nandini shot up and stood in front of Adithan and held his hands holding the sword. "No, Karikalare," Nandini cried out and snatched the sword from his hands. Blood returned to Adithan's face as he saw Nandini. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at Nandini.

"Don't play these games with me, Nandini," He said firmly, "If you are going to distance yourself from me, do it after stabbing me in the heart with the sword in your hand," Nandini immediately dropped the sword from her hands. It made a clinging sound as it hit the ground.

"Why?" Adithan asked holding her shoulders. "Why these silly games?" Adithan asked shaking her shoulders. Nandini collapsed to the ground and wept. Adithan did not expect this, he sat down next to her and tried to console her, but she kept pushing him away. She was a crying mess.

"Get away from me, Karikalare!" Nandini cried out as she pushed away Adithan's hands. Karikalan held her in one place and made her look at him, the look she gave him made him wince in pain. Nandini tried to get away from Adithan's clutches but her energy was drained, she was getting out of breath, Her hands uselessly tried to push him away, but Adithan's grip was strong as that of a bear's.

Her nose turned red, she felt cold in Adithan's arms. Adithan could feel the pain she was feeling, the eyes which radiated love were bloodshot, She was shaking.

"Nandini, please," He held Nandini, he made her rest on his shoulders. Nandini didn't have the strength to resist Adithan's love. He held the back of Nandini's head in his hands and caressed her hair softly trying to calm her down, Nandini was crying on his shoulders. Adithan's clothes were damped due to her tears. She held his clothes firmly in her hand and cried her heart out.

"Will I think of any harm to you?" Nandini sniffled. Adithan shook his head. "Then why did Kundavai say something like that to me?" Nandini buried her face into Adithan's chest and cried out again. "She thinks that I only love you for that throne!" Nandini's voice was muffled against Adithan's clothes. "She thinks that I'm manipulating you!" She threw her tantrums and continued her inaudible blabberings.

"Shhh," Karikalan pulled her back from his chest and cupped her face with his hands. "Nandini, I already told you and I'll tell it again," Adithan started. "If a beautiful woman like you is going torture me, I'll take it as a blessing," Adithan gave her a weak smile. "I would happily lose my life in your hands, Nandini," Karikalan said firmly.

"Karikalare, don't say that," Nandini said through her tears. "I'll die before you if a situation like that arises," Nandini said. Adithan smiled at her and wiped away her tears.

He shook his head. "I want to die before you, Nandini. I couldn't bear seeing you take you last your last breath,"

Nandini wanted to talk back to him but Adithan kept his finger on her lips. "Don't," Adithan said. He leaned against a tree and made Nandini rest her head on his chest. "You suffered a lot today," Adithan said brushing her hair. "Why this overreaction, Nandini?"

Nandini looked up at Adithan and glared at him.

"Your sister's words, they're poison," Nandini muttered.

"Well, I'm just saying, if you started taking Kundavai's words to your heart and cry like this, what will you do when my father and mother or the Chozha empire stand against our marriage?" Adithan shuddered at the thought.

Nandini started getting worried again. She was ready to open up her dams when Adithan interrupted her once again.

"Don't worry, Nandini, I'll take care of them," He consoled her.

***

Kundavai was standing on her balcony overlooking the vast Chozha empire. A smile. Arulmozhi was standing alongside her eating a banana. The wind slowly brushed Kundavai's long hair.

"You shouldn't have said all those things to Nandini Akka," Arulmozhi said.

"Did she throw a net over you too, Arulmozhi?" Kundavai asked looking down at her brother. Arulmozhi avoided her gaze and looked down. Kundavai sighed and turned back to leave when Adithan barged in through the doors.

"What the hell did you say to Nandini?" Adithan asked furiously. Arulmozhi jerked back on hearing his brother's voice. Kundavai however stood calmly.

"She's a crying mess now!" Adithan walked toward Kundavai, She moved away from her brother, her back hit the fence of the balcony.

"You two," Adithan snarled pointing at Kundavai and Arulmozhi, "How many times should I tell you to stay away from my Nandini!" Adithan shouted at them.

Arulmozhi looked at his sister and then at Karikalan.

"She clearly doesn't love you," Kundavai said matter-of-factly. Karikalan rolled his eyes and threw his arms in the air frustratedly. "After all the things I told her, she still decided to meet you and snitch on me," Kundavai folded her arms.

"I met her, she tried to stay away from me," Adithan said, but it was falling into deaf's ears.

"Well she didn't try hard enough if you managed to find her," Kundavai rolled her eyes. Karikalan moved towards her and looked into her eyes.

"You'll understand my pain when you fall in love with someone, Kundavai," He whispered into her ears.

"I wouldn't fall in love with a snake like Nandini," Kundavai shot back.

Karikalan bit his lips and fisted his hands. "Will you never understand me?" He asked. Kundavai stood there with no reply. Adithan nodded and looked at Arulmozhi. He avoided his gaze and joined his sister.

"I know how to marry my Nandini," Karikalan said and stomped out of the chambers. He knocked something down as he left. Adithan showed the anger he had on Kundavai to a poor flower vase.

****

A/N

Expect some regular updates here on out since my holidays just started.

Waiting to see PS2 🔥🔥

This is where the story gets spicey.