A Peck On The Cheek

Kundavai walked toward the pond to meet her brothers. She wondered if Adithan was still mad at her. Her long braided hair swooshed side by side in the air as she descended the stairs.

She saw Karikalan and Arulmozhi doing push-ups.

"Two hundred and forty-one," Arulmozhi grunted as he strained his shoulders to go up.

"Two hundred and forty-two," Adithan counted. Arulmozhi's little hands were fumbling. But the little guy was not willing to give up.

"Arulmozhi, it's not too late to give up now," Adithan said as sweat dripped from his forehead.

"Anna, it's not too late for YOU to give up!" Arulmozhi said pushing back down.

"Aha! Fine, I like a good competition," Karikalan grunted.

Kundavai smiled at the loving bond her brothers were having at that moment. She walked towards them, Arulmozhi's head shot up as he heard her sister's anklets.

"Akka is here!" Arulmozhi beamed, a newfound energy entered Arulmozhi's body. Adithan looked up to see her sister standing there in full glory. She was wearing dark red silk clothes and golden jewelry adorned her neck.

Unexpectedly, Adithan gave her a smile. Kundavai returned it back and turned towards her younger brother.

"Akka, Stay here and watch, I'm going to beat Anna," Arulmozhi chimed. Adithan raised a brow at his brother and smirked.

"If you want to get ashamed in front of your sister then be my guest," Adithan laughed.

Their battle went on for what felt like hours, Arulmozhi and Adithan showed no signs of giving up. Kundavai looked at them with a smile on her face while her brothers were trash-talking to each other. Adithan was in the lead, and by a lot, Obviously. He slowed down for his brother to catch up.

"Getting tired, Anna?" Arulmozhi questioned him with a mocking smile. Adithan nodded mockingly and looked up to see a beautiful sight. A sight to behold.

Nandini was just returning from her bath, her wet hair hung freely on her shoulder, She looked like a lily in her white saree. She looked simple, with only a white flower adorning her ear, yet she looked divine.

Nandini looked at Karikalan and blushed a little, He looks so handsome working out, Nandini thought, and smiled to herself. She gave him an elegant smile as she walked past the pond.

Adithan's jaw was on the floor, How could one be this beautiful? He came to a conclusion, no matter how much gold a girl is adorned with, they couldn't match Nandini's natural beauty.

he leaned sideways to see her more clearly, but eventually lost his balance and fell down.

"YEA!" Arulmozhi cheered in victory. "Haha! Anna, you lose! I've defeated the great Karikalar," Arulmozhi got up and clapped victoriously. Kundavai walked up to her brothers and patted Arulmozhi's shoulders.

Adithan got up and dusted the dirt off of his hands. "Good job, Thambi," He slapped his shoulders.

"Okay! I'm hungry, let's go and eat something," Arulmozhi beamed. Kundavai nodded in agreement.

"You guys go, I'm not hungry," Adithan said picking up his sword from the ground.

"It's okay, you come with us," Kundavai said holding her brother's hands. Adithan opened his mouth to object, but Kundavai looked at him with a 'Puppy-face' look which melted Adithan's heart immediately. "Will you not listen to your dear sister?" She asked.

Adithan sighed. "Fine," He groaned as they made their way up to the chambers.

***

Adithan rested his chin on his fist as he saw Kundavai feeding Arulmozhi. The image of Nandini walking past him crossed his mind now and then, a smile appeared on his face whenever Nandini invaded his mind.

"Akka! My hands hurt so bad," Arulmozhi whined as Kundavai fed him another mouthful of rice.

"This is what happens when you over-strain yourself, am I right Anna?" Kundavai asked turning to her brother. She arched her eyebrows as she saw him lost in his own world and smiling like a madman. "Anna!" Adithan jerked awake from his dream.

"Yes, Thangachi, whatever you say," Adithan let out and scratched his head. (Thangachi - sister)

Kundavai rolled her eyes. "Are you hungry now?" She asked. Adithan shook his head.

"C'mon, You haven't had anything since the sun rose," Kundavai scolded him.

Arulmozhi coughed bringing back her attention to him. "Hello? I'm still here," Arulmozhi said opening his mouth.

"Yes, yes, feed him first, the great Ponniyin Selvar has important works to do, no?" Adithan joked.

"Anna--" Arulmozhi scowled.

Kundavai rolled the rice in her hands and fed Arulmozhi to shut his mouth.

"Anna, Here," Kundavai held up a ball of rice to Adithan.

"I told you I'm not hungry," Adithan said.

"I know when you're hungry and when you're not hungry," Kundavai said. Adithan looked at Kundavai with a 'really?' look.

"Wouldn't you like to enjoy the food that your dear sister is offering to you so lovingly?" Kundavai asked, pouting her lips. Adithan sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Fine!" Adithan surrendered and opened his mouth, Kundavai lovingly fed him the ball of rice. Adithan felt that the food tasted a thousand times better when fed by Kundavai's hands.

"Akka! Now for me," Arulmozhi chimed up.

The doors creaked open, the siblings turned towards the direction where the noise came from. Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer stood there, A wide smile spread on his face as he saw the siblings.

"Aha! What a sight to behold! A mother tiger feeding two young tiger cubs," Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer said as he made his way to the siblings. Adithan and Kundavai got up and paid their salutations.

"Thatha!" Arulmozhi shot up and ran towards him, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer held up Arulmozhi and hugged him.

"How was the war, Thatha?" Kundavai asked. "Did you get a new scar to add to your collection?"

Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer laughed at Kundavai's words and set Arulmozhi down on the dhiwan. "Unfortunately not," Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer turned towards Adithan who stood silently.

"Look who it is! The tiger which slayed the Rashtrakutan king, How do you do Karikala?" Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer asked patting his shoulders.

"I'm doing fine, Thatha," Adithan said.

"Thatha tell us about the war!!" Arulmozhi asked excitedly. He loved hearing stories that Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer tells him, especially about the wars and the great conquest of the Chozha empire.

"Of course, My child," Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer chimed.

Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer gestured for the siblings to sit down, and they obeyed. He cleared his throat and told everything about the war with great patience. He explained about the way the great Chozha army infiltrated through the enemies' formation.

The details of the war made Arulmozhi gape in awe, while Kundavai asked some questions here and there. As for Karikalan, he sat there with his chin on his fist, thinking about Nandini. He waited impatiently for an opening to escape from them.

Finally, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer ended his story, Arulmozhi jumped up and clapped his hands.

"Thatha that was awesome!" Arulmozhi beamed. "I want to go to war after hearing all that!"

"I'll take you soon, Arulmozhi, are you keeping up with your practice?" Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer asked him, Arulmozhi nodded enthusiastically.

"Thatha, How many people did you kill?" Kundavai asked. Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer shrugged and shook his head

"I don't keep count," He said simply and turned towards Adithan, who was lost in his own world, Pazhuvettaraiyer smiled at him.

"I've never seen you so silent," Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer commented on Adithan's silence. "Cat caught your tongue?"

Nandini has caught his tongue. Kundavai muttered.

"No, No, Thatha, I was just uh...so lost in your story," Adithan said scratching his eyebrow.

"Is that so?"

Adithan nodded. Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer raised a brow. Something's not right with this boy, he thought.

***

Adithan finally got the chance to escape from Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer and his sibling, he slipped away from them and made his way to the pond in search of his princess.

Nandini was seated on the last step, her hair was tied up into a neat kondai now. Adithan made his way down to the pond and plopped down next to Nandini. She looked up at him and smiled a little.

"Hey," Adithan greeted her.

"I would turn into a grandmother waiting for you," Nandini said playfully.

Adithan chuckled. "At least you would still be beautiful," Nandini mini-punched Karikalan's shoulders and blushed at his cheesy compliments.

"What to do, Nandini, My siblings didn't let me go without eating a grain of rice, then Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer came," Karikalan explained.

"Hmm," Nandini sighed. Adithan threw his arms around her shoulders.

"Anyways, I'm here now," Adithan asked swaying side by side with Nandini.

"Okay?"

"So...Don't you think I should get a reward?" Adithan asked smiling charmingly at Nandini.

"What do I have to offer for the great Chozha prince?" Nandini asked as she looked at Adithan. His cute dimples made her smile.

"Umm..." Adithan thought, "There's a lot of things that you can give me, Nandini," Adithan said playfully.

"Like?" Nandini crossed her arms and raised a brow.

"Like...A peck on my cheek?" Adithan asked leaning closer to Nandini. Adithan waited for Nandini to kiss him.

"No way, Karikalare," Nandini chuckled and hid her face in her palms, trying to mask her shyness.

"C'mon, Nandini, Just one kiss," Adithan pleaded, but Nandini was not budging. "I'm crossing 'seven seas' to meet you, Nandini, but you wouldn't even give me a kiss?" Karikalan scoffed. "Do you know how hard it is to trick Kundavai?" Adithan waited for Nandini to reply, Nandini rose her head and gave him a playful chuckle. He saw her face turn red in shyness,

She hid her face again and shook her head. "Aw, don't be shy," Adithan pulled her closer. Nandini hid her face in his chest, he could feel a smile playing around her face.

"Your sister will get mad if she spotted us like this," Nandini said softly.

"So what? What if she gets mad?" Adithan asked.

"Karikalare, do you plan on getting me exiled?" Nandini asked jokingly.

Adithan shook his head. "Come on, Nandini, have I ever asked you for anything?" Adithan pouted his lips. Nandini bit her lower lips and thought deeply for a while. "Quickly make up your mind, I hear someone coming," Adithan whispered.

"Nandini!" Thirumalai called out.

"Aiyoo, I have to go, Karikalare," Nandini got up to leave, but Adithan had other plans for her. He caught her hands and pulled her down, she lost her balance and fell on his lap. Adithan pointed at his cheeks and smirked. "Karikalare, this isn't the right time for this," Nandini said trying to get up again.

"Every time is the right time for love, Nandini," Adithan laughed. "I won't let you go until you give me what I asked for let your brother see us, I don't care," Adithan shrugged. Nandini bit her lips nervously.

"Nandini, Where are you?" Thirumalai called out again.

Adithan's breath hit her face as she held him inches away from him. "Fine," Nandini whispered. Adithan's face acquired a wide grin. Nandini leaned up and positioned herself to kiss him.

Adithan's world stopped as he felt Nandini's nose brushing against his cheek, He looked at Nandini's nervous eyes and grinned. Thriumalai's voice became distant, and Adithan's mind got fuzzy, he was drowned at that moment. He forgot everything, his name, his birthplace, his siblings, He only remembered one person. Nandini, whose lips were hovering around his cheeks.

But unexpectedly, Nandini pushed Adithan back when he was dreaming and got up.

"Nandini!" Adithan shouted. Adithan felt disappointed, What Nandini did was like stealing a mango from a child's hands.

Nandini laughed as she ran up the stairs. "I'm so sorry, Karikalare!" Apologized as she disappeared from Adithan's line of sight.

Adithan sat up straight and pulled his hair up. "Nandini! You can't fool me," He shouted. "I will get it one way or another!" He punched the ground with his fist and got up. A wasted opportunity, he thought to himself as he walked away from the pond.

A/N

Hello Makkale!

I watched PS2 yesterday say, one of the greatest cinematic experiences I have ever had! I would blabber on for hours and hours about that movie if I wanted to, but no, I'm not going to bore you all. If you haven't watched it yet, please do, you won't regret it!