It was a beautiful summer day, the sun beamed with its full grace and the songbird chirruped happily in their nests. The scent of flowers were carried through the palace by the wind.

Karikalan walked through the garden, disregarding the beautiful weather. The only thing he was concerned about was running into that snake again. His lips twisted in disgust at the thought of her. Periya Pazhuvetarraiyer's wife. He shook his head the clear that thought.

He scanned the garden, looking around for his father who had summoned him. Kundavai said he wanted to talk about something 'important'.

"Son," Sundara Chozhan called out. Karikalan gave him a quick smile and walked up to him.

"Appa? Kundavai said you wanted to talk to me," Karikalan asked. Sundara Chozhan nodded slowly.

"Yes," He muttered, gesturing for Karikalan to follow him. He did not know where to start, he wanted to talk to him about his bad habits, he wanted for his son to stay in Thanjai, and finally he wanted for him to take the hand of Sambuvaraiyar's daughter, knowing his son, Sundara Chozhan knew he wouldn't even bother listening to him about this, he was so fixated on that girl.

Karikalan looked at his father, patiently waiting for him to talk. "Appa?"

Sundara Chozhan sighed. "I'm worried about you," He said gloomily.

Adithan raised a brow. "Worried?" He asked. "About what? The war? I got it under control--"

Sundara Chozhan shook his head. "No, it's about your character, you changed,"

"People change," He muttered.

"You changed for the worse,"

Karikalan looked away. It was not his fault he was like this. They made him a monster. Didn't his father stand and watch as they drove Nandini away?

Sundara Chozhan raised a brow, observing his son. "What happened?"

"You won't understand,"

"I'm your father," Sundara Chozhan said, pressing his shoulder. "I've gone through everything you've went through and more." He shook his head and got straight to the point. "I want you to get married."

Adithan looked like a ghost ran past him. "Married? What's the rush for me to get married?" He laughed nervously. "I want to watch Kundavai and Arulmozhi get married first,"

Sundara Chozhan laughed at his attempt to deflect the conversation. "No, Aditha, you should get married first, maybe she'll fix you."

"I need no fixing, I can take care of myself!" He protested. "Appa...Amma has already tried to introduce me to Manimekalai...it won't work out."

"Why won't it?"

Karikalan was lost, trying to find out a reason. From what he had heard about Manimekalai from his mother, she was a perfect girl, pretty, soft-spoken, kind...but she was not Nandini.

"She's a perfect suit for you,"

Karikalan sighed. "I'll marry when the time comes, this--it's too soon,"

Sundara Chozhan furrowed his brows.
"I'm scared of losing you, Aditha," he voiced his fear, but Karikalan was in no mood to understand.

Karikalan inhaled sharply, trying to keep himself together. "You won't." He lied, they've already lost him.

"I want you to get married and stay in Thanjai," Sundara Chozhan said, Karikalan shook his head immediately. He couldn't stand meeting Pazhuvetarraiyer or Nandini even for a second again.

"No, I...I can't." Karikalan refused.

"Aditha.."

"I can't stay in Thanjai, not now. Appa, please don't force me to," He pleaded.

"Is it because of her?" Sundara Chozhan muttered. "Nandini,"

Karikalan froze, refusing to meet his father's eyes. "N--"

"Do not lie to me," He whispered. "You need to forget her."

Karikalan groaned, he was so tired of having this conversation over and over again. "No. I can't,"

"She's Pazhuvetarraiyer's wife." Sundara Chozhan said, not getting frustrated with Karikalan's stubbornness. "Desiring another man's wife is a sin."

Karikalan fisted his hands. "She was mine." He said, stepping closer. "You all took her away from me." His voice was now dangerously low.

Sundara Chozhan was unfazed. "You could've never married her,"

Adithan shook his head. "Why? Because she was too poor?"

"No, She--" Sundara Chozhan bit his tongue and retorted his words. He can't know about it.

"Just give me one other reason?" Adithan pressed, chuckling bitterly when his father looked clueless. "You can't." He said, stepping back.

Sundara Chozhan broke a sweat and looked away. "Some sacrifices are to be made for the throne."

"Then I don't want such throne." Karikalan said firmly.

"Do not say that," His father chided.

Karikalan pulled back his hair and sighed. "I'm not going to marry anyone, I can't stay in the same place as...her." He whispered, holding his father's hand. "Appa, it'll kill me slowly," he whispered brokenly, on the verge of tears.

Sundara Chozhan frowned, giving Karikalan a hug to comfort him, his son reminded too much of himself. "Fine," He whispered. "Do what you wish,"

*******

Vanthiyadevan wanted to rip his hair out, they were going to leave at dawn and yet, he still haven't found out anything about the girl who held him in a chokehold, both physically and mentally. He plopped down on the ground and looked at the moon. He sighed, wouldn't it be nice to have someone by his side now?

Semba neighed beside him, resting his head under it's master's hands. "Atleast I have you," Vallavarayan smiled, admiring the stars with his horse.

"Do you always stay with your horse?" The voice Vandiyadevan wanted to hear desperately echoed.

He jolted up and looked around, sensing his master's urgency Semban got up as well. "Uh huh, are you here with your lover? Am I interrupting something?" He asked, wondering if someone has already taken her hand.

"Mhm, I'm with my lover," She said, approaching him. You should've seen the disappointment wash over Vandiyadevan's face as soon as she said those words. "I prefer to watch the moon with people more than horses."

"I'm sorry," He muttered. "I--I'll leave,"

"No, no," She said. "You can stay, I don't want to ruin your date with your horse," She laughed, sitting down. "I was joking,"

Vandiyadevan sighed in relief, peering over her shoulder to see her face, and the dimly lit moon didn't help his cause.

"If you don't have someone, I don't mind being your lover," Vandiyadevan grinned. Even she was surprised by his confession this soon. 

"My brothers will murder you," She said, expecting him to cower but Vallavarayan laughed.

"I'll fight them and run away with you, with your permission of course,"

"You haven't even seen me properly yet,"

"You have a beautiful voice, I'm pretty sure you would be twice as beautiful" He flirted, trying to get a glance of her face, but he had to keep his distance, he did not want to invade her personal space.

"Oh enough," She giggled, stroking Semban's hair. "You flatter me, I'll think about your proposal,"

Vandiyadevan smiled widely. "Thank you! Please tell me your decision quickly, I will be leaving in a day,"

She nodded and got up to leave.

"What's your name?" He asked, following her.

"I'll tell you that when I meet you again," She chuckled and ran away.

"I--" Vallavarayan groaned, walking back to Semba. "Did you see her?" He asked, stroking his hair. Semban shook his head, neighing.

*******