Astrologer

"How's my son's luck Jodithare?" Vanavan Madevi asked with a worried look washed over her face. Sembiyan Madevi sat beside Vanavan with her hands on her shoulders. Kundavai looked at the Jodithar who was counting the peral white sozhis.

Kodanthai Jodithar was a well reputed astrologer. Nothing good or bad, was done without consulting him first.

The room was dark, the only source of light was from an oil lamp, which dimly lit the room, the Jodithar rolled the sozhis on the table once again.

Vanavan got more and more anxious as the Jodithar stayed silent. Watching her mother get anxious Arulmozhi started to worry a bit too.

"Akka why is this old man taking so long?" He huffed.

"Shh," Kundavai shushed him. "He'll hear us," she whispered. Arulmozhi rolled his eyes and folded his tiny arms.

"Jodithare, please don't hide anything from us," Vanavan pleaded with the man. The Jodithar finally opened his eyes calmly.

"There is no need to worry, My Queen, nothing will happen to our Chozha empire's prince," The Jodithar started. Vanavan Madevi let out a sigh of relief.

"He'll bring fame and prosperity to the Chozhan empire like his ancestors,"

"Good," Sembiyan Madevi smiled at Vanavan.

"But there is one hindrance though," The Jodithar shuffled his hands. The frown reappeared on the queen's face.

"What is it?" Sembiyan Madevi asked.

"A girl," He said rolling the sozhis in his hand. Kundavai's eyes widened. She knew exactly who he was talking about. "A girl who would stir up a storm in his life," He said.

Vanavan and Sembiyan Madevi exchanged confused looks, curious on who this girl would be.

Arulmozhi looked at Kundavai with a knowing look, Kundavai put a finger on her lips gesturing him to keep quiet.

"Nandini Akka?," Arulmozhi mouthed, for which Kundavai nodded slowly as she turned towards the Jodithar.

"A girl?" Sembiyan Madevi broke the silence. The Jodithar nodded. "Are you sure?" She asked again to confirm.

"Amma, I'm telling you what my sozhis are telling me," the Jodithar said rearranging the sozhis. "Why would I lie?"

Vanavan Madevi nodded sadly. She didn't even know who her son's seeing. They took their leave and exited the Jodithar's hut.

Kundavai and Arulmozhi walked together silently behind their mother who was talking to the periya pirrati about that mysterious girl.

"I don't know about this girl," Sembiyan said. "He usually says everything to me," She frowned.

Kundavai raised her eyebrows and Arulmozhi suppressed a giggle.

If only they knew the things he hid from them. They both thought. Vanavan looked behind her to check if the kids were following her, she gave Arulmozhi and Kundavai a look of suspicion as she saw them giggle.

"Do you anything about a girl? Something related to your brother? He usually talks with you guys a lot," Vanavan asked.

"Haa---" Arulmozhi started to nod but Kundavai shook her head, Arulmozhi also changed his nod to a shake. "No, Amma," He said.

"Kundavai, you?" Sembiyan asked her looking straight into her eyes.

"N-No," Kundavai stuttered unable to lie to the Periya Pirrati.

"Hmm," Sembiyan Madevi turned back, not believing her lie in the slightest, she whispered something into Vanavan's ears and she shot her a look.

Kundavai sighed and turned around to look for a distraction. Arulmozhi tugged on Kundavai's frock and pointed at the lake. Kundavai formed a plan to escape from their piercing eyes. She whispered something into Arulmozhi's ears when they were not looking, he looked up and nodded.

"Amma! Can me and Akka go to the lake?" Arulmozhi asked cheerfully.

"The lake?" Vanavan asked. "Why? That too at this time of the day?" She asked suspiciously.

"Why would one go to a lake Amma? For a swim only no?" Arulmozhi said, feeling smart.

"What happens if you drown? I still couldn't get over that fear when you drowned once when you were a baby, if you drown again who will save you?" Vanavan asked.

"Ponni thai will save me, Amma," Arulmozhi laughed. "That's why they call me Ponniyin Selvan no?" He said, Kundavai smiled at him and patted his back.

"Ponni thai will save you, who will save us from the fear of losing you?"

"Amma, I'll take care of thambi," She assured her mother. Vanavan looked at Sembiyan Madevi who gave her a small nod.

"Okay,"

"Yay!" Arulmozhi cheered and pulled Kundavai's hands and began running.

"But be back at dusk!" Vanavan yelled behind them.

"Okay Amma!!" They ran towards the lake, they escaped from their mother line of sight. Arulmozhi saw a big mango tree and started craving for some sweet mangoes.

"You hate Nandini Akka don't you?" Arulmozhi asked as he climbed up a mango tree. Kundavai sat down and looked up to her brother. "Then why didn't you tell her name when Sembiyan Amma asked?" Arulmozhi threw down a mango, Kundavai caught it and started peeling.

"Do you know how mad Anna would get?" Kundavai said shaking her head in fear.

Arulmozhi laughed as he jumped down the tree and sat beside Kundavai. "Very mad," Arulmozhi giggled.

"We should say it at the right time thambi," Kundavai said. "I have warned her, let's see if she obeys me, if not then..." Kundavai said naively.

"Who will dare to disobey you, Akka?" Arulmozhi said stuffing his face with sweet mangoes.

"That Nandini would,"

***

Later that day.

The whole army camp was in festive mode welcoming their dear Prince...Well partly because of Karikalan's arrival but mainly because of the food the army bought from thanjai.

"Thatha," Adithan entered a tent. Malayaman was sharpening his sword, he looked up at Adithan and smiled.

"Welcome my grandson!" He said loudly with his voice which sent shivers down the enemies spines.

Adithan smiled and got his Aashirvad. "You will live well for a hundred years, my boy," Malayaman blessed him.

If he manages to live for a hundred years he wanted to spend each and every moment with Nandini. A smile appeared on Adithan's face at the thought.

"How are you siblings? How's the emperor? How's my daughter?" Malayaman asked as he made Adithan sit down on the dhiwan.

"All are well, thatha," Adithan said.

"Hmmm," Malayaman nodded and went back to sharpening his sword.

"How long have you been waiting?" Adithan asked.

"Quite some time now," Malayaman said without looking up from his sword. "We almost ran out of food supplies, thank God he sent you out and saved us from starvation," Malayaman laughed.

"You could've attacked anytime? Why didn't you?" Karikalan asked.

Malayaman didn't give him an immediate answer.

"Thatha?"

"We sent out an attack, our war general got badly injured in it along with some of our friends, the remaining bunch lost their morale to fight," Malayaman finally replied sadly.

"So? When are we going to attack?" Adithan asked excitedly.

"As soon as the soldiers are ready, we can attack any time we want, Karikala, but who will we fight alongside with if our own soldiers are not willing to fight?" Malayaman said with a frown. "Ants and bugs?"

Adithan pouted his lips and began thinking of a plan. They have been camping for over a month now, the resources they bought from Thanjai wouldn't even last for three days. Pazhuvettaraiyer's plan of camping out for a week won't work.

He finally got up and arched his eyebrows. "We will attack tomorrow at dawn," Adithan said. Malayaman got up with him with a shocked look.

"At dawn?" He asked. "How?"

"At dawn, we will strike, call all the soldiers, I want to talk to them," Adithan said firmly and exited the tent, determined to end this drawn-out war.