Maya Mohini

Karikalar’s tale had not entirely moved Parthibendran in the beginning. But it must be said that now, as he quietly wiped away eyes made moist with tears, he was deeply touched in spite of himself.

“I would have never dreamt that love for a woman could lead to such devastating heartache,” he admitted, his voice soft. “None of us even guessed, of course, that you had sustained a shock quite like this on the day of your Pattabishekam. We were rather surprised by your low spirits, to be sure. I remember how we tried to cheer you up by indulging in a great many silly jokes and good-natured teasing.”

“You did,” agreed Aditha Karikalar. “You also tried to restore my happiness by reciting the glory of all my future achievements, once I ascended a glittering throne. In the space of a single day, you expanded the Chozha empire from the snowy peaks of Imayam all the way down to Ilankai! Then you crossed entire seas and invaded kingdoms far away… Oh yes, I recall all those bright conversations. And I remember too, with a heavy heart, how distressed I felt at the very mention of such things.

“Later, one day, Nandhini asked me to visit her at the Pazhuvoor palace. Must I go, or should I refuse the invitation? A fierce conflict raged in my heart for a very long time. In the end, I decided that I would honour her request. My mind was besieged by a great many doubts and dark suspicions that I wanted clarified. I also wanted to know, I must admit, the real truth about her birth. I even wondered if there was some connection between her sudden presence in the anthappuram that day, and my father’s sudden, inexplicable loss of consciousness. You may remember, perhaps, that although the Emperor came around quite soon, he was never quite himself again. His health, too, began to fail, and was never what it used to be.

“If I could but just talk to her once, I told myself, I might learn the answers to the mysteries that so tormented me. That, at least, was the explanation I offered my own conscience. As to why I really wanted to meet her—ah, what else could be the reason but this insane, irresistible force that dragged me headlong into her presence? It was a strange, terrible power that exerted all its considerable influence over me. Everything else was just a ploy, a set of hollow reasons I needed to justify my desperate desire to see her. I simply obeyed the dictates of my heart, and of Nandhini. The elder Pazhuvettarayar was not in town. There was no one in his great palace with either the power or the authority to forbid my entrance, and certainly none who knew of our old friendship. Many simply concluded that the young Prince, newly made heir to the throne, was merely paying a formal, respectful visit to the royal mothers of the anthappuram, to seek their blessings.

“I met Nandhini in the latha mandapam in her palace garden. Parthibendran—you have heard tales of many sea voyages from hardened, weather-beaten travellers, haven’t you? Do you remember what they said about massive, hidden ocean currents? That there are some dark spots in the sea that churn and heave under their own phenomenal power—and that ships, once caught in their vicious toils, often splinter to pieces. That was exactly my experience, standing there in Nandhini’s presence. I was a helpless ship, tossed and tormented, sucked down into a terrifying whirlpool. My body, my heart, and my very soul seemed to shatter into a thousand jagged shards. I was horrified by the words that came spilling out of my own mouth. Ayyo, what on earth am I blathering on about, I thought to myself, but I simply could not still my tongue. It seemed to have taken on a wild life of its own, uttering a helpless farrago of nonsense.

“Nandhini began quite formally, her voice cool and perfectly composed, felicitating me upon my Pattabishekam. ”‘I see no reason for happiness upon the occasion,’ I replied, bitterly. “‘Really? Why not?’ she asked, her eyes wide. ”‘Well, what a question! How could I be happy, considering your treachery?’ “She pretended not to understand me. Our speech soon grew more impassioned, and more bitter. I accused her of having betrayed my deepest love, and of allowing herself to encourage Veera Pandiyan’s lecherous advances. I even managed to wound her with cruel words about having married that ancient fossil, the elder Pazhuvettarayar.

“‘You began by destroying my love for you, your highness,’ she retorted, her voice trembling with anger. ‘Then, you killed the man who loved me, right in front of my very eyes. It almost seems like you will know no peace until you have hacked me to pieces, as well. As you wish, then.’ With a swift motion, she pulled out a small, gleaming dagger from the folds of the clothing at her waist, and held it out to me. ‘What are you waiting for?’ ”‘Kill you?’ I asked, my voice harsh and broken. ‘Aren’t you the one who is torturing me slowly, to death?’

“And then—and then, my lips uttered words that still make me shrink with deep shame, every time I think of them. ‘It isn’t too late, even now, Nandhini,’ I pleaded. ‘Say the word. Tell me that you will leave this doddering old idiot, and I will give up my position, my claims to this great throne, this very instant! Let us leave this kingdom at once. We can sail away to lands far across the great seas, and live out our lives in endless happiness!’

“Nandhini listened to my intemperate, impassioned ramblings—and then she laughed. It was a terrifying, hollow laugh that chilled me right down to the marrow of my bones. My skin prickles even now at the very memory of that sound. ”‘Journey across the seas, make our home in strange new lands—and do what, exactly? Chop firewood for a living?’ she sneered, her eyes flashing. ‘Or did you, perhaps, envision us cultivating humble plantain trees together? That would be quite idyllic, wouldn’t it?’ “‘You wouldn’t like that, would you?’ I jeered in turn, stung by her mockery. ‘The simple priest’s daughter is now the grand Young Queen of Pazhuvoor, isn’t she?’

“‘Oh, I have no intention of being satisfied with my present station in life,’ she murmured, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. ‘I have set my sights on something more. Something quite ambitious, in fact. Nothing less than the jewelled throne of this empire. You see, I wish to become the Chakravarthini. Tell me—are you able and willing to accomplish my desire? Kill the Pazhuvettarayar brothers in one swift stroke, throw Emperor Sundara Chozhar into a dark prison, ascend the throne yourself—and make me yours. Your Queen. Your pattamagishi!’

“‘Ayyo, how could you even… what are you saying?’ I stammered, horrified by the cold ambition in her eyes. ‘Such cruel, wicked thoughts—’ ”‘What about killing an injured Veera Pandiyan in front of my very eyes?’ she demanded, her voice rising in sudden fury. ‘That didn’t seem cruel to you, I suppose?’

“My own fury knew no bounds then. Sheer wrath bubbled hot and fast through my veins, blinding my eyes and my heart. I knew not what I was saying, only that I let loose a wild torrent of angry, vicious words that tore her character to absolute shreds. I was about to turn on my heel and leave—but she still had one last thing to say. ”‘Should you change your mind some day, your royal highness, do return,’ she crooned, a strange, mocking sweetness returning to her voice. ‘When your mind and heart are perfectly willing to make me your Chakravarthini—come back to me!’ “I left her, then, finally,” finished Aditha Karikalar, his broad shoulders slumping as the fight went out of him. “And that was the very last time I saw her.”

“Good lord, Ayya,” breathed Parthibendran. He had listened to this entire account with growing horror, astonishment, and not a little loathing, and now he heaved a great, shuddering sigh. “What a terrible, terrifying woman! Do such vicious demons actually exist in this world, in real life? It is a very good thing that you never met her later.”

“I didn’t—but she will never leave me be,” said the Prince, a note of raw despair in his voice. “Nandhini’s face, her beautiful form—her every small gesture haunts me every hour, every minute, my dear Pallava friend. She flits around the edges of my consciousness all through the bright day, and tortures me in my dark dreams at night. One moment, she approaches me with a lilting smile capable of bewitching entire worlds, eager to embrace me with a warm kiss. At another, she stands before me with a gleaming dagger in her hand, fully intent on plunging it straight into my heart. Sometimes, she weeps and sobs as though her heart would break in two. At other times, her screams seem to shatter the very world as she raves and rants, her long, dark tresses flying loose, scratching her own fair cheeks with her nails until they are torn and dripping with blood. She laughs and shrieks like a wild, insane creature—and then, in the blink of an eye, she transforms into a soothing, ministering angel, intent on whispering calm, gentle words of perfect understanding. My God, my God—the sheer, unending torment I suffer at the hands of that terrible witch! How do I even begin to put my heartache into words? Do you remember my grandfather’s wise words from this afternoon? Many were the sensible reasons he outlined for why I shouldn’t visit Thanjavur. But in truth, there is only one real reason for my deep loathing to enter that city, and my desperate wish for my father to join me here, in the safety of Kanchi. That reason is Nandhini.”

“That is your paltry reason?” asked Parthibendran, staring at him. “You are quivering with fear, afraid to set foot in your own capital for the sake of a single woman? What do you think she might do—practice some sort of dark deception and slip poison into your food?”

“Not at all, Parthibendran. Your lack of comprehension pains me,” replied Karikalar sadly. “I do not fear death at her hands. I only fear the fact that she might induce me to do something entirely against my very instinct. If I met her again, she is quite capable of commanding me: ‘Imprison your father—send your sister Kundhavai out of this very country—kill that old idiot of a husband, and take the throne by force!’ And I—Parthibendran, I am deathly afraid that if I heard those words spoken in her voice just one more time… I might actually want to obey her. One or the other of us must die, my dear friend. That, or death must embrace us both,” anguished Karikalar, burying his face in his hands. “Else, I see no hope for peace in this lifetime!”

“Really, your highness—what is all this talk of dying?” scolded the Pallava prince gently. “Why must you die? You have only to say the word, and I shall gladly postpone my journey to Ilankai. My very first assignment will be to hunt down and kill that wicked witch. And if I should fall victim to sthreehathidhosham (the grave sin that follows the killing of a woman)—well, then, so be it. I shall bear the curse gladly.”

“Attempt anything of the sort, Parthibendran, and I shall consider you my greatest foe from that very moment,” warned Karikalar, his eyes flashing with sudden, fierce protectiveness. “If any killing is to be done, I shall do it—with my own two hands. I shall strangle Nandhini myself—and then I shall kill myself as well! Not for a single moment will I ever allow anyone else to touch her, or to harm even the nail on her little finger. No, forget her, my friend, and forget everything else that I have said tonight. Simply obey our grandfather’s instructions. Leave for Ilankai tomorrow morning, and bring back my younger brother, Arulmozhi Varmar, somehow. Let us persuade him to stay here in Kanchi. The grandfather and grandson can sit together and discuss the entire country’s future at their leisure, and come to their respective conclusions. Meanwhile, you and I will journey back to Ilankai. We shall set sail in magnificent, towering ships on the eastern seas, and gain massive, sweeping victories against ancient kingdoms such as Saavagam, Pushpakam, and Kadaaram. We shall plant the great Chozha flag of victory firmly upon those lands. And then, my friend, we shall sail westwards! There are glorious, fabled empires there, aren’t there? Arabia, Paraseekam, and Misiram? We will give them a taste of true Thamizh courage, shall we? We’ll make sure the Tiger-flag flies high and proud in those desert winds as well. Did you know that karpu (the strict vow of marital chastity) that so rigidly binds women here, has absolutely no place in countries such as those?” Karikalar’s voice was suddenly filled with a boyish, dreaming wonder. “Kings can cast their sight upon any woman that takes their fancy, and simply bring them back to their anthappuram!”

Before Parthibendran could think of and voice a suitable response to these wild, glorious fantasies, the old man Malayamaan of Thirukkovilur appeared quietly on the scene, like a sturdy, weathered tree stepping out of the shadows.

“Ah, there is nothing to equal Aravaan’s wonderful tale anywhere in the world—not even in all those fabulous, strange lands you spoke of just now,” he observed, a fond, faintly amused smile on his wrinkled face. “But tell me—why are you both still awake, talking at all hours of the quiet night?” he enquired, peering at them in the dim light. “You do remember your proposed journey to Ilankai tomorrow morning, don’t you, Parthibendran?”

“That is precisely why we haven’t been to sleep yet, Ayya,” quipped the Pallava prince with a warm, tired smile. “We have been talking about it all this time!”