Standing by the river banks, Aathiyan watched the astonishing scenery ahead of him. But his thoughts were all about tomorrow. It's going to be one of the important days of life. He doesn't know whether he should feel blessed or afflicted because of these circumstances. He couldn't put his mind at ease. He's worried more than he was before.

"Aathiya," Narenthiran's voice snapped him from his thoughts.

"We should go, everyone must be looking for you," he said.

Aathiyan nods. He climbed on his horse, and they both rode slowly without sharing a word.

"What are you thinking, I hope you are not afraid?" Narenthiran asks.

"I am not, I am just worried," Aathiyan answered.

"Just worried? You look like you absolutely hate this,"

"Yeah, that's partly true. You know how much I am compelled to take this decision when my father is still alive. It doesn't feel right," Aathiyan said.

"It's time to stop this confusion. Tomorrow you won't have time for this,"

Aathiyan smiles. "You are right,"

"And I am so glad that you are going to be my Raja," Narenthiran said, "I will be there to help you in any situation,"

His assurance made Aathiyan smile. They were friends since they were kids, they grew up together and Narenthiran will do anything for him. Even having all this support that he needed right now, he still feels lonely and he doesn't know how to say this instinct that's taunting him inside.

When they entered the palace, which is all decorated for tomorrow's festivities, Aathiyan was called by his father to welcome the guests who came to see him become the next king.

Aathiyan plastered a smile and starts to act more welcoming. Even though he's the prince of this nation, he never stayed longer in this palace as he traveled and fought with the enemy lines for most of the past years. He never met all these people at once and this is all new to him.

More than him, others are envying all the good things that are happening to him. He's going to be a father soon along with this great responsibility that has been put upon his head.

They say he deserves this throne more than anyone here but he doubts it. He has been serving this country ever since he held his sword and he doesn't want to live this kind of life until his death. Tomorrow, when he's going to take the vow he doubts whether he could really mean it.

It turned dark when they finally let him go. As he walked solemnly, he remembered Kayanangai. He didn't realize that he didn't see her since morning. He has totally forgotten her in this. At that instant, his legs rushed towards his place.

Sitting beside the window, Kayanangai was looking at the skies. The full moon is glowing brightly in the dark sky. The wind is cold, her hand is freezing and she didn't mind it.

She doesn't want to fall asleep without seeing Aathiyan. In this palace, everyone is still a stranger to her including her sister and he is the only person she solely relies on. Now the increasing distance between them worries her all the time. She knows this is inevitable but her mind constantly misses him, no matter how much she tries not to feel that way.

The familiar footsteps got her attention and she got a smile on her face.

"Kayanangai," he called her name.

"You came," she smiled widely.

"Yes, I am sorry for making you wait," he apologized that instant and beside her.

He didn't dress like the Raja he's going to be tomorrow. His attire is simple and his face carried that confusion.

"Don't apologize, I am pleased to wait for you," she smiles holding his hand.

"Where were you?" she asks.

"I was in the palace, met all the guests who came here for the ceremony,"

She nods, "I didn't go anywhere because Rani asked me to stay here," she says.

"Oh, why?" Aathiyan frowns.

She shrugs, "I don't know,"

Aathiyan didn't go deep into that and asked her to sleep because tomorrow is going to be a long day for them.

"I want you beside me," she said.

He smiles. In his life, she's the one person who didn't expect much from him –only his presence and he's glad to do that.

She laid on the bed and he sat next to her. Caressing his hair, he watched her face. She looked so beautiful and that gave him peace.

"I can't spend much time with you, and don't wait for me now on," he said.

"Why?"

"Because I am afraid, I can't able to make it on time. I am afraid to disappoint you,"

She looked away, trying to hide her dismay.

"That's okay. I can understand. I married you knowing how this life would be so nothing will disappoint me," she said.

"You are so nice to me, thank you," he kissed her knuckles.

She smiles and her sleep engulfed her slowly. Aathiyan watched that, he doesn't think he could sleep today so he got up and walked to the garden in the hope to find peace.

The next morning, Kayanangai opened her eyes when the maids woke her up, she felt all her muscles sore and aching. She doesn't want to wake up but then she remembered what day is today. Aathiyan was nowhere to be found when she looked around and she could hear the celebrations far away. The sun is bright and glowing.

'Oh dear god,' she muttered while getting down from the bed.

"Is there anything bothering you?" her maid asked.

"No, nothing," Kayanangai muttered. "I need to get ready,"

"The ceremony has already begun and we were trying to wake you up for so long," the maid said which almost turned her sad. She still couldn't understand how she slept all this time, it's unusual of her. She could point to anything that could make her weak like this.

"Rani has summoned you to come soon," the maid's words made her anxious more and more.

"I know, help me please," Kayanangai starts to cry while undressing herself. She followed the maid's advice and got ready as quickly as she could but still, she's so late.

She doesn't mind how she looks and is rushed to the palace hall where the ceremony is held. All her muscles were still stinging like someone had beaten her, along with this queasiness hearing all these noises around her but still, she's so determined to see Aathiyan.

The gate for the royal family to move in was closed and the crowd left no place for her to enter so she walked by the other way to see Aathiyan taking up his father's throne. She finally made it inside and people recognizing her gave her way. She felt grateful for all of them.

At the same time, she's going to be questioned and even condemned for being late to this important ceremony. She wondered how Aathiyan will take it.

She stood there in the crowd when Aathiyan was taking his vow after his father placed the crown on his head. The whole crowd turned silent to hear it and she didn't move to disturb that.

"I, Aathi Rajendra Pandya, the Raja of this land vow on my life that I will protect the people of this country. I will honor my father, my forefathers who have borne this throne before me with my loyalty and triumphs. Even in life or death circumstances, I vow to take the right decision and serve this country until my last breath,"

His voice was loud and clear. It reached everyone's ears. The next moment, the ambiance turned louder than before.

Kayanangai's eyes welled in tears, to hear people chanting his name and he's smiling at them. She felt so proud and happy for her husband. She has been praying every day for him and this moment feels surreal because he got what he deserves.

But in that ecstatic moment, his eyes were searching for something and he looked into the crowd hoping to find her and there he saw the one person he yearned to see.

His face turned skeptical to see her there instead of being with their family.

She knew Aathiyan is looking at her but she turned to walk back to her chamber as she felt so dizzy again. She doesn't want to stumble in front of all these people.

"The guards said, Kayanangai was not in your place and they have closed up these gates so I think she must have missed the events," Narenthiran whispered when Aathiyan was watching Kayanangai, wondering what's wrong with her. He doesn't think she done this on purpose. Now Aathiyan is so curious and slightly angry to know why she couldn't make it.

"No, she didn't miss it. She was there," he pointed to the crowd while sitting on his father's throne. He has sent Narenthiran to look for her when he noticed she was not there.

"Oh, I am glad she made it. I don't understand why they closed the gates, it's so frustrating to be around these useless guards. They can't even open the damn gateways for us," Narenthiran frowned.

"What's next for me?" he asks and looks at Veera who's watching him with a smile.

"You should go and eat something. I am starving," Narenthiran said.

Aathiyan removed all the flower garland around his neck and walked to his mother. He got her blessings.

"I wish all the good things happen to you," she said.

She smiled at his sister.

"Where's your wife?" his mother asked utterly thwarted.

"She was here," Aathiyan said looking away.

"Where?"

"Mother, let this go," he said.

"No, I should teach her the importance of certain things. If she's going to take up my place, she needs to know her responsibilities,"

Aathiyan doesn't know what to say, he just walked to meet his father-in-law who's standing at the corner, probably heard all the criticism about his daughter.

While on her way, Kayanangai stopped hearing Mathinila's voice.

"Sister," she turned to see her. She wondered how did she find her. Strangely, she's acting so kind to her lately. Even yesterday she gave her sweets that came as a gift from one of Veera's friends.

"Where were you? I was waiting for you," Mathinila asked in concern.

"I am sorry; I am not well. I woke up late and when I came to the hall the gates were closed," she said and her face is too gloomy.

"Oh, everyone was asking for you and they were upset," Mathinila said.

"I know, but I don't know what happened to me," Kayanangai started crying and Mathinila hugged her with a malicious smile.

"Don't worry, I will talk to mother-in-law, she will understand," Mathinila caressed her sister's back with a soothing-protective voice.

Kayanangai doesn't think everyone will get convinced after hearing her reason because here they follow rules, not the truth. They might think she's exaggerating but how could she explain herself? This scared her and along with this throbbing headache made her cry. She laid on the bed holding both her pillows tightly.

"It worked," Mathinila exclaimed in happiness.

Veera smiles. "I know, but she was there,"

"What? She didn't say that she saw him," Mathinila frowned.

"Mathi, what are you doing? I told you never to fall under suspicion. Why did you go and talk to her?" he scowled.

"I just want to make sure whether this works. I can't believe everything that lady telling us," she said.

"We have to believe that witch, I have seen what she's capable of. This is the only way we could get what we want," he said.

Mathinila nods. Veera hugged her, "From now on, don't do anything without asking me,"

"I will do what you say," she said.

Veera smiles.

"I don't understand, how she walked all the way there. It should have made her sick but your sister is stronger than I imagined,"

His comment made Mathinila irritated.

"I am stronger than her," she said. Veera drew back to face her.

"Yeah, I know. That's why I married you," Veera smiles.

"Your sister is strong-willed just like you," he added.

"Maybe," she said and moved aside, feeling something odd. The truth that only Veera knows and never going to reveal to anyone that, he got attracted to Kayanangai the moment he saw her before he even met Mathinila. She's the most beautiful girl he has ever seen in his life, even now. In fact, while following to know about her, he found Mathinila.

Two sisters who are equally beautiful and talented. To choose one from them, he paid attention to his guile intentions instead of his desire.

He chose Mathinila because she's cunning and tough just like him. As far as he saw, Kayanangai was a kind and soft-spoken woman who couldn't stand with his plans. He can never be happy with her but still, he wants to see her beautiful face often so he executed this plan to marry her off to his brother.

"What we were going to do next?" she asks.

"We were going to wait,"

"How long?"

"A few months. Until you give birth to my son," he said.

"And we can't do this openly, you know what I mean. If they suspect me of treason, I can never sit on that throne. We need to take a lot of time and make a plan,"

She smiles, hearing that.

"But let's not test anything on my sister. She's pregnant," Mathinila said that out of guilt.

"So you are suddenly concerned about her?"

"No I am not; she's pregnant just like me and I am not that evil to harm her child," she said.

"I understand. I don't want to hurt her too. But this is to break their happiness, don't you felt so frustrated seeing them in high spirits these days?" he asks.

She doesn't know what to say because that's true. When they were happy, she hates them extremely. She couldn't understand why she has changed like this.

"You know what, you look so beautiful today," he said.

She smiles and the next moment, she was in his control, in his arms which she thinks she's so fortunate to have. When she's with him, she even forgets who she is.