31.

Kayanangai's eyes were transfixed on the grant door, imagining how and when Aathiyan would emerge from that. For the last few days, she kept thinking a lot about him and starts to miss him so badly because of an incident that happened yesterday.

She kept doing this and she didn't feel bored at all because while waiting, she can only think about him, and dwelling in his thoughts is kind of bliss.

Even Though she's upset with him, she also sees the situation he is in. His father is sick, his mother is good for nothing, his brother is trying to pull his legs so that he can watch him fall and these demanding and cunning ministers are so critical about his small mistakes. Even now Aathiyan has traveled somewhere to find a healer to cure his father's ailment. No one knows which way he went and this information was revealed by his mother two days before. Kayanangai wondered why he didn't say anything to her.

He doesn't trust me? But she convinced herself that he might have a reason for that.

Kayanangai pities him; it's so hard for her to face her appalling mother-in-law but Aathiyan is facing many people who are worse than her. So her heart goes for him. She prayed for him every day, that he should get whatever he wished.

To pass this lonely time, Kayanangai started learning pottery from the palace potter. He's a kind man and must be around the same age as her father.

Her mother-in-law said it's a waste of time but she insisted that she wanted to learn something.

Everyone hates these curious, talented women in the family. Others used to gossip and spend their time with their maids but Kayanangai always wanted to stay alone and learn something each day. She starts to not mind these women because she wants to do whatever she desires.

When she's looking solemnly, someone walked in through the door. She thought it's Aathiyan but to her dismay, it was the maid but she came up with good news that the King had arrived at the palace with the healer.

Kayanangai's face lit up in a big smile, she didn't wait for any further and starts to walk to meet her husband. She's so tired of waiting for him and she wants to see his face. When she went to her father-in-law's place, they didn't allow her inside and she waited outside being so frustrated by this.

Inside, Aathiyan was with his mother, Veera, and Narenthiran's mother. Nilakaran was examining Aathiyan's father. Aathiyan looked at his mother and his brother. He didn't want to start anything now so he kept mum but inside he's fuming in anger.

Nilakaran came outside and asked Aathiyan to come aside. Veera found that strange and he starts to feel anxious too.

"What can't you say in front of us?" Veera asks.

Aathiyan glared at his brother.

"I don't trust anyone except the King," Nilakaran said.

"Oh, he's my father too," Veera grits. Aathiyan rolled his eyes. As a son, he didn't do anything until now but this silly anger irritates Aathiyan.

"Veera, let them go," his mother calmed him.

They came inside a private room and Nilakaran said, "You might think I am crazy if I tell you this but... I think your father is cursed,"

"What curse? It's just a disease," Aathiyan frowned. Now he's utterly pissed off, he risked everything to hear this foolish thing.

"No, this isn't a normal disease. He could have got cured with all those medicines he had taken. There's something wrong in his blood and he's getting poisoned," Nilakaran said with a slight hesitation in his voice.

"How could you make such an accusation. Are you suggesting that someone in my family is poisoning him?" Aathiyan asks.

"Yes," Nilakaran nods.

"This is such a nonsensical-ridiculous accusation," Aathiyan sighed. "I thought you could cure him but you are talking like those physicians who couldn't find a solution,"

Nilakaran smiles, "If you don't believe me then I can't cure your father," he said.

"Okay fine, now he's cursed what do I have to do now?"

"You need to find the person who did that to your father and prevent them from getting near to your father. I'll perform a ritual to lift the curse," he said.

"You know you have suggested a very simple solution, thank you so much," Aathiyan frowned.

"It's not either simple or hard. I am telling you the right solution,"

At this time, Aathiyan couldn't think properly. All he wanted now is a good sleep beside Kayanangai, then he could think better. He has been hearing much bizarre information all of a sudden.

"Do whatever you want but my father should come back to normal,"

Nilakaran shook his head in agreement.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow and you can stay here," Aathiyan said and proceeded to leave.

"Do you believe in witchcraft, ghosts, and demons," he stopped him.

"What all those ludicrous things have to do with my father's disease?" Aathiyan asks.

"Because it looks like your family or at least someone is dealing with those things," Nilakaran says.

"How could you tell that?"

"Well, I can feel a strong negative aura around your father and the marks around his neck don't look like it came from the fever. This all looks unconventional," Aathiyan agreed.

He has seen different varieties of disease but this is so strange from the very first day.

"So you are suggesting that someone in my family has evil intentions and wanted to kill my father?" Aathiyan asks.

"Yes," Nilakaran said.

"You know, I can't accuse anyone in my family. It's not as simple as you think," Aathiyan says, "But I'll look in that perspective,"

"You still haven't answered my question?" Nilakaran walked to the window.

"I have never seen a ghost. I can't believe anything I haven't seen," Aathiyan replied.

"Soon you will believe those things," Nilakaran turned to Aathiyan. "I was once like you, then everything changed. You might face a day where your beliefs will totally change,"

Aathiyan nods, "Then I'll wait for that day," he said and walked out of the place. He has no clue where this is all taking him to.

Ghost? Demons? If that's true then he would be haunted by all the men he killed on the battlefield.

Aathiyan's mother looked at him eagerly to know what Nilakaran said.

"He said, he can cure him," Aathiyan said only the positive information.

"Oh, nothing else?" Veera asks.

"No, nothing," Aathiyan turned to Veera.

"Did anything happen during my absence?" Aathiyan asks.

"Nothing, everyone was fine," he smiles.

Aathiyan nods, analyzing his face. The one person he doesn't trust in this entire palace is Veera but how could he point this accusation at his brother. He didn't think his brother was capable of such cruelty.

"Go and rest, mother. I will talk with everyone later," Aathiyan excused.

He came out of his father's place and saw Kayanangai waiting for him. His face turned calm to see her countenance.

He was so worried about her and to see her here made him happy; it told him that he missed her too.

She scurried to him with a smile, they didn't hug because it would be inappropriate to do such a thing in front of his father's chambers.

"I missed you," she confesses, having tears in her eyes.

"I know," he nods holding her hands. "I thought about you every single moment," he confesses.

Hearing that made her smile and at the same time moved her into tears.

"Don't cry, Kayanangai," he said, caressing her cheeks.

She nodded and wiped it.

"What's this blood?" She noticed the wound on his arm.

"That's nothing, it's just a small scratch," Aathiyan quickly hid his wound before she could see it properly. Kayanangai saw it anyway and she worriedly looked at him.

"How's your health?" she asks.

"I have to ask that,"

She smiles, "I am fine," she answers.

"I am tired," he replied.

"Come and take a rest," Kayanangai said.

"No. I have to explain my absence to the ministers, so I can't come now but I will be there before you fall asleep," he promised.

Kayanangai nodded. She left his hand feeling utterly sad that he can't be with her.

That time Veera came out of the room, Kayanangai was taken aback to see him and she turned to the other side. Aathiyan noticed the smile on Veera's face when his eyes were at his wife. Those few seconds are enough for Aathiyan to understand something is going on between them.

Veera cut his smile instantly when he saw his brother.

"I'll wait for you there," he said and walked past them.

Now Aathiyan has many questions, so many doubts and he wants to know everything but he doesn't know where to start.

"You should leave," saying that Aathiyan started walking away. Kayananagai felt like someone was taking him away from her and she couldn't do anything about it.

She stood in that place for some time and walked to her place. Yesterday's events replayed in her mind as she took each step. It still gives shivers down her spine and she's afraid to talk about this with anyone.

When she was sleeping in the night, she felt someone's presence beside her. She couldn't open her eyes at all and more like she was paralyzed. That person touched all over her skin and she couldn't do anything at all. Her tears rolled down to her cheeks and she opened her mouth but no words came out. When the person left her, she could open her eyes and move her limbs. And she saw a man's silhouette, and it looked like Veera yet she couldn't believe her blurred vision.

When today she woke up, she remembered everything but still, she decided to think it's just a dream but then she saw a shawl that doesn't belong to her or Aathiyan on the bed and she starts panicking. Her fear elevated when she remembered the shawl belonged to Veera. She didn't know what to do and threw the shawl in the burning fire in the fireplace. Now that Aathiyan is here, she feels somewhat safe.