'Every man who observes vigilantly and resolves steadfastly grows unconsciously into genius.'

Rajendra's pavilion:

In the underground dungeon, all the general maids in the pavilion were kneeling down on the ground with their backs stripped and heavily wounded. Porchelvi then entered the premises. She looked at the head of the guards who was punishing them.

Porchelvi: Vaaiyai thirandhanara?

Head guard: Illai Ilavarasiyare. Idhil palarum andru virundhil kalandhu kondanar. Avargal eppadi ottrar velai paarthirukka mudiyum?? Avargalaiyum dhandikka veanduma Ilavarasiyare?

He felt bad to punish the innocent maids who did not even have a speck of idea on why they were being punished.

Porchelvi: Paavam Paarkiraaiya? Unakkum kasaiyadigal veanduma?

Head guard: Veandom devi. Veandom.

Porchelvi: Etthanai thunicchal irundhaal en maaligaiyil irundhu kondu edhirigalukku panipurivar. Ingu iruppavargalil palar thavaru seiyavillai endru naan ariven. Aanaal kuttram seidha andha ottran kidaikkum varaiyil ungalukku indha thandanai vazhangappadum. Appadi ungal drishtiyil yaarenum andha kuttratthai seidhiruppargal ena thondrinaal ennidam vandhu koorungal. Ungalukku dhandanaiyilirundhu vidudhalai tharugiren.

All the maids kept their heads down as they were not aware of the offender. The punishment again resumed and their shrieks were heard all throughout the pavilion.

Poovizhi's chamber:

Poovizhi was pacing around the chamber with worried expression.

Poovizhi: Naan dhaan kuttratthai seidhen endru oppukondaal enna?

Bommi: Devi, nera koodadhadhu ellam nerndhu vidum devi. Veandom andha ennatthai ippodhe kai vidungal. Yaarum vaaiyai thiravaamal irundhaal avare sila dhinangalil vittu viduvaar.

Poovizhi: Atthanai elidhaanaval alla Porchelvi. Kandippaga andha ottran dhandikka padum varai aval indha kaariyatthai niruttha mattaal. Enakaga palarum varundhuvadhai naan virumbavillai. Naan ippodhe sendru avalidam unmaiyai koora pogiren.

Bommi quickly grabbed Poovizhi's hand and placed it on top of her head.

Bommi: Devi, en meedhu aanai. Naan uyirudan irukkum varai indha unmaiyai thaangal yaaridamum solla koodadhu.

Poovizhi: Enna seigiraai Bommi?

The young princess had tears in her eyes.

Bommi: Naan uyirudan irukkum varai thangalai yaarum kaaya paduttha anumadhikka matten. Thaangale ninaitthaalum anumadhikka matten. Aanaiyidungal Devi.

Poovizhi felt helpless. Bommi was her only family.

Poovizhi: Aanai

She said in a feeble voice.

Bommi: Nalladhu devi. Idhu varai thozhi panipengalai azhaikkavillai. Avargalaiyum azhaippaargal. Naanum sella koodum. Appozhudhum thaangal edhaiyum kooramal irukka vendum. En meedhu aanaiyittu irukkirirgal. Ninaivil vaitthu kollungal.

Poovizhi didn't answer anything in response.

The punishments of Rajendra's pavilion reached everyone's ears in the palace. However, no one questioned it as other than Rajendra, no one could save them with their words. Boomadevi could have asked to stop Porchelvi. However, she was rejoicing with the fact on how Porchelvi was sending shivers down everyone's spine in the palace.

------

Aditha's office:

As Aditha was yet to enter the office, Subodhar and Veera were waiting for him.

Subodhar: Un mugatthil yean itthanai vaattam?

Veera: Adhellam ondrum illai Subodhaa.

Subodhar: Ennidame naadagam aadugiraiya?

Veera: Irandam ilavarasarin aranmanaiyil nadakkindra kaariyangalai nee arivaaya?

Subodhar: Ariven. Aarajagatthin koodaaramaaga maari kondirukkiradhu andha aranmanai. Aanal un varuttham perum varutthaamaga allava irukkiradhu?

Veera: Namakku udhaviya andha pen, Malarvizhi. Avalai ninaitthu dhaan varutthamaaga irukkiradhu. Avalin nilai ennavaaga irukkumo?

Subodhar knew that his friend had a special place for her in his heart.

Subodhar: Varuttham kolladhe. Andha pennukku ondrum nerndhu irukkaadhu.

Veera: Eppadi koorugiraai?

Subodhar: Thozhi pengalai idhu varai edhuvum seiyavillai. Avalum thozhipen endru dhaane koorinaai.

Veera: Aam.

Subodhar: Aanal adhuvum nedunaal nilaikkaadhu. Ingu padhil varavillai endraal adutthu angu dhaane selvar?

Veera: Avalai mattum kaappattra mudiyaadha?

Aditha: Avalai mattrum kaappatri matravargalukku dhandanai petru tharuvadhu sariya?

They didn't notice Aditha's arrival. He came and sat in front of them.

Subodhar: Anaivarum kaappatra pada vendum ilavarase. Indha maaligaiyil ippadi nadappadhu thavaru.

Veera: Aam arase. Anaivarum kaappatra pada veandum. idharku munnum pala aniyaayangal nadandhirukindrana. Andha nilai indrum thodarudhal nalladhalla. Thaangal irukkum sabaiyil idhu nadakka koodadhu. edhenum seiyungal.

Aditha didn't answer anything and left the office.

Veera: Amaidhiyaaga sendru vittare?

Subodhar: Arasavaiyin mani ketkavillaiya? Angu dhaan selgiraar.

Veera then smiled. He trusted his prince more than the god.

-----

In the royal court, after a few days of absence, Rajendra was in the court. Aditha had entered the court along with Subodhar and Veera. They went and stood behind him as he settled in his seat.

After reviewing the urgent matters on the hand, the call to check if anyone had anything to discuss in the court was made.

Aditha rose from his seat and Virutha Varmar looked at him.

First Minister: Pattatthu ilavarasarukku enna thevai immurai? Meendum vettaikku sella veanduma?

Aditha smiled and looked at the first minister.

Aditha: Ini vettai aada engum payanikka veandiya avasiyam illai, Mudhanmai mandhiriyaare. Naan vettai aada ninaikkum vilangugal dhaan ingu irukkindranave.

First minister hiccupped.

First minister: enna koorugirirgal pattathu ilavarasare?

Aditha: Pakkatthu gramaathin vanatthil oru onaai koottam alaivadhaaga sonnargal adhai koorinen mudhanmai mandhiriyaare. Thangaal padhara vendom.

Virutha Varmar: Avaigalai vettaiyaada anumadhi veanduma Aditha?

Aditha: Illai Arase. Adharkku sila kalam irukkiradhu. Tharpodhu ellaikkul dhaan irukindrana. Avai ellai kadakkum bodhu kondru vida veandiyadhu dhaan.

Naan tharpodhu thangalidam veanduvadhu veru ondrai pattri dhaan.

Viruttha Varmar: Enna adhu?

Aditha: Rajendiranin maaligaiyil panippengal thunburuttha paduvadhaaga en sevigalukku sedhi vandhadhu.

Rajendra: Sevigalukku varum seidhigalai ellam sabaikku kondu varuvadha thamayane?

Aditha: Varum seidhi thavaraaga irundhaal kondu varuvadhu sariye, Rajendira.

Rajendra: Appadi enna thavaru kandeer? Panippengal sariyaaga pani puriyavittaal dhandippadhu murai dhaane?

Aditha: Paadhala araiyil ittu kasaiyadigal koduppadhu adimaigalukku vazhanga padum thandanai allava? Sanna desatthil vazhanga padum thandanai allava adhu?

Rajendra started perspiring when Aditha mentioned about Sannam.

Aditha: Manidhargalai adimaigalaai nadatthum avargalin pazhakkangalai kandu dhaan nam thaattha Kalingar avargaludanaana uravaiye muritthu kondaar. Appadi irukka ammuraiyai avar vaazhndha indha maaligaiyil seivadha? Adhu thavaru illaiya Needhi Perumaane?

First minister: Pattatthu ilavarasarin karisanam niyaayamaanadhu dhaan. Aanal, irandaam ilavarasarin aranmanaiyil thaangal thalai iduvadhu sariya? Panippengalin uyir atthanai uyarndhadhu allave.

Aditha again smiled.

Aditha: Panippengal indha arasavaikku etthanai uriyavargal endru naam ariyaadhadha? En thaatha Kalingarin thaayi avar pirakkum podhe irandhu vida avarai valartthadhe thumbai engira panippen dhaan. Avarukku en thaattha thaai andhasthu pinnaalil tharavillaiya?

Innum indraya naalin edutthukkaattu veandum endraal, indraiya arasiyaarum munnoru kaalathil panippennaagave irundhaar allava?

First minister: Arasiyaarai izhivu padutthugireera?

Aditha: Arasiyaaraiyum izhivu padutthavillai. Avar vandha vazhiyaiyum izhivu padutthavillai. Thaangal dhaan panippengalai izhivu padutthugiren endru varalaatrai marandhu pesugireer.

Aditha was so brazen with his words. However, no one had anything to say in defence. Hence a silence prevailed in the court after he finished his words. Rajendra was pissed with Aditha for bringing his mother into the discussion. Nedumaaran was not there with him as he had left on a personal business.

After sometime, Rajendra stood up.

Rajendra: Thandhaiye. Thaangal edhirtthaalum en aranmanaiyil nadakkum vidayangalai naan dhaan mudivu seiven.

Virutha Varmar was disappointed and worried whereas Aditha was still smiling.

Aditha: Rajendiran kooruvadhum sariye Arase. Avanudaiya maaligaiyil nadappavaigalai avan dhaan mudivu seiyya veandum.

Virutha Varmar felt relieved when his elder son relented.

Rajendra: Thamayanukku ippodhavadhu purindhadhe.

Veera was worried at the same time. However, Subodhar remained calm. A victorious smile was seen in first minister's face. This was the first time that Aditha had failed in the royal court.

Aditha: Enakku ellam purindhu kondu dhaan irukkiradhu sagodhara. Un maaligaiyil nadakkum vindhaigalai vida nee veliye sendru varum vindhaigal dhaan innum en aarvatthai thoondugindrana.

Virutha Varmar: Appadi enna vindhai seigiraan Rajendiran?

Aditha: Thaangale kettu paarungal Arase. Edhaiyum velipadaiyaaga seiyum gunam vidutthu tharpodhu ragasiyangal pala pugundhu vittana en thambiyidam. Panippengalai thandikkiraan. Kaaranam thavaru seidhaargal engiraan.

Moodu pallakil maligaiyilirundhu veliye sendru angirundhu theril selgiraan ena oor makkal pesikolgiraargal. Paarungal sevi vazhi seidhigal etthanai udhavugindrana endru. Indha vindhaigalukku than vidai thedugiren.

Rajendra showed a sheepish smile. He should not let Aditha spoil his plans.

Rajendra: Thamayanukku endha varutthamum veandom. Thaangal ariyaamal thangal ilaya sagodharan enna seidhu vida pogiren?

Aditha: Illai Rajendira.. Unnudaiya seidhigalai arindhu kolla enakku endha viruppamum illaiyappa. Arasarin kangal moodiyirukka koodadhu paar. Naalai yaarenum nee seivadhai thavaraaga purindhu Arasarai edhirkkiraai endru edutthu kondaal iruvar maddhiyilum un thamayanin thalaiye urulum. Andha akkarai dhaan.

Rajendra: Thangalukku atthanai varutthangalai tharuvena naan?... Ilaiyavan arivillaamal pesivitten. Ippodhe appanippengalai viduvikka aanai vidukkiren.

En thavarai unarndhu vitten thandhaiye.

Virutha Varmar: Nalladhu enadhu pudhalvargalin ottrumai dhaan enaku avasiyam. Andha pengalai indre viduvitthu vidu. Pengalukku edhiraaga aneedhi izhaikka koodadhu Rajendira.

Aditha kept his head down and didn't show any emotions. Veera was infuriated. It was audacious for the king to say such words after whatever he did with the late queen, Aditha's mother. However, he was impressed with his prince to keep a straight face through all these years.

After the court, they were returning to his office. On their way, they met Rukmani and Umayal who were returning from their pilgrimage. Before they could even speak, Aditha's eyes fell on the pendant on Umayal's neck.

*Author's note: Hello folks, Happy Maha Sivaraatthiri. Please vote and comment if you like the update. Next update will be posted on this weekend.

Thank you all!