'It's like at that moment the whole universe existed just to bring us together.'

As Rana challenged Sambaladevan, the latter stood up from the manavarai. 

Sambaladevan: Unnudan porittu avalai thirumanam seiyya enaku viruppam illai. Avalai neeye manandhu kollalaam. Naan vittu koduthu vidugiren.

Rana: Oru sinna thiruttham. Thaangal vittu kodukkavillai. Vittu odugirirgal. 

Sambaladevan: Ranadheera... Naavadakkam veandum unaku. Ninaivirukkattum. Unnudaiya ellaigalai Zilamum kadalume soozhndhu irukkiradhu. Engaludan porittu avargal unnidam dhaan thirumbuvar. 

Rana: En makkalai kaakka naan ariven. Thangaludaiya desam dhaan ippodhu aabatthil irukkiradhu. Adharku kaaranam thangal seiya ninaitthu konda indha thirumanam. Thangaludaiya peraasaikkaga naattai adamaanam vaittha thaangal pesa thagudhi illaadhavar.

Zilatthai eppadi edhirka pogireer endru paarka aavalaaga ullen. Thangaludaiya thirisoolam velgiradha illai thirisoolam yendhiyavan velgiraana endru naan kurippaaga paarka veandum. 

Sambaladevan was shocked to see Rana's knowledge about their thirisoolam. In the recent years, after seeing the battle between Voram and Zilam and Voram's deadly loss, they trained their soldiers if there was a threat from Zilam. In the training, they noticed three promosing warriors. The experts in their land even called the three as equivalent to Aditha. 

Andha Eesanin kayil irukkum thirisoolatthirku nigaranavargal ivargal endru Sannathin makkal potra ammoovarai anaivarum Thirisoolam endru azhaikka thodanginar.  

That was also a reason for Sambaladevan to not be extremely scared of battle in case of failure at this union. He trusted his three generals. He also didn't understand Rana's statement about the wielder of Thirisoolam. He literally understood the wielder as the lord Eesan as Zilam worshipped him. Even that was the case for almost everyone in that hall. However, Rana mentioned the Eesan of Zilam. The mentioned person was watching everything from the sidelines.

Sambaladevan: Adhaiyum paarthu viduvom. 

He then looked at Virutha.

Sambaladevan: Virutha Varma. Innum oru vaaratthil emmudaiya padaigal Zilatthirkaga ellaiyil kaatthirukkum. Varugiren!

He glared at Aditha then, and the latter had no change of expression on his face. Kamanar also stared at Aditha before following Sambaladevan. Rajendra punched the arm of his chair and was frustrated.

Sambaladevan exited the hall. However, Vadivambal stood in the middle and sneered at Virutha.

Vadivambal: Enna arase? Ippadi aniyaayamaga thangalukku varavirundha aiswaryangalaiyum sambatthaiyum izhandhu vitteere. Idho indha puraviyil vandhavan avanudaiya puraviyai mattum dhaan thangaludaiya pennukku koduppaan polum. 

Her snide remarks did not get her the reaction she wanted from Rana. Instead, he looked at the old lady and cackled.

Rana: Aayalukku ippodhum aiswaryangalum sambatthukkalum thaan veandum pola. 

With a smile, he continued. 

Rana: Ennavalukkaaga naan kondu vandha seer arindhaal, neeye ennai manandhu kolvaai aayaal. 

Vadivambal: Appadi enna peridhaaga kondu vandhuvittaai?

Rana: moondru kappalgalil niraithu kondu vandhirukkiren. Zilatthin ellaiyil dhaan irukkiradhu. Naan kondu vandhadhai vaikka indha maaligai podhaadhu. Veandumendraal thangaludaiya Sannatthil konjam idam thaarungalen. Seer vaikka idam veandum. 

Vadivambal then looked at Umayal.

Vadivambal: Puliyan kombai dhaan piditthirukkiraai. Enna pennno.... 

Before she continued, Aditha called for guards.

Aditha: Kaavalargale, Sannadesa uravinargalai paarthu vazhiyanuppungal. 

Vadivambal glared at Aditha.

Aditha: Sendru vaarungal thaaiye. Vandhadharku nandri. Aasai irundhaal nadakkavirukkum thirumanatthai paarthuvittu sellungal. 

Vadivambal: Enaku appadi oru viruppam illai. 

She thought in her mind that, "Veliye sellungal endru sollaamal solli vittane. Avargalai thucchamaai pesiyadhai ninaivil kondu pazhi theerthuvittaan. Ivan edhaiyum marakkum vagaiyai saarndhavan alla. Sambaladevan enna aaga pogiraano?"

She and all the relatives of Sannam left the hall. Rajendra, who was biting his teeth, stood up and yelled.

Rajendra: Ivan en thangaiyai manakka koodadhu. Arasey! Ivanukkum namakkumaana por innum mudindha paadillai. Adharkul ivanuku pen tharuvadha? Nam pennai nandraaga paarthu kolvaan endru eppadi nambuvadhu? 

Rana: Nambikkaiyai kurithu Rajendiran pesuvadha? Vindhaiyilum vindhai. Maimmalar kuzhaliyin desam vindhaiyilum vindhai.

Ivalai naan nandraaga paarthu kolven endru Ingu irukkum yaarukum naan vaakku kodukka avasiyam illai. Aval arivaali en manam.

Umayal's cheeks turned rosy from the way he called her as maimmalar kuzhali. 

Rajendra: Unnidam enaku enna pechu? Naan arasarudan pesi kondirukkiren. Arasey! 

Virutha was frustrated as well.

Virutha: Kringa desa Arasey, Engaludaiya pennai thangalukku thara iyalaadhu. 

Subodhar was clenching his fists and Aditha kept watching at the distant sun. Rukmani was turning impatient on the other hand. Umayal was scared for a moment from the king's words.

Rana: Kaaranatthai koorungal. 

Virutha: Thangaludan por innum mudiyaadha nilaiyil em pennai thangalukku eppadi tharuvadhu?

Rana: Arasey, naan kooriya nibandhanaiyai thaangal thelivaaga ketkavillai endru porul kolgiren. Zila desa ilavarasiyin kazhutthil irukkum indha padhakkam eppodhu edukkapadum endraal en kazhutthil irukkum siram irangum podhu dhaan. Sanna desa arasarukku mattum alla naan alittha nibandhanai. Engalai pirikka ninaikkum anaivarukkum dhaan. Rajendiranukku atthanai veeram irukkum endraal ennudan vandhu porida sollungal. 

Boomadevi: Kringa desa arasey, Engal naatil thangalai vellum veerargal illai endru karudhugireero? aayiram perenum vandhu thangaludan poriduvar. Aanal engal pennai thaangal manakka iyalaadhu. 

Rukmani was frustrated and came to the center of the hall. Sangamithra looked at Aditha to see if there was any change in his expression after Rukmani stood in the middle. However, he was calm. She then realized that this might have been the reason for him to ask her to bring Rukmani to the hall.

Rukmani: Thaangal aayiram perai azhaikkum mun ingu arasarin ariyanaiyil amarndhiruppavaridam naan needhi ketka veandum.

Virutha: Rukmani!!!

Rukmani: Thangalin manaiviyaaga naan thangalidam varavillai. En magalukku needhi kettu oru thaaiyaga vandhirukkiren. 

She looked much leaner as she was not eating for the past few days and people were able to understand her plight. Their impression on their king went much further down.

Rukmani: Sanna desa arasarukku en magalai pesiya podhu enna iruppinum avar oru arasar, un magal arasiyaaga vaazhvaal endru vaakku koduttheer. Indru andha thirumanam ini nadakka povadhillai endru aanadhu. 

Ippodhu Kringa desatthin arasar en magalai virumbuvadhaaga avalukku vaaku kodutthu ingu vandhu nirkiraar. Avalum avarai virumbugiraal. Arasa kula pen aval. Avalukkana thalaivanai therndhedukum urimai anaitthum padaitthaval.

Appadiyirukka avaludaiya thirumanatthai edharku marukkireer? 

Aditha: Thaai ketpadhum murai dhaane, Arasey! Naam ippodhu oru velai mudiyadhu endru marutthaal, naalai Kringamum Sannathudan serndhu nammai edhirthu porida neridum. 

Mudiyaadha por endru kurippittaalum Kringa desam namakku koduttha vidhiyai palarum arindhirukka vaaippillai. Ellaiyil Zilam atthu meeraamal irundhaal Kringamum poridaadhu endru dhaane apporai naam muditthom. Adharku dhaane Kringa desa arasarum oppu kondaar. Adharku pin dhaane Rajendiran naadu thirumbinaan. 

Aditha opened the box Rajendra was trying to protect. Rajendra was caught red handed. He kept his head down as he had lied to the king about the existence of such treaty. In reality, they were never able to come to such conclusion as Rana was searching all the areas to kill Rajendra and he escaped from the border and forged such a treaty. 

Rana laughed.

Rana: Ange puramudhugu kaatti odi vandhuvittu ingu udanpadikkai amaitthu kondom endru koorinaaiya Rajendira? 

Virutha Varmar: Arasey, thaangal em desathu ilavarasanai pesugireer. Naan innum en pennai kodukka oppukollavillai.

Rukmani: Naanum adhai thaan ketkiren. En magal en pen endru vaarthaigalil kuripidugireere, aval vaazhvu sirakka enna seidheer? 

Arasiyar pillaigaluku mattum thaangal kaatum indha parivu yeano? Irandam ilavarasar thottru vandhaal adhu avarudaiya kozhai thanatthai kaatugiradhu. Veeran enbavan porkalatthil edhir nindravanudan porittu vella veandum. Adhai vidutthu andru ennai thorkaditthaan endru indru needhi pesa koodadhu. Adhu sirupillai thanam.

Boomadevi: Rukmani!!! Pennaaga irundhu sabaiyil pesuvaaiya? 

Rukmani: Pengalukku pesa urimai illaiyendraal thaangalum pesa avasiyam illaiye. Arasiyaar endru padhaviyin mogatthil pesugireero? Arasarai mayakki thangaludaiya pillaigalukku veandiyadhai seidhu kolla ennavellam seiya veandumo anaitthaiyum sirappaaga seigireer. 

Thangaludaiya aneedhigalin ellai mattum neendu konde pogiradhu. Idhu naal varai arasar thangalukkaga avarudaiya manaivigalai thaan thunburuthi vandhaar. Indru thangal pillaikaaga avar en pillaiyaiyum bali peedam yetra paarkiraar. Idharku naan anumadhiyen.

'Balipeedam' repeated in Virutha's head, and he ran towards Rukmani in anger. But before his hand could reach her, it was held by someone. The strength in that hand sent shivers down the king's whole body. He was stopped by Aditha. His son's face was calm.

Aditha: Kobam kollaadheergal Arasey..

His raspy voice sounded like a threat more than some advice. The king took a step back and went back to his seat. 

Rukmani: En meedhu thangaludaiya kai onguvadhu idhu mudhal murai alla. Iruppinum needhi ketkaamal naan irukka povadhillai. Arasiyaar mattum dhaan thangalin manaivi. Avarudaiya pillaigal mattum dhaan thangalin pillaigala? 

En magalukku thangalin sabaiyil needhi kidaikkaadha?

Aditha, who went back to his place, blinked his eyes to Subodhar. He understood the task and informed the guards around him. Those guards slowly went behind the people and in some time, people started shouting.

Makkal: Kringa desa arasarudan manam mudiyungal.... 

Makkal: Aam arasey, ilavarasiku needhi vazhangungal... 

With the pressure from people, Virutha had to agree at the end. Rajendra stomped his feet and left the hall without even getting the permission of Virutha to leave the hall. Along with him, all his wives left the hall. Porchelvi noticed that one of his wives were missing and inquired about the missing person to her maid. 

Maid: Poovizhi deviyaar dhaan varavillai, Devi.

Porchelvi: Avaluku enna aanadhu? 

Maid: Udalil sugamillai endru panippengal pesi kondanar. 

Porchelvi thought for a minute and then left with the maid.

With the blessings of everyone, Rana married Umayal. Aditha was the one who gave Umayal's hand to Rana in the ceremony.

Boomadevi had to stay because of Virutha. However, her face didn't look good. As Rana was a king, he was not allowed to bow down to anyone. Hence, he didn't go to get their blessings. As Umayal went near the king and the queen, Boomadevi turned away.

Virutha: Rukmani... inge vaa.... 

She looked at the cunning king for a moment, then listened to his words and went near him.

Virutha: Iruvarum serndhu avalai vaazhthuvom! 

People clapped their hands at his words. Rukmani understood the reason behind his sudden show. However, she played along as it was her daughter standing before them.

Rukmani threw atchadhai on her head along with Virutha and wished, "padhinaarum petru peruvaazhvu vaazhvaiyamma". Virutha also wished the same. He felt defeated at the end. However, he still had a morsel of love for his daughter. 

Rana insisted on leaving the same day with his newly married wife. Umayal left the palace with eyes full of tears. 

*Author's note: Hello folks, Happy Sunday Everyone! Please vote and comment if you like the update. 

Maimmalar kuzhali - woman with flower adorned black hair

Today is a special day. Because, four years ago, I started writing PM and I on this day (I posted it by 8th of July 2021). This story changed my life in many ways. I really want to thank everyone who has been an integral part of this journey. Thank you, lovelies!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️