The city, which today appears in the English dictionary as Kumbakonam, was known as Kudanthai and Kudamookku at the time of our story.

 

Sponser by:

 "This Content Sponsored by Buymote Shopping app

BuyMote E-Shopping Application is One of the Online Shopping App

Now Available on Play Store & App Store (Buymote E-Shopping)

Click Below Link and Install Application: https://buymote.shop/links/0f5993744a9213079a6b53e8

Sponsor Content: #buymote #buymoteeshopping #buymoteonline #buymoteshopping #buymoteapplication".

Chapter 11 The Surprise Arrival

"Something is wrong with me!" Vanathi said even more weakly;

She suddenly fainted and fell to the ground.

"Josiah! Quickly bring some water!" Kuntavai said, lifting Vanathi and placing her on her lap.

The astrologer brought water; Kundavai took the water and sprinkled it on Vanathi's face.

"Nothing will happen, Mom! Don't worry..." said the astrologer.

"Don't worry; this is a habit for her. It's happened like this five or six times so far! She'll wake up in a little while, and when she wakes up, she'll ask if this is Bhuloka or Kailash!" said Kuntavai.

Then, in a slightly softer voice, the younger sister asked, "O astrologer! I have come to you mainly to ask you something. Have people been talking about something in the cities and towns for some time now? Has a comet been appearing in the sky for some days? Is there really any meaning to all this? Is there any danger to the kingdom? Will there be any confusion or change?"

"Don't ask me that, mother! There is no horoscope for nations, kingdoms, and state events; nor can I tell fortunes. All that is not included in the magic I have learned. Wise men, sages, great men, and yogis can perhaps see and tell with their divine vision. This poor man does not have that power. In royal matters, the day, the stars, the horoscope, and fortune-telling all become powerless..."

"Astrologer! You speak very cleverly! You shouldn't look at the horoscope for the kingdom. But you can look at my father and brothers and tell me, right? If you look at their horoscopes, it will be like looking at the kingdom's horoscope, right?"

"I'll take it easy another day, Mom! In general, this is a time full of confusion and danger, and everyone needs to be a little careful..."

"Astrologer! My father, the Emperor... has been my only worry since he left Pazalayara and went to Thanjavur."

"I told you before, Mother! The Maharaja has a big problem. There are big dangers for his family too. With the grace and glory of Goddess Durga, everything will be resolved."

"Sister! Where are we?" Vanathi's weak voice asked.

Vanathi, who was lying with her head on Kundavai's lap, fluttered her eyelids like the wings of a beetle and woke up.

"Kanmani! We are still on this earth! The Pushpaka Vimana has not yet arrived to take us to heaven. Get up! Let's get into our horse-drawn chariot and go to the palace!" said Kundavai.

Copy

Highlight

"Did I faint?" she asked.

You fell asleep lying on Win's lap!

"Didn't you hear that I even sang a lullaby?"

"Anger, sister! You've come here without me knowing."

"Crazy, crazy; if this fortune teller had told me such a prediction, I would have gone crazy too."

"So no, sister! Did I believe everything he said?"

"Do you believe it or not? But Josiah is scared! We shouldn't take a coward like you anywhere anymore."

"I told you right away that I didn't go to the astrologer! You did..?"

"My dear, get up, let's go. Can you walk four steps to the door? If not, do you want me to carry you on my waist and go?"

"No! No! I can walk just fine."

"Wait a moment, Mother! I will give you the goddess's offering, take it and go," said the priest and began to fold the scroll.

"Josiah! You told me everything; you didn't tell your sister anything?" Vanathi said.

"Mom! I've told my younger brother everything, what more do I need to tell him?"

"The brave warrior who is going to marry his sister"

"Asakaya Surar," Kuntavai interrupted.

"What is the doubt?.. The mighty prince..."

"He is endowed with all thirty-two Samudrika attributes; in intellect he is like Brihaspati; in cunning he is like Saraswati; in beauty he is like Cupid; in strength he is like Arjuna!"

"Where and when will that handsome prince, suitable for the younger brother, come from?"

"He's coming, mother! He's coming! He's definitely coming, he'll come very soon."

"How will he come? Will he come on a horse? Will he come in a chariot? Will he come on an elephant? Will he come on foot? Or will he come straight from the sky, carrying a roof over his head and jumping in!" Kundavai Devi asked mockingly.

"Sister! I hear the sound of horse hooves!" Vanathi said with some excitement.

"What no one else has heard will be heard by you alone, as if by surprise!"

"No, I'm not saying this for fun, listen to me!"

Indeed, at that moment, I heard the sound of a horse galloping down the street.

"What if I ask? Can't horses go on the streets of Kudanthaipatanam?" said Kuntavai.

"No; it looked like it was coming here!"

"Something seems strange to you. Get up, let's go!"

At this moment, a confused noise was heard at the door of the house; voices were also heard.

"Is this Josiah's house?"

"Yes; who are you?"

"Is there a fortune teller?"

"Shouldn't you go in?"

"That's how I'll go!"

"I won't let go"

"I want to see Josiah"

"Come on then"

"I can't come then; I'm in a big hurry!"

"Hey! Hey! Stop! Stop!"

"Wait! Get away! If you stop me, I'll kill you."

"Sir! Sir! No! Don't go in!"

Such a confused shout was heard closer and closer; the door opened with a loud bang. A young man suddenly entered with such a wonderful gait. Someone was trying to grab him by the shoulders from behind and pull him. The young man arrogantly crossed the threshold and came in. Readers would have guessed who the young man who came was: our hero Vandiyathevan!. The eyes of all three people inside the house looked at that hero at the same time.

Vandiyathevan also looked at the people inside. No; he only saw one of the people inside. Not even that; he did not see Kundavai Devi completely. He only saw her golden face. If he saw the whole face, then not even that! He saw the petals of her coral lips, slightly dilated in surprise; he saw her wide eyes, filled with majesty, surprise, and a mischievous smile. He saw the eyelids and black eyebrows; he saw the sunken cheeks red with saffron. He saw the smooth neck like a conch. He saw all this separately at the same time. They were imprinted separately in his mind.

All this happened for a few seconds, then he suddenly turned and looked at the astrologer's disciple, "Why didn't you tell me that there were girls inside? If you had, would I have come like this?" He pushed the disciple aside and crossed the threshold again. However, before going out, he looked back at Kundavai Devi one more time and left.

"Oh, Dad! Doesn't it look like the storm has passed?" said Kundavai Prati.

"It's not over yet; listen to me!" said the Princess of Kodumbalur.

At the door, an argument was still going on between Vandiyathevan and the astrologer's disciple.

"O astrologer! Who is this?" said Kuntavai.

"I don't know, mother! He looks like someone from Asalur. He seems like a big naughty boy."

Kundavai suddenly thought of something and laughed hysterically.

"Why are you laughing, sister?"

"What for? We were talking about whether my future husband was going to come on a horse, an elephant, or jump through the roof. I laughed thinking about that!"

Now Vanathi couldn't hold back his laughter. Their laughter mixed and rose in waves. Even the noise of the quarrel outside was drowned out by the sound of the laughter of these two women.

The astrologer, deep in silent contemplation, offered saffron to both the princesses. After receiving it, they both got up and went out of the house. The astrologer also came.

Vandhiyathevan, who was standing a little distance away at the door, saw the women and said in a loud voice, "I beg your pardon. This wise man didn't tell me there were women inside. That's why I came in such a hurry. I beg your pardon for that!"

With a flushed face and mischievous, mocking eyes, she glanced up at Vandhiya Thevan once. She didn't say a word in response. She grabbed Vanathi with one hand and pulled her towards the banyan tree where the chariot stood.

"It seems that the women of Kudanthai city have no respect. Why can't they just turn around and say a word in response, just because a man is talking loudly?" Vandhiyathevan's grumbling reached their ears.

The charioteer had tied the horse to the chariot and was ready. When the two princesses got into the chariot, the charioteer also got in front. The chariot sped towards the banks of the Arila River. Vandiyathevan stood watching until the chariot disappeared.