41(1)
Nakan made them defenseless, helpless, and peaceless just as it wanted. Whenever Aathiyan steps in to talk about this matter to Kayanangai, he hesitates greatly. He doesn’t want to risk anything as he’s afraid to lose everything after that.
After taking care of his court duties, Aathiyan returned to his chamber, frustrated. Today he heard the people’s problems and discussed expanding their food storage unit. Today wasn’t a great day, he kept thinking about his problems, even Narenthiran noticed it and asked what’s the problem. Aathiyan lied as usual and pretended to smile. He hoped there’s going to be a time where he will no longer feel this way.
Aathiyan saw Kayanangai lying on the bed and he sighed what she must be thinking right now. He walked to her and hearing his footsteps Kayanangai got up immediately.
She looked at him with a smile and he sat next to her. “Are you tired? Shall we go somewhere?” he asked.
“No, I am not. Let’s go somewhere,” she agreed and got up.
“Wait for me, I will change my clothes,” she said.
Aathiyan nodded to see the change in Kayanangai. In the past weeks, they have become more distant and they spend less time together.
She looked so dejected but now she smiled. A spark of happiness hit her senses.
When Kayanangai removed her saree folds, she felt someone’s presence behind her and she immediately covered herself before turning. It’s the devil, in an attractive male form.
She stepped back in shock and her eyes filled in the terror which has just now faded away.
“Looks like you have missed me,” it said.
“W-what do you want?”
“You shouldn’t go with him,” it ordered.
Kayanangai frowned hearing that. “You can’t me,” she said and proceeded to walk her way.
“I am ordering, don’t go,” it held her hand.
Kayanangai looked at its eyes and the next moment she complied.
Hearing the mumble, Aathiyan walked in to find Kayanangai standing there looking somewhere else.
“Kayanangai!” Aathiyan called her to bring her from the trance.
“Huh?” She looked at him, totally confused.
“What are you looking at?”
She nodded, “I am not feeling well, can we stay here?” she asked.
Aathiyan couldn’t deny it but he wants to know what’s this sudden change is.
“Why, you just now said that we can go? What happened?”
“I don’t know, I feel dizzy,” she lied and Aathiyan sighed.
“Fine,” he nodded and walked out of the place in anger. He does want to see Nakan right now to confront what he’s doing to his wife.
He came to the garden fuming in agony and frustration, he punched the tree. The pain isn’t excruciating more than this feeling haunting him now that he’s incompetent of doing anything against Nakan. He couldn’t save the one person he loves the most.
“Hurting yourself wasn’t the best choice,” Nakan’s voice got Aathiyan’s attention. They were meeting each other after weeks.
He’s in Aarani’s form. Nakan knew how to handle them, Aathiyan would never hurt a woman even if a devil was inside her and Kayanangai was afraid of Aathiyan. After studying her for all these days, Nakan concluded that her deepest fear was Aathiyan, she doesn’t want to fall into his bad side and at the same time, she loves him way too much. It’s pretty hard to understand this woman.
Aathiyan furiously came closer but stopped as he couldn’t hit a woman.
“What have you done to her?” Aathiyan asked.
“I didn’t do anything,”
“If you lie again, you will face the worst side of me,” Aathiyan warned.
Nakan smiled, “Do you think I’ll be scared?”
Aathiyan calmed his anger. He wanted to be honest as he had no other choice.
“She’s a fragile, innocent woman. She’s suffering because of you. Leave her alone, she can’t bear this,” Aathiyan said.
Nakan’s face frowned, “I know, but don’t worry I am not going to let her die. I will make her happy,”
“You can’t,” Aathiyan yelled.
“Lower your voice, she will hear it,”
Aathiyan gritted and asked, “I don’t know what you want from Kayanangai, but I want to know what you want from me?”
He analyzed that Nakan never says his next plan until it reaches a point where no one can stop what he has planned. For all these days, it has interacted only with him but now it starts to talk with Kayanangai, maybe something is happening which he isn’t aware of.
“Now you have asked the best question at the right time,” Nakan chuckled, “I want you to be away from her,”
“Why?”
“Because she’s carrying my child,” Nakan revealed with a smile.
Aathiyan was vexed by the revelation. He has faced many situations in his life but this one struck him hard. His eyes welled in tears and he gritted his teeth to control every emotion that’s oozing out of him. The only person he trusted and loved the most has gone far away from him like he no longer sees her as his person.
This feeling makes him give up on everything he has now. His dreams, hopes, and life have been destroyed, there’s no point in building all these again.
“It’s not like what you think. She didn’t betray you, I just used the love she has for you,” Nakan said.
Aathiyan looked at Nakan, “So used my face?” he asked.
“Yes, what do you think about your wife? She will never think about betraying you,” Nakan said in favor of Kayanangai.
Aathiyan frowned hearing that. With this anger, he will give a very gruesome death to this girl but he knows he can only rip this body but not the soul that’s inside.
“You don’t have to talk for her,” Aathiyan yelled. “I am going to kill that child right now,” Aathiyan stepped forward to do that but he couldn’t move an inch and it felt like someone choking his throat. If he tries to move, he will die breaking his neck.
“What do you think you are doing, huh?” Nakan changed in its devil’s form. Seeing that, Aathiyan got scared. He hasn’t seen anything like this before.
The devil’s eyes filled in anger. It came close to Aathiyan.
“If you try to harm my child, I will kill your son and then you,” it said.
Aathiyan became speechless and stared at the devil.
“Do what I say, then everything is good for you and your family. One wrong move, you will face the worst of all,”
Aathiyan wasn’t afraid to die but he wanted to protect his son so he considered that.
“What do you want?”
The devil smirked, “Stay away from her and pretend that you don’t know anything,” it said.
“No, I can’t do that,”
“Then I wonder what else you are going to do?” it mocked him, “You have no choice, Aathiya. Listen to what I say,” Nakan said and released Aathiyan from his grip. Then it changed back to Aarani’s form.
Aathiyan coughed and caressed his throat. “If I do what you say, what will I get?” Aathiyan said. Nakan smiled, “You will get anything you ask,”
Aathiyan nodded, “Kayanangai, I want her back. You should leave us,” he asked.
“Fine, after she gives birth to my son, I will give her back to you,” Nakan agreed.
“What if you deceive me as you did with Veera?”
“I am promising you, trust me,”
Aathiyan half-heartedly agrees.
“You should keep your word, don’t try to do anything nonsensical,” Nakan warned. Aathiyan walked away not reacting to that.
Days passed one after the other, Kayanangai didn’t have any nightmares after that and she felt no signs of Nakan around her, though it gave her relief, she knew it must be here somewhere and watching her every move. That’s not the only strange thing that’s happening in her life, Aathiyan is acting differently these days. He’s not talking to her like he used to be. When she was sad he would ask her, if she was in a problem he would treat that problem as his but now she’s sad and lonely all the time but he doesn’t seem to care at all. He just spends time with his son and not once asked what she’s doing. Kayanangai was too guilty to ask him. She thought if he had married someone else, he would have had a wonderful life. All she brought was misery to this family. His silence told her one thing: that he’s so upset that she has betrayed him because Kayanangai now contemplated that Aathiyan has been in contact with the witch all these times. He has lied to her on ma
“It was so unexpected, you didn’t give me any clue,” Sumitra said to Kayanangai.Kayanagai smiled for the sake and she looked at the distance to see Aathiyan talking to Narenthiran. She came out to meet Sumitra and unexpectedly Aathiyan is also here.“Yes, even I didn’t expect it,” Kayanangai said.“Why do you look like you are not happy?” Sumitra asked.“No, I am happy,” Kayanangai retorted with a smile.“Then you should smile a lot at this time,” Sumitra said and Kayanangai nodded.Aathiyan saw her from there, after a long time he saw her smile and it made his heart race.“Aathiya, you should come with me. It’s not best to go alone,” Narenthiran requested as he’s going to meet the King of the northern territory.“No, I don’t like to travel at this time,” Aathiyan said and looked at Kayanangai.
43. Kayanangai shuddered when she heard Aathiyan’s voice, it’s not him as he had already left the palace and this Kingdom. It’s the Devil. “He’s not asleep?” he asked, looking at Arulvarman in the cradle. “Do you want me to put him to sleep?” Kayanangai turned and said, “No, I will take care of him,” But he didn’t ask her permission and took her son in his arms. She watched him dread. “He’s a cute child,” “Give him to me,” Kayanangai demanded. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t do anything. If I want to hurt him, then I would have done it long back,” Nakan said. Kayanangai got calm and she didn’t expect that her son would fall asleep in this Devil’s arms. “See, even Aathiyan can’t do this simply like me,” She didn’t answer because he’s right. Nakan placed her son back on the cradle and came closer to her. She walked back only to stumble on the bed. “What do you want?” she muttered. “What e
As they were traveling in the chariot returning to the palace, Aathiyan kept staring at the bare fields while thinking about Kayanangai. She was his only thought in the past two days. What the devil might be doing with her. The one thing he understood about it was how much it deceives him every time. He kept falling into its trap and he couldn’t stop it at all. He was intervened by Narenthiran. “Are you still thinking about what happened?” he asked. “What happened?” Aathiyan was clueless and then he remembered. “About the marriage proposal?” “Yes,” Narenthiran nodded. “What’s there to think? I can’t marry another woman at this time. It’s so absurd to even think.” Aathiyan said. He’s under social and political pressure at this time. The King of Northern territory has again asked him to marry his youngest daughter, Aathiyan first refused it and when he requested him again and again, Aathiyan couldn’t deny it; he asked for some time to think about it only to ref
"Can you hear it?" Kayanangai asked as she couldn't believe what he just said."Yes, I could hear our child's heartbeat," Nakan said, leaning against her stomach.He lifted his head and met Kayanangai's face. She couldn't look at those pair of eyes, it belongs to only Aathiyan and now seeing it on this devil is confusing her.Kayanangai awkwardly turned to the other side; Nakan sat straight and looked at her."You don't have to feel this way, you know why I want to look like Aathiyan? It's for you," Nakan said."You love him more than anyone and I know there's no other way I could get close to you. If I look like him then you wouldn't think about anything when you are around him. You have blind trust in Aathiyan,""Then why did you say such a thing the other day? You know I love him but why did you bring those words from me? I regret everything that happened that day and now we have stopped talking to each other," she said and ha
45 Kayanangai stirred up from her sleep and gasped for air. It was the worst nightmare she ever had in her entire life. The cold visual of herself killing her child with a knife, carefully slicing off its skin, and cutting the bones into pieces is still fresh in her memories. She wanted to throw up badly and her eyes turned watery. She patted her head, trying to forget that sight. “Bad dream, huh?” Aathiyan’s voice startled her. She patted her chest and turned to see him, sitting on a chair next to the cot. The room is so dark; she could barely see his face in the dimmed lights. Aathiyan turned the lamp brighter and poured a glass of water for her. She could see the concern on his face. But she had a doubt whether this is her husband. She sat straight and had the water. The scars on his hands told her that he is her husband because Nakan lack those, his skin would be flawless. Again she thought, instead of sleeping, what he’s doing her
46Kayanangai stood at the deck and watched the skies. It looked much different than the usual sky she sees in the palace. She never saw the skies so close, as she could almost touch them and they were grey and gloomy. It will rain anytime soon.The strange thing is there’s no sound of seagulls or anything and dead silence in the particular place.It’s been three days since they left the palace and traveling in this ocean under Nakan’s instructions.The eerie feeling in her heart grows more and more as she looks at the ocean every day. The tides were always high and every place is damp which makes them so depressed. She has no hope that she will return to the palace alive. Her heart is throbbing loudly as it’s going to meet its end and her mind keeps thinking about the ways she will die.“Do you want some tea?” Shakunthala asked. Kumaran and Shakunthala came to be with them at this tough time and to look after Ar
The rain has been pouring outside since yesterday, Kayanangai barely has the energy to lift her fingers. Her skin is burning in the fever and can’t even open her eyes. She couldn’t feel anything more than pain. As the days passed, she got bedridden and couldn’t walk at all. Aathiyan is taking care of her like she’s a small child. She can’t help but cry for misjudging him in many situations. But he kept saying one thing that they will leave this place and live happily ever after in their Kingdom.She opened her eye and she has lost track of time and date after coming here. Darkness vails this place more than the daytime. The rain is pouring every now and then. She loathes this place, this weather is making her sick.Without knowing what time it is, Kayanangai watched the glowing fire in the inglenook with her half-closed eyes. She has so many thoughts running all over her mind.Her past, her childhood memories with her mother, father
53. After helping her father-in-law in the farming, spending time with Mithran’s daughter and having dinner in Aadhavan’s, Rathi came back to her house. Even though she doesn’t want to hurt that poor man she couldn’t control her agony. “You’re not going to help me?” she asked her father-in-law. He looked up from his plate. “I am helping you, Rathi. I am still alive for you, without me, you can’t survive in this land,” he answered. She stared at him wondering how could be keep everything to himself. “I know how you feel and I feel the same way. Without my son, passing everyday feels like hell,” he said. Rathi’s eyes welled in tears. “At least you must survive. You should go back to the mainland after all this. Live happily, have children and die at old age. For all the innocent women who died before, you must live a long life for them,” he said. “What about your son? It said, he’s still here,” she asks, still hoping that he will there in her future. “He’s dead. Don’t believe a
Rathi opened her eyes from her sleep, it was quite a pleasant nap she had. After knowing all the secrets that were being buried along with the deaths of all the innocent people, her people she didn’t have any special nightmares. But her traumatized mind is still the same, she couldn’t think anything properly. Her mind has gone blank. The thought that death is waiting for her at the doorstep and anything can happen at any moment turned her hopeless. She came out of the house and saw the evening skies drizzling, the mud, the high stone walls, and the flowers in full bloom were all damp. She sat down on the stairs and all she could think after all this happened in her life was, whether Aadhiyan is still here. But where she could search him, even if he sees and hears me, how could I sense him? So Rathi sat there silently, her eyes fixed on the dripping water from the palm shed before the house. As she guessed, Aadhiyan was sitting next to her and watching her wit
Chapter- 51 Present “This is what happened? Do you understand why you are here?” he asked, releasing her hand from his grip. He didn’t tell her this story, he showed her what happened from his eyes. He transferred those memories to her mind. Coming out of it, Rathi opened her eyes, tears rolled down to her cheeks and the great sorrow weighed on her mind. It penetrated her heart and soul. She gasped and hugged her knees feeling a great sadness that Aathiyan once felt. “Why do I feel this way like I am the one who endured it?” she asked. “Because I wanted you to feel it so that you won’t make the same mistakes that she made. No one can change what happened in the past, but now you have the choice to choose the best for you,” he replied and caressed her back. He came closer and leaned closer to her ears, “She always stayed in confusion just as you. But I want you to make up your mind now. I’ll nev
50 Aathiyan waited with his son until they all came back. Nakan came inside, all drenched in the blood of Aathiyan and Kayanangai. Kumaran's face was bruised indicating that he had put up a fight with Nakan. Shankunthala cried holding Arulvarman. It's a great misery that no one can bear. They have carried Kayanangai here and placed it before the house. "I didn't kill her and she killed herself. You all should know that truth," Nakan clarified Kumaran thought he did that to his sister. "I can't believe you," Kumaran retorted. "Well, your brother-in-law will let you the truth soon," Nakan turned to Aathiyan.
Chapter- 49The bright illumination of the sun, dangled before her eyelids. Kayanangai opened her eyes to realize that she’s somewhere safer, an unruffled and trouble-free paradise. The endless land filled only with brightness and she wondered what this place was.There she met someone she thought she would never see in her life again –her mother. She looked like an angel who came to comfort her at this tough time.“Mother,” Kayanangai cried in happiness to meet her after a long time.“My dear,” her mother embraced her and Kayanangai couldn’t control her tears. She cried her heart out in pain.“Forgive me for not being there for you. I know what you have been through,” her mother’s apology finally stopped her tears.“It’s not your fault, mother. I think this is my fate,” Kayanangai said.“No, this isn’t your fate unless you change it,”
Aathiyan found himself standing in the fog. He couldn’t guess where he was. And the breeze guided him to Kayanangai.She’s standing at a distance and facing the other side.“Kayanangai,” he called her and she turned to him, holding Arulvarman. She smiled and reached out her hands for him.Aathiyan scurried there to hold her hand with a smile, and he felt a relief which he has never felt before like he has escaped from everything. The happiness he felt at that moment is unexplainable.“At last, you are here,” she said. “What took you so long?”“Forgive me, I won’t leave you ever again,” he promised.“But you have already left us with the devil, have you forgotten?” Kayanangai asks. The truth struck him hard and they start to disappear from there as they don’t belong in this spirit world.Aathiyan felt remorseful; it made him cry and the Devil’s la
The rain has been pouring outside since yesterday, Kayanangai barely has the energy to lift her fingers. Her skin is burning in the fever and can’t even open her eyes. She couldn’t feel anything more than pain. As the days passed, she got bedridden and couldn’t walk at all. Aathiyan is taking care of her like she’s a small child. She can’t help but cry for misjudging him in many situations. But he kept saying one thing that they will leave this place and live happily ever after in their Kingdom.She opened her eye and she has lost track of time and date after coming here. Darkness vails this place more than the daytime. The rain is pouring every now and then. She loathes this place, this weather is making her sick.Without knowing what time it is, Kayanangai watched the glowing fire in the inglenook with her half-closed eyes. She has so many thoughts running all over her mind.Her past, her childhood memories with her mother, father
46Kayanangai stood at the deck and watched the skies. It looked much different than the usual sky she sees in the palace. She never saw the skies so close, as she could almost touch them and they were grey and gloomy. It will rain anytime soon.The strange thing is there’s no sound of seagulls or anything and dead silence in the particular place.It’s been three days since they left the palace and traveling in this ocean under Nakan’s instructions.The eerie feeling in her heart grows more and more as she looks at the ocean every day. The tides were always high and every place is damp which makes them so depressed. She has no hope that she will return to the palace alive. Her heart is throbbing loudly as it’s going to meet its end and her mind keeps thinking about the ways she will die.“Do you want some tea?” Shakunthala asked. Kumaran and Shakunthala came to be with them at this tough time and to look after Ar
45 Kayanangai stirred up from her sleep and gasped for air. It was the worst nightmare she ever had in her entire life. The cold visual of herself killing her child with a knife, carefully slicing off its skin, and cutting the bones into pieces is still fresh in her memories. She wanted to throw up badly and her eyes turned watery. She patted her head, trying to forget that sight. “Bad dream, huh?” Aathiyan’s voice startled her. She patted her chest and turned to see him, sitting on a chair next to the cot. The room is so dark; she could barely see his face in the dimmed lights. Aathiyan turned the lamp brighter and poured a glass of water for her. She could see the concern on his face. But she had a doubt whether this is her husband. She sat straight and had the water. The scars on his hands told her that he is her husband because Nakan lack those, his skin would be flawless. Again she thought, instead of sleeping, what he’s doing her