Kundavi and Mahendran noticed that the spy chief rode on without
paying attention to the royal entourage. Kundavi’s palanquin and Mahendran’s
horse were traveling adjacent to each other.
Mahendran had both Kundavi’s delicate good looks and Narasimha
Varman’s majestic aura. The brother and sister were a sight to behold as they
traveled together. He had been ruling in place of Emperor Narasimha Varman for
a year. Everyone was surprised that the man ahead of them chose to ride on
ahead without paying respects or standing aside.
Kundavi asked, “Brother, do you see the well-built man riding
ahead? Do you know who he is?”
Mahendran said, “I don’t know. He looks majestic and has the
appearance of royalty. Look at his horse! It has galloped ahead so quickly”.
“He must be going to Kanchi. He must be a foreigner. Otherwise he
would not have ridden on without stopping for us. Many foreigners have arrived on
the ship that docked four days ago. There seem to be several new faces around
as a result”.
“Kundavi, you mentioned the gem trader from Senbaga Island. He
never visited you, did he?”
“No, he did not”, said Kundavi, with a note of disappointment in
her voice.
“He will definitely come to the Kanchi palace”.
Kundavi did not respond. If her
calculations were correct, he would not come, she thought. She visualized the face of the Chozha prince that
she saw in Kanchi three years ago, and the face of the gem merchant that she
met in Mamallapuram. Could they really be two different people? It would be a
remarkable similarity if they were.
Mahendran noticed her glum manner. “Sister!”, he called in a
gentle voice.
“Yes brother?”
“You don’t look well. Is anything the matter?”
“Nothing”.
“I have a plan. You want to hear it?”
“Yes please.”
“I am going to tell father that I won’t rule the Pallava Empire
anymore. He should assume the burden again”.
“Why do you say that?”
“When he is around, how can I sit on the throne? I look like a cat
pretending to be a lion! Everyone thinks so too.”
“I don’t think so. That is not true!”
“I have another important responsibility too. I am planning a sea voyage.”
“Are you going to Lanka again?”
“No, I am going to Senbaga Island.”
“What? Why?”
“I am going to ask father to pardon Vikraman. I will go to Senbaga
island myself and get him back here. I have been back in this country for a
year now. I have not seen you happy. My first task is to make you smile again”,
said Mahendran, sounding a bit emotional.
Kundavi’s eyes moistened. After a pause, she said, “Father won’t
agree.”
“I will convince him. I was going to ask him last night. He did
not return home. I will definitely ask him today”.
“Even if he agrees, what good will come out of you going to
Senbaga Island?”
“What do you mean - what good will come out of it? I will get a brother
in law, won’t I?”
“It won’t work. The proud Chozha prince will never agree to marry
a Pallava princess!”
Mahendran laughed out loud. “Little sister, have you ever looked
at yourself in the mirror?”
“Oh, shut up!”
“I am going to Senbaga Island. If I don’t produce him in front of
you, and make him do as you bid, I am not a worthy grandson of Mahendra
Pallava!”, said Mahendran.
They returned to the palace and returned to their respective
quarters. Kundavi entered the women’s quarters. She was stunned to find a
stranger sitting on the seat reserved for the Emperor. In a second, she
recognized the stranger as the man who rode ahead of the royal entourage
earlier in the day. Her surprise was replaced by anger.
“Who are you sir, and how did you dare to enter the royal women's
quarters!”
“My lady, I am the chief of spies. My name is Devasenan. I came to
question you for an investigation!”, said the man.
Kundavi’s rage turned into amusement. “Father! What sort of prank
is this?!” She hung on his shoulders, reached out and pulled out the fake
moustache. The Emperor appeared.
“I was fooled. I only recognized you from the voice! I would have
stood no chance otherwise. How did you get this good at disguising yourself?”
“My child, this was the most valuable among the arts that Emperor
Mahendra Varman, my father taught me”, said the Emperor.
Click here for the audiobook version
Parthban Kanavu: The Tamil version of the novel is in the public domain. Copyright for the translation is reserved by the translator..
Art by Sujatha, unless otherwise credited.
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