Book 03 - Chapter 28: Kundavi’s Demand

As Vikraman was watching Ponnan disappear, he heard rustling leaves behind him. Startled, he turned around. Kundavi was emerging from behind a tree. They stood in silence, watching each other.

“Now I know of the manners of the Chozha men. Vanishing without bidding farewell to your host!”, said Kundavi.

Vikraman could not think of a reply.

Kundavi resumed, “Did Thiruvalluvar only say ‘Perseverance yields wonders’? Did he not say ‘Nanri Marappadhu nanranru’, meaning ‘It’s ungracious to forget a helpful deed?”

Vikraman was taken aback. “How do you know? Did you, by any chance…”

“Yes, I saw you recover the chest. I was also listening to everything!”.

“Really!?”                                                                                                                      

“Yes. I also know who you are!”

Vikraman thought for a while and responded, “Then you should understand why I wanted to leave without thanking you or taking leave. An outlaw would naturally want to run away, rather than risk being captured. Wouldn’t he?”

“Fearing death, right?”

“Yes, I need to stay alive for a while. I need to redeem the pledge I made to my father and fulfil the duties to my country.”

“But your life is no longer yours. You were as good as dead in the Mahendra Mantap. I revived you, so your life and soul are mine!”

After a thoughtful silence, Vikraman said in a quivering voice, “My lady, your words are true in more than one sense. My soul did not become yours just after you saw me at the Mahendra Mantap. It has been yours since we met at Mamallapuram, or even earlier, when we saw each other at Kanchi three years ago.”

“Do you really mean it?”

“Yes, in a way, you just helped yourself by saving me!”

“If you really mean it, why did you try to disappear without taking leave?”, asked Kundavi, with a note of anger in her voice.

“I see what you mean, but I was afraid I would never leave if I tried to bid farewell. What if you refused to allow me to leave?”

“Do you have such a low opinion of my sense of duty? Did you really think I would stop you from fulfilling your pledge?”

“I now see that I misjudged you. I should have come clean and sought your help from the very beginning.”

“Let bygones be bygones. We should talk about what next. Let’s sit here until the boatman returns.”

Vikraman had a thought at the reference to his boatman. He looked at Kundavi curiously and asked, “Do you know what happened to the boat that was tied here?”

“It drifted away in the river. The boatman is wasting his time.”

“How did it move away? Did you by any chance…”

“Yes, I untied it. Think of it as a penalty for trying to sneak away without saying goodbye.”

“I told you already. I may not have had the conviction to leave if I tried to say goodbye.”

“If Karikalan, your ancestor, had such misgivings, he would not have conquered remote lands.”

“True. I have now mustered the courage to ask you to give me leave. I also want to ask for your help. I need a boat to cross the river. I also need a horse.”

“I can arrange those. But on one condition.”

“Condition?”

“Yes, a non-negotiable demand. You can’t leave me on the shore like you did last time. You have to take me along when you sail.”

Vikraman was astonished, and moved beyond words. He held Kundavi’s hand, and asked in a shaking voice, “My lady, did I hear you right? What have I done to be so fortunate?! You are the daughter of the great Emperor Narasimha Varman. Would you give that up to travel with a banished man?”

Kundavi was looking at the river. “Why do you doubt that? You must think poorly of women to ask me this!”

“Not at all. My mother is Queen Arulmozhi. I will never think of women as anything but strong. However, how is it possible for you to come with me? What will your father say?”

“My father has never denied me anything so far. He won’t do it now either.”

They were both brought back to earth by a voice. “My king!”

The voice was Ponnan’s. He had arrived when Kundavi and Vikraman were lost in each other’s words. He had also heard the last part of the exchange.

Vikraman asked, “Ponna, I presume you could not find the boat. The princess said she untied it. She has agreed to give us another.”

“I heard that, my king. But I’m not sure that there is a need for all this stealth. If she can put in a good word with the Emperor…”

Kundavi stood up abruptly. “Boatman, what did you say? Do you want me to plead for your king with my father? I made that mistake once. I will not do it again. If your king can conquer a small piece of land with the strength of his sword, that would be large enough for me. If he decided to row a boat like you do and asked me to live with him in a hut like Valli and you do, I will happily pretend to be the queen of that hut. I will never ask my father to pardon him, or to reinstate him as a king. I will plead with my father for myself. But pleading for him would devalue his bravery.”

“My lady.. “, Ponnan began.

Kundavi interrupted him and resumed. “Even if he is identified and is sentenced to death, I won’t ask my father to spare his life. I will ask that we be married before the sentence is carried out.”

Ponnan said, “My lady, you may indeed have to do that. Look at the soldiers on that boat!”

Vikraman and Kundavi turned around. Four boats were approaching from the direction of Uraiyur. The dense foliage had hidden the boats until they had turned the corner. The boats had armed soldiers. They were drawing close to the island.

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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.