The Secret Ceremony
Paranthaman paced the length of the veranda outside the luxurious quarters he had been allotted in the castle that was set aside for visiting royalty. He was furious with his father and refused to look at Pandiyan who sat at the furthest end of the veranda, sipping from a cup of herbal brew.
Pandiyan was not too fond of intoxicating drinks. He was only too aware of the debilitating effects liquor had on one’s thinking prowess. Had he not had his share of imbibing too much during his younger days? Right now, he glared at his son with baleful eyes. The boy was not just arrogant and stubborn, but stupid as well, it seemed.
The plan was to present him as Prince Vijayendra Chozhan and convince the princess that he would be the perfect partner for her. That way, the Kongunadu throne will continue to be in their control—Bhupathi’s and Pandiyan’s. But what does his idiot son do? He had flirted with the queen as if there was no other woman on the earth. How dumb was that?
Pandiyan had told his son off the moment Paranthaman had settled down in his quarters and the two of them had been left alone. “You are here for the princess’s hand, Paranthama. How can you behave the way you did with the queen?”
“Why?” Paranthaman glared at his father, even as a tremor passed through his body. After all, he had drunk quite a lot of the delicious wine which had been served along with the elaborate twelve-course lunch. “Will the queen not give her consent because I behaved the way I did?” he asked sarcastically. After all, he was only too aware of the way the queen had responded to his seducing tactics, even encouraging him the whole time.
“Idiot!” spat out Pandiyan, glaring angrily at his son. “It is not the queen I am worried about. Which girl will like a beau who flirts with her stepmother? What if the princess refuses to marry you? All our elaborate plans will simply go down the drain.”
Paranthaman stared at his father, a deep frown between his thick brows. It looked like the old man had a valid point. “You are right, Father,” he responded, much to Pandiyan’s surprise. “That was not very intelligent of me. But I tell you, the queen is way more desirable than the princess. I am sure you will agree with me.”
A glimmer of a smile broke out on Pandiyan’s face before he threw back his head and laughed out loud. “You are right, my son. But keep a control over your ardour, at least until the wedding takes place. After that, you will become the prince of this region and soon to be king on the princess’s birthday which is but a few months away. Once you are crowned the king, why only the queen and her stepdaughter, you can have every other woman from Kongunadu if you want. Do you agree?”
Paranthaman noticed the cunning expression on his father’s face before he burst out laughing too. Slapping a hand on his father’s shoulder, he said, “Father, you are too clever by far. And I am so proud to be your son.” Suddenly, a thought struck him. “Tell me something, Father. I will become the king of the region on Chamundeswari’s birthday once I marry her. What does Marthanda Bhupathi expect to gain from the situation? I am actually surprised that he agreed to this scheme in the first place.”
So! My son is not an idiot, after all! Pandiyan was pleased. “I work for Marthanda Bhupathi. And he trusts me with his life!” There was a cunning smile on the Senapati’s face as he uttered the words to his son.
Paranthaman studied his father’s face with more interest in the expression than the words he had uttered. Realising that his father had his own plan, the son’s mouth fell open in awe. “Father! You have your own scheme!”
“Hahaha hohoho!” Pandiyan threw back his head and laughed. It was like thunder as the hysterical sound ricocheted against the walls. “What do you take me for, my son? That I am going to just fold my arms and play the role of a slave to Naganandini and Bhupathi even after my son is crowned the king of Kongunadu?”
“Father!” Paranthaman stepped forward and hugged Pandiyan. Neither man noticed Ponnan, the spy in the chief minister’s employ, listening to their conversation as he stood silently below the veranda, out of sight.
Chamundeswari and Vijayendran parted ways as the princess went back to the palace to meet Anagha and he went to the stable to saddle Kethu before going to find Velan and sending a message through the soldier to bring Vishnurayan to the temple as soon as possible.
The plan was for all five of them, including Velan, to meet at the Murugan Koil in the centre of the fort in three naazhigais.
Once Velan went on his way, the Chozha prince went to the market place to buy himself a silk veshti and matching tunic before going to his chambers in the palace. He returned by the stone staircase at the back, not at all keen to come across anyone from the royal family or the Senapati and his son. By now, Vijayendran was convinced that the man who was pretending to be Vijayendra Chozhan was definitely the commander-in-chief Pandiyan’s son. The resemblance was only too obvious; especially because Vijayendran knew for a fact that the younger man was not the Chozha prince.
In Chamundeswari’s chamber, Anagha was thrilled to hear the princess’s news. “I am sure the king and queen would have approved, My Lady! Adityan is the perfect match for you. He is not just handsome, but a courageous warrior too,” she gushed as she quickly removed a silk sari which was like spun gold from the wardrobe along with a matching blouse. She did not really have to ask the princess about what she wanted to wear as that was the most beautiful sari owned by Chamundeswari. It was new as well as the princess had set it aside to be worn on her upcoming birthday. “Will you be wearing the diamonds, My Lady?” she asked, turning to the princess.
Her cheeks turning a soft pink as she blushed, Chamundeswari gave her maid a small nod. “And the kaasu maalai. And Anagha, do not forget the thalai saamaan.” She was speaking about the jewellery that was worn on the head which she had used during her dance performance. The princess wanted to be completely decked in bridal finery from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
“Of course, My Lady! The Surya and Chandra pirai too.” Turning to the only other maid in the chamber, Anagha said, “Get someone to fill the princess’s bath with hot water, immediately.” Once the maid left to follow her order, she turned to the princess once again, “Would you like to drink something, Your Highness?”
Chamundeswari shook her head vigorously. “I am so excited, Anagha, that I might choke if I try to swallow anything.” She rushed over to her maid and hugged her tightly. “And I agree with you. I cannot get a better man for my husband than Adityan.”
Anagha agreed wholeheartedly as she quickly got the princess ready for her wedding. It was not long before Vishnurayan knocked on their door and whispered some instructions in his wife’s ear.
“My Lady! Your chariot is waiting further down. We will have to walk there. Are you ready to leave?” asked Anagha, staring at the beautifully decked princess.
Giving a last glance at her own image in the mirror, Chamundeswari gave her maid a smiling nod. “Let us go.”
In the meanwhile, Vijayendran quickly got ready for his own wedding, a smile on his face as he looked at himself in the mirror. Ideally, he would have been happy to have his half-brother, Maharaja Rajendra Chozhan and his wife, Queen Viramadevi, present at his wedding ceremony. But since it was going to be a hurried affair as well as a secret one, Vijayendran hoped that his big brother would forgive him. A grin split his face when he thought of the emperor of the Chozha empire.
Maybe I should send Anna a message! Putting thought to action, Vijayendran sat down at the table in the living area to write a detailed note to his elder brother on a palm leaf, rolling and packing it in a silver scroll before sealing it. Realising that Velan was probably the only man he could trust, other than Vishnurayan, he called for him, before handing over the scroll to the young man. Also handing him a gold finger ring which had the Chozha emblem of a tiger, he whispered a few instructions to the soldier. “Will you be able to leave the fort without drawing attention from your Senapati?” asked Vijayendran.
“Leave it to me, My Lord! I can do this. Do you want me to leave immediately?” Velan so wanted to be a part of the wedding ceremony that was to take place at the Murugan Koil. More than for the princess, he wanted to be there for Adityan’s sake. After all, the warrior from Thanjavur had treated him with so much affection and respect from the first time they met at the Brihadeeshwaran Koil in Thanjavur.
“Do you want to come for the wedding?” asked Vijayendran, a gentle smile on his face.
Velan nodded vigorously. “Yes, My Lord! I will leave immediately after it is over.”
“Alright! Where is Vishnu?”
“I am here, My Lord!” responded Vishnurayan, a wide smile on his face. He was so happy to know that the wedding was going to take place between his princess Chamundeswari and Vijayendra Chozhan, the Chozha prince; today itself. Turning to the soldier, the loyal servant said, “Vela, you wait outside for us.”
Once Velan went out, Vishnurayan turned eagerly to Vijayendran. “Your Highness! I am so glad that you have brought forward the wedding date. Is it time to inform the princess who the real Chozha prince is?” he asked in a low voice. He had got to know about the royal visitor from Chozha Nadu from the other servants. And knowing fully well who the real prince was, he knew that the visitor was an imposter.
Vijayendran smiled at the loyal servant, shaking his head slowly from side to side. “It is too soon, Vishnu. It will confuse her and a few others when they find out that there are two people going by the same identity, do you not think?”
Vishnurayan could not help smiling at the younger man. “I do not mean to be impertinent, Your Highness! But I suppose you have a plan?” he asked, curious to know what Vijayendran meant to do.
“If it will bring you some peace, let me inform you that I have already set an idea in motion. It will not take too long, maybe a few days before the results begin to show,” responded Vijayendran mysteriously. Having fought so many battles at his young age, the Chozha prince was only too aware of the fact that strategy was the most important element in winning the war. And one of those strategies was to not share all information with everyone, whoever that person was or however loyal.
“Shall we leave then?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow at Vishnurayan.
“Yes, My Lord! The chariot is waiting yonder. The princess is already seated in it.”
“I am late.” Vijayendran rushed along with the two men, taking the stone staircase two at a time.
They quickly reached the chariot, the horses prancing impatiently as the charioteer held their reins. Adityan got inside to sit next to the princess. Once Vishnurayan took the seat next to his wife at the back, the chariot set off.
Reaching a hand to take Chamundeswari’s in his, Vijayendran gave her an adoring smile even as he studied her lovely face and attire in the twilight. The gold colour of her sari made her golden eyes shine brighter than ever. Her blushing cheeks appeared crimson while her luscious bee-stung lips invited his kiss. Unable to resist, he leaned forward to press his mouth to hers, drawing a damp tongue over the seam of her lips.
“Aditya!” she whispered in protest. “Not now.” She looked at his handsome face before her gaze moved over his silk clothes. Bringing her thumb and forefinger together, she gave him a nod.
“Why not? You look more beautiful than ever and I find it difficult not to touch you,” he whispered right back, reaching a hand to cup her cheek, his thumb tracing the shape of her mouth.
Her face was burning by now. Without even being aware of what she was doing, the princess lifted a hand to run it over his clean-shaven cheek before tracing the shape of his luxuriant moustache with her thumb.
He turned his head to capture her thumb in his mouth, sucking on it gently even as he looked deeply into her eyes.
Chamundeswari felt her body go weak with desire as she tried to pull out her trapped thumb. But her heart was not fully in it. “Aditya!”
“Mmm…” He refused to let go of her thumb even as he ran his hands down her arms. “I love you, my princess,” he declared.
Having no will to resist him any longer, she sank into his arms, burying her face in his broad chest. “Do you think I have fallen in love with you too?” she asked in a shy whisper. She did not really know what love was.
Removing her thumb out of his mouth with reluctance, he spoke, “Do you want to be with me all the time?”
“Hmm.”
“Do you miss me whenever I am not with you?”
“Hmm… mmm.”
“Do you want me to make love to your beautiful body?” His lips brushed against her ear as he asked the question, making her shiver in his arms.
“Yes!”
“What will you do if some other woman wants to get close to me? Maybe even make me her husband?” he asked, pressing his lips to her silky soft cheek.
Placing her hands on his chest, Chamundeswari moved away to look up at his face with a deep scowl on her face. “Another woman? Tell me if there is someone else in your life, Aditya! Tell me now,” she commanded.
He shook his head even as laughter rumbled from deep within his abdomen at the tempestuous expression on her face. “No, there is no other woman in my life. But what if something like that happens in the future?” he asked mischievously.
Her frown disappeared on hearing his words. “I will chop both of you with my sword and feed the pieces to Manu,” she said calmly.
Vijayendran fell back on the seat laughing his head off even as Chamundeswari fisted her hands tightly before raining blows on his wide chest. “No, my princess. Please stop,” he gasped, unable to stop laughing. “I was only joking.”
“You had better be, Aditya. As I was absolutely serious,” she said, giving him a smug smile.
“So, you do love me!”
“If this is what is love, then yes, I do love you,” she admitted, giving him a naughty wink.
Vijayendran gulped, the effect of her gesture going straight to his groin even as his manhood surged along with his desire. Taking a deep breath to curb his longing for her—after all, she was going to be his that very night—he hugged her close to his side, his hand caressing her bare waist.
Two hours had gone by since the waxing moon had risen in the sky when they reached the entrance to the temple. The Murugan Koil was almost empty with only a few last stragglers completing their perambulations around the main sanctorum where resided the deities Lord Murugan along with his consorts Valli and Deivanai.
Velan quickly walked into the temple clearing a path for the royal bride and her groom. The five devotees who were still inside the temple bowed their heads to the princess in greeting before lifting their faces to stare at her in awe. Chamundeswari appeared so beautiful that she shimmered in the moonlight as she walked into the temple compound followed by her faithful servants Vishnurayan and Anagha. And who was that walking behind them? The man was a stranger, but he had such a powerful presence. They whispered among themselves as they wondered who the handsome man could be, but were too polite to question the princess.
When they would have followed their princess into the main sanctorum, Velan stood in between, stopping them from doing so. “Have you had your darisanam of the lord?” he asked them politely. When they nodded unanimously, he gave them a gentle smile, saying, “The princess needs some private time inside the temple. I request you all to go home. Anyway, it will not be long before the temple shuts for the night.”
Not really having a say, the people left the temple. Quickly looking around to check if there were any more people loitering in the compound, Velan went to the entrance and requested the men in charge to shut the main gates. Once that was done, he rushed back to the sanctorum, not keen to miss the ceremony.
The inner sanctorum was beautifully lit with a number of oil lamps while four torches brightened up the area set aside for devotees. Two trustworthy priests with whom Vishnurayan had already spoken, were conducting a pooja.
Vijayendran handed over a pair of gold kankanams that used to belong to his mother—which he always carried with him—to one of the priests, requesting him to keep them at the lord’s feet to seek his blessings.
Vishnurayan handed over the flower garlands that he had brought along with him, one each to the princess and the prince.
When the priest turned around to instruct them, Chamundeswari turned towards Vijayendran and with a shy smile on her face, she lifted the garland and placed it around his neck. Returning her smile with a mischievous one of his own, he placed the garland in his hand around her neck. The perfume of the fresh jasmine flowers permeated the whole sanctorum. Combined with the aroma of burning camphor and smoking incense, the ambience was too beautifully set.
The priests chanted mantras before stepping out from the inner sanctum. “Where is the thaali?” asked one of them.
“There was no time to have a thaali made. Will this work instead?” asked Vijayendran, removing the thick golden chain that he was wearing around his neck. It had a pendant with a diamond in the centre the size of a pigeon’s egg which shone in the lamplight.
The priest gave a nod. “The most important ingredient to a perfect marriage is the consent of both the man and woman. Everything else is a bonus,” he smiled at the young couple. Taking the chain from Vijayendran, he placed it at the deity’s feet, chanting some more mantras. Placing a pinch of vermilion on the chain, he blessed it before handing it to the bridegroom. “Place this around your bride’s neck,” he instructed.
Vijayendran looked deeply into the princess’s golden eyes and smiled before placing the chain around her neck. “My dear wife,” he whispered, only for her hearing.
The other priest brought over the gold bracelets on a silver platter and offered it to the prince. He had sprinkled holy vermilion over the bracelets too, blessing them.
“These bracelets belonged to my mother. And I believe it was my father who had gifted them to her. It gives me so much joy to gift them to you, My Princess,” said Vijayendran, taking her hands one by one before sliding the kankanams over them.
Chamundeswari stared at the gold bracelets which were as thick as ropes, with a tiger face each at both ends. The snarling tigers facing each other had sparkling diamonds for their eyes. Tiger! Adityan is a Chozha warrior through and through, she thought to herself. “These look so beautiful, Aditya. I will treasure them with my life. I am so happy to receive both your parents’ blessing in the form of these bracelets.”
Vijayendran had a difficult time not pulling her into his arms and kissing her right there in the temple sanctorum. His heart danced with happiness that Chamundeswari was his wife now.
Tears ran down Vishnurayan’s cheeks as he held Anagha’s hand tightly in his, his gaze fixed on the princess. His little princess was a married woman now. And he was so glad and relieved that Vijayendran would keep his wife safe under all circumstances.
The newly married couple went on their knees to prostrate in front of the deities before getting up. After they stepped out of the sanctorum, Chamundeswari, with her hands clasped together, went down on her knees before Vishnurayan and Anagha, much to their shock. With tears in her eyes, the princess said, “You have been like parents to me, keeping me safe and teaching me everything that I know. I cannot thank you enough.”
“Your Highness!” Vishnurayan choked as he placed his hands on Chamundeswari’s shoulders to pull her up. “How could you do that?”
“I think it was easy, Vishnu,” said Vijayendran with a smile as he patted the older man on his shoulder. “But for you both, my princess would have probably been killed a long time ago.”
Both smiles and tears warred with each other on Anagha’s face before she pulled the princess into a hug. After all, had she not hugged the princess thousands of times when she had been a child?
The princess hugged her maid right back with equal enthusiasm before taking her husband’s hand in hers. Turning to Velan, she smiled. “Vela, I am so glad you could attend our wedding. I only miss Manu. But I suppose it is for the best not to bring him here to the temple this evening.”
Vijayendran laughed, pressing his palm to his wife’s. “The idea was not to draw too much attention to the event, right? That would not have been possible if we had brought Manu with us.”
“I know.” She grinned at her husband, feeling happier than she had ever been over the past thirteen years.
Vijayendran took charge of the situation. “Vela, you must leave immediately on the mission I charged you with.”
“Yes, My Lord!” The soldier bowed before the Chozha warrior who was the prince of Kongunadu from now on. “I will take your leave.” Turning right about, he left.
“Vishnu, you must leave first and take up your duty at the palace as always. Anagha, you leave with the princess in the chariot and return to the palace. As far as everyone else is concerned, this marriage did not happen. I…”
“But…” Chamundeswari gave her husband a shocked look. “Will you not be accompanying us, Aditya?”
“I do not think this is the right time to reveal our married status to your Chinnamma and Maama. I am sure you agree with me, my princess?” he lifted an eyebrow at her, even as he gazed at her beautiful face.
Anagha was shocked, but remained silent as it was not on her part to give an opinion. As for Vishnurayan, he simply stared at Vijayendran trying to understand why the prince had taken such a decision.
“I do not agree with what you say, Aditya. We both were married in the presence of Lord Murugan. Why should we keep it a secret? I agree we had to keep the matter confidential until the event, just to make sure that nobody stopped us. But the deed is done! Why should we still maintain secrecy?” The princess was fuming by now. Even as she got ready for the wedding, she had been dreaming of spending the rest of her life in Adityan’s arms. Especially at night. She still did not know everything about the physical relationship between a man and a woman. And had he not promised to enlighten her? She glared at her new husband, tremors running through her slender body as her temper blew out of control.
Vijayendran held her hand firmly in his before stepping away from Vishnurayan and Anagha. “Come with me, let us do a pradakshinam of the sanctorum.”
She dug in her heels and refused to move. “I do not want to go anywhere with you,” she snarled.
“Sweetheart!” He took her other hand also in his, pulling her closer. “You must bear with me. I promise to make you my wife in reality before dawn breaks. It is for the best that the others do not know that we are man and wife. Just for a few days more. After that, we will announce it to the whole country. Please, my love?” With a hand under her chin, he lifted her face to his, his eyes pleading with hers.
That did it! Chamundeswari simply melted at his words and the expression in his face. “I will be waiting for you,” she said, her golden gaze clinging to his.
“I will be with you as soon as I can.”
Dinner at the palace that night was pure torture for Chamundeswari as she watched the other four—Naganandini, Marthanda Bhupathi, Pandiyan and the man going under the name of Vijayendra Chozhan. As for Adityan, he had not turned up for the meal at the palace as the chief minister had made it obvious that a mere warrior was not welcome to sit at the royal dining table.
Adityan was only too happy to have his meal in a smaller dining room off the kitchen before going up to the princess’s quarters to await her there.
