Adityan Befriends Manu
Vijayendra Chozhan stood leaning against one of the stone pillars surrounding the mandapam in the compound of Brihadeeshwaran Koil in Thanjavur, his posture casual. No one looking at him could possibly imagine the state of alert he was in, ready to spring at the slightest movement from the people around him. His muscular arms folded against his massive chest, and his legs crossed at the ankles, his face held a serene expression, a small smile stretching his well-sculpted lips into a gentle curve.
More and more people gathered in the audience as they waited for the Bharatanatyam performance to begin that evening. The sun was already going down even as oil lamps came alive. Soon, the torches which were fitted into metal brackets on every pillar were all lit up and burned brightly.
While his eyes swung all around taking in the activities, Vijayendran’s body showed no other movement as he continued to lean against the pillar that had the best vantage point to view not only the show and the audience, but also each person who stepped into the temple from the east facing entrance.
It was not long before the musicians walked on to the stone stage and settled down; a woman with a tambura, a man with a mridangam and another younger man with a thalam manai kattai—a flat wooden board and stick to create the beat for the dancer to follow.
Vijayendran lifted a hand to slap away a small bee that buzzed around his head, careful not to kill it. Yes, he was particular that way about all living beings. Being a warrior by profession, no less than a commander for his half-brother Maharaja Rajendra Chozhan who ruled over the Chozha Maha Samrajyam—the vast Chozha empire—Prince Vijayendra Chozhan still had it in his heart to love all creatures. Even after having fought a number of wars, with more than a dozen scars of various shapes and sizes decorating his tall and muscular body, Vijayendran was not fond of violence. Being extremely loyal to his half-brother, he only did what needed to be done.
Hearing a soft roar, he turned his head and was amazed to notice a wooden cage on wheels, which had been placed not far from him. It was not the cage that astounded him but the fully grown tiger that was prowling restlessly inside it. What was a tiger doing in the temple during a dance performance?
His curiosity getting the better of him, he walked over to the cage that was as high as his shoulder and peeped through its iron bars. “Hello, my friend,” he called out to the tiger that turned around to gaze at him with its amber eyes.
Vijayendran smiled when it sat down on its hind legs, staring at him unblinkingly. “What are you doing here in the temple?” he asked, chatting with the wild animal as if it was a long-lost friend and was pleased to hear a soft growl in response that was not all that different from the purr of a kitten, only louder.
“I would advise you not to touch Manu unless you want to lose your fingers or maybe even your hand,” said a loud voice not far from Vijayendran.
“And who might you be?” asked Vijayendran, moving from his crouched position beside the cage to stand straight and tall next to a man who was obviously a sentry. It was also apparent that the man was not a local.
“I’m Velan, the bodyguard of Her Highness Princess Chamundeswari of Kongunadu,” said the guard, immense pride in his voice. “And I’m also in charge of Manu’s care,” he added, pointing to the cage.
“So! That is your name,” said Vijayendran, turning to give the tiger a wide grin. “Manu!”
This time, the growl was a tad louder, drawing the attention of some of the people in the crowd. They watched on in awe as the king’s brother, Vijayendra Chozhan, chatted with the tiger. No one seemed surprised though.
“And who does Manu belong to?” asked Vijayendran, returning his gaze to the guard. He could not help wondering if the tiger belonged to the princess. After all, it was she and her soldiers who had arrived in Thanjavur that day. And now, here was her sentry who was in charge of the tiger. Only he could not really imagine a woman, even if she was a princess, having a tiger for her pet.
“He belongs to Princess Chamundeswari.”
Vijayendran raised an eyebrow, but did not say anything. A princess with a tiger for a pet. He immediately recalled the face and golden eyes of the woman he had met inside the temple. He was almost sure she was Princess Chamundeswari, but not by one hundred per cent. Could this tiger belong to that woman? It seemed highly possible, he thought, a small smile widening his lips. He would know once the dancer came on stage.
“Is your princess here?” he asked, turning left and right, looking for the gorgeous woman he had met inside. While he had never met the princess of their vassal kingdom, he had heard a lot about her beauty, which description fit the woman inside the temple. But he had also heard that the princess of Kongunadu was an amenable woman. The beauty inside the temple had seemed anything but acquiescent. But then, would a meek woman have a tiger for her pet?
Vijayendran was more curious than ever! Who was the real princess?
“Her Highness Princess Chamundeswari will be performing on stage in a brief while,” said Velan, as proud as a peacock.
Vijayendran gave the sentry a small nod. “Is that so? Is she a trained dancer?” he asked, keeping the sentry busy answering his questions as he tried to learn more about the princess. But his eyes were all over the place, not just seeking a glimpse of the princess but also keeping a lookout for trouble. Vishnurayan had been extremely serious about the danger the princess seemed to be in. And right now, she was Vijayendran’s responsibility as the loyal servant had had to go hiding from the soldiers from his own kingdom.
“Oh yes! She not only dances, but plays the veena like Goddess Saraswathi herself,” said Velan.
“What about warfare? Is your princess trained to use a sword or maybe a bow and arrows?” asked Vijayendran, raising an eyebrow at the sentry.
“Huh! Are you crazy or what, my man? Is not Princess Chamundeswari a delicate young woman? How can you expect her to know anything about warfare or the use of weapons? Of course, she does not.” Velan glared at Vijayendran for asking him such a stupid question.
Vijayendran’s mouth curved into a wider smile before he caught sight of a man who stepped into the temple right at that moment. He was built like a warrior but was clothed like an ordinary man. More than that, he was not a local, most definitely not. The Chozha prince knew every local by sight and most of them by name. This man was definitely not from Thanjavur. But what really caught the prince’s attention was the man’s posture as he did his best to make himself small. Which was next to impossible as he was barrel-chested with arms to match. And he was taller than most of the people present at the temple.
Vijayendran decided to keep an eye on the man, just in case.
Velan looked at the man standing next to Manu’s cage and could not help wondering who he was. He appeared authoritative and could have been from the royal family, except that he was too simply clothed. The sentry dismissed his first thought. No, this man could not be from any royal family. The only ornament he wore, a bracelet on his right arm, was made of silver and not even gold. He was probably a warrior such as himself.
“What is your name?” Velan asked the stranger.
“They call me Adityan.” Which was but the truth as Vijayendran’s bright face reminded one of the Sun itself. In fact, his brother, Maharaja Rajendra Chozhan, preferred to call him Adityan.
“Are you a warrior?” asked Velan, feeling curious. The way the man, this Adityan, carried himself, suggested that he was probably more than just a warrior. Was he a commander, maybe? Velan was not aware how close he was to the truth.
“That is right, Velan. Are you not intelligent?” said Vijayendran, in his most flattering voice.
Velan was overjoyed to hear his new friend’s words. After all, no one in his family or in his regiment had ever called him ‘intelligent’.
“Now, if you will excuse me, my friend? I just saw someone I simply need to talk to. Shall I take your leave?”
“I will see you around, Aditya,” said Velan, lifting a hand to his friend.
Vijayendran turned to the cage and placed a hand over the bars. “Manu! If you are who I think you are, you will be seeing more of me in the near future. Until then, my friend!”
Manu gave a soft growl as if he understood Vijayendran’s words, butting his head against the man’s hand.
Vijayendran laughed softly, stroking the tiger’s head, his mind on the strange man at the opposite side of the compound. Vijayendran was sure he was going to cause some kind of trouble before the evening was over.
But the dancer’s arrival on stage kept him rooted to the spot.
