In the guest wing of the Kadambur palace, within a chamber specially adorned in the inner quarters, Nandini lay reclining on a luxurious cot draped with silken sheets. She, too, had adorned herself splendidly that day, her beauty shining with a radiance never seen before. Her face glowed with an unparalleled charm. It was clear from her half-closed eyes that she was lost in a daydream. Each time her dark eyelids fluttered open and shut, flashes of magnetic light, like lightning, glimmered in her gaze and vanished again. Though she appeared to be in a half-sleep, it was evident that her mind was agitated and deep in thought.

If one observed a little more closely, it could be seen that the gaze of her half-shut eyes was fixed upon the curling smoke rising from a censer in one corner of the room. The smoke rose in thick spirals, whirling upward in circles, spreading and dissolving into invisibility. Who could say what visions Nandini beheld in those swirling clouds of incense? Suddenly, she let out a deep sigh.

Her coral lips murmured, “Yes, yes! All the dreams I have seen have vanished, just like these whorls of smoke. At least this smoke leaves behind a sweet fragrance as it fades away. The dreams that have drifted away from me have left only pain, sorrow, slander, and disgrace in their wake!”

At that moment, a gentle voice called, “Devi! Devi! May I come in?”

“Come, child, come! Would I ever ask you for permission to enter your own house?” replied Nandini.

Manimekalai opened the door and entered softly. Yet, from the brightness of her face, the spring in her step, and the lively movement of her hands, it seemed as though she was about to burst in dancing and singing with joy.

Nandini straightened up a little and pointed to the ivory stool beside her cot, inviting Manimekalai to sit. Manimekalai sat down and said, “Devi! My brother has instructed me in every way about how I should conduct myself with you. He has told me a great deal about the civilization of the southern lands. He especially warned me that I must never enter another’s chamber suddenly, without asking or being called!”

“Let the people of the southern lands and their civilization go to ruin! Forget at once all that your brother has taught you! Never call me ‘Devi’ or ‘Maharani’—not even once! Call me ‘Akka’—elder sister!”

“Akka! Akka! Won’t it trouble you if I come to you often and disturb you?”

“It would indeed trouble me if you come often and disturb me; but if you stay here with me always, never leaving my side, then there will be no trouble at all!” said Nandini, smiling.

Enchanted by that smile, Manimekalai gazed at Nandini’s face for a while, then said, “I have never seen a beauty like you. Not even in paintings have I seen such a face.”

“Girl! Don’t you too fall under my spell! Already, everywhere, people are saying that I am a ‘Maya Mohini’—an enchantress. They slander me, saying that I bewitch any man who comes near me!”

“Akka! If I ever hear anyone utter such slander, I will cut out their tongue and only then think of anything else!” declared Manimekalai.

“There is no use blaming the people, Manimekalai! I have married an old man, haven’t I? That’s why they talk so.”

Manimekalai’s face fell. “Yes, yes! Even I feel sad when I think of it. My brother, too, was deeply troubled by it. But is that a reason to slander someone so cruelly?”

“Let them talk as they please, Manimekalai! Even about Sita Devi herself, people in the town gossiped and slandered. What harm did it do to Sita? Leave my affairs aside—tell me about yourself!”

“What is there to say about me, Akka?”

“Oh, sly girl! Didn’t you come this evening and say you would tell me the secrets of your heart? And now you say there is nothing to tell?” said Nandini, and gently stroked Manimekalai’s beautiful cheek. Killi’s daughter.

“Akka! I always wish I could stay with you like this forever. If only they arranged a swayamvaram where women could marry women, I would garland you myself!” said Manimekalai.

“You haven’t even spent a whole day with me yet! And already you’re speaking such enchanting words? It makes me happy, truly. I have longed so much for a dear friend like you. All the women of the Chola royal houses are always chasing after that Pazhaiyarai ghost, but at least you are left for me! But what you just said is impossible. A woman garlanding another woman has never happened in this world. You must, in the end, marry a man…”

“What if I remain a maiden all my life, Akka?”

“That cannot be, dear! It cannot! This world will never let you remain a maiden. Your mother and father won’t allow it; your brother won’t allow it. Only if someone ties you to a man’s neck will their hearts find peace. So, if you must marry, tell me—whom do you wish to wed?”

“Ask me by name, Akka! I will answer you!”

“Very well, I shall ask plainly. Do you wish to marry the devout Madurantaka Devar, renowned for his devotion to Shiva? Or do you long to garland the valiant and heroic Aditya Karikalan?”

Suddenly, as if struck by some thought, Manimekalai burst out laughing.

“Why do you laugh, Manimekalai? Did you think I was mocking you? Your brother summoned me here especially to settle this matter. Karikalan himself may arrive here at any moment. Your brother will be here too. I have promised him that I would learn your heart’s secret and tell him,” said Nandini.

“Even I do not know what lies in my heart, Akka! What am I to do?”

“At least tell me why you laughed!” Nandini pressed her.

The moment you mentioned the name ‘Madhurantakan’, a memory came to me. Four months ago, he visited