The furious rage of Periya Pazhuvettarayar seemed to evoke no surprise whatsoever in Nandini. For three years now, she had made that great warrior, the venerable elder, dance like a puppet at the end of a string held in her hand. But today, for the first time, that string had snapped. The puppet, which had been dancing as she pleased, had now gained life and self-awareness. Nandini appeared to have anticipated this moment. From now on, she had no further use for that puppet.

Without the slightest trace of agitation, Nandini rose and bowed before Periya Pazhuvettarayar. In a voice trembling with emotion, she spoke:

“Swami, you have often told me that my words are sweeter to you than honey or divine nectar. But today, my words will taste more bitter than poison, just like the gruel I served you. Yet, I beg you, show me mercy and grant me permission to say a few words before I take my final leave from you. With the same lips that once called me ‘precious jewel’ and ‘beloved,’ today you have called me a sinner and a demoness. Yes, I am a sinner; I am a demoness! For three years, I have deceived and misled you. When I stood abandoned in the wilderness, you brought me into your palace. You made emperors and princes show me respect. You even dared to oppose your own dear younger brother, Chinna Pazhuvettarayar, for my sake. The slanderous words and mocking gossip of the townsfolk and the people of the land could not diminish the affection you had for me. Despite all this trust and the unparalleled honors you bestowed upon me, I have deceived you. That is the truth.

I have lived in your palace only to fulfill my own purpose. Without your knowledge, I have done many things. I have maintained secret dealings with conspirators. I have beguiled young men like Kandhamaaran and Parthibendran and used them for my own ends. But, Ayya, in one thing alone have I never deceived you. From the day the world knew I became your wife, I have accepted you as my husband in truth. By no fault of mine has any stain come upon your ancient and illustrious clan, which for generations has produced mighty heroes. And as long as I live, such a stain shall never befall you…”

“Nandini! What words are these that you utter? What greater disgrace could befall my lineage? Alas! By my own hand… with this very hand of mine… Oh, wretched woman! You had a sword with you, didn’t you? Where is it? Take it and sever my hand yourself! That is the only help you can do for me! No, no! Do not! This hand still has one more task to perform. A most important task remains. Do not, believing my words to be true, do anything rash!”

“Swami! I will not do any such thing. For so long, I could not use that sword even upon the one for whom I had sworn vengeance. In the moment when I feared the opportunity might slip away and my mind was clouded with confusion, you came to my aid…”

“Wretched woman! Did I come to help you? What words are these you speak? Outcaste! Demoness in the form of a woman! Had I known it would come to this, I would never have gone there! O God! When I was drowning and struggling in the floods of the Kollidam, could not that sinner Yama have taken me away then and there?”

“Swami! You did not come to help me. Nor did I ask you to aid me in my cause. You are born of a lineage that has, for generations, sworn loyalty to the Chola kings, to serve the Chola dynasty even at the cost of life itself. But I—I came with the sole purpose of avenging myself upon the Chola clan. That is why I did not reveal my true intentions to you. At times, I did wonder if I could accomplish my aim through you. Think on it! You, who today call me ‘demoness’ and ‘fiend in a woman’s form’, how many times have you lost both sight and sense, bewitched by the beauty of this madwoman’s face, as if you had drunk nectar turned to wine? In those moments, I thought, what if I were to fulfill my vengeance through you? But I did not wish to stain your lineage by making you commit such a treacherous deed. That is why I strove so hard to send you from Kadambur to Thanjavur. And you did go. Yet fate itself sought you out and brought you back at the appointed hour! You did not come of your own will to help me. But fate brought you to my aid at the most opportune moment! Yes, sir! It was fate that sowed suspicion in your heart about my virtue. If your only aim had been to prevent me from fulfilling my vengeance, you would have come openly. But it was suspicion that I had betrayed you, that I had committed some moral wrong, which made you don a disguise and come in secret. At least in that matter, your doubts must have been dispelled! If not, let them be dispelled now. Husband and wife are called partners in life by the elders—” They have said so. It is only because I have been a true and faithful wife to you that fate has brought you to me at the right moment to aid me…”

“Nandini! Enough! Stop! Your words are torturing me. Rather than this, kill me outright! I do not even have the strength in my hands to resist! My body has no vigor left. If you do not have the courage to kill me with a sword, then truly, mix poison in my gruel and give it to me!”

“My lord! Forgive me—no… you cannot forgive me. In this birth, it is impossible for you to forgive me!