The next morning, Sembiyan Maadevi, Madurantakan, and Poonguzhali set out for Thanjavur.

Ponniyin Selvan and Vandiyathevan had planned to travel to Uraiyur and Srirangam. While departing, Arulmozhi Varman had promised to show Vandiyathevan the great dam built across the Kaveri river during the reign of Karikala Chozhan, constructed to hold back the river’s waters.

Before they set out, Ponniyin Selvan went to bid farewell to Princess Kundavai.

“Sister! Is it absolutely necessary for you to go to Pazhayarai?” he asked.

“Brother! Is it absolutely necessary for you to go to Uraiyur? Can you not come with us to Pazhayarai?” she replied.

“No, sister! I have already told Alwarkadiyan that I would meet him at Uraiyur for an important matter,” he said.

“Ah! You are not like you once were, brother! Your heart has become quite corrupted. You no longer make me your purpose. I believe the cause of this change is the friendship of that Vallam prince…”

“Do not unjustly blame him. Am I not of age now, sister? I am about to be crowned emperor of a great kingdom. Should I not, at least from now on, act according to my own wishes?”

“Very well, act as you wish! As long as you do not exercise your authority over me, it is fine! As long as you do not insist that I must act according to your wishes, it is fine.”

“Just come for the coronation. After that, you may do as you please.”

“If you wish, you may exercise your authority over me after the coronation. Until then, what right do you have to compel me?”

“In that case, are you not going to come for the coronation?” “That is Vanathi’s wish. If she wants to go, I will come too; if not, I shall not.”

“Where is that girl, Akka?”

“Your mother has gone to the Ponni river to perform her prayers. She has gone to pray that you may be blessed with good sense.”

The prince laughed and said, “Let her prayers be fulfilled. I am setting out.”

“Thambi! I have never seen anyone as cruel as you. Vanathi did not sleep all night. She kept sighing and weeping, thinking of you. Go to the Kaveri’s bathing ghat and bid her farewell!” said Kundavai.

“What if she did not sleep? It seems she has stolen my sleep as well. If two people cannot understand each other’s hearts, then they are doomed to weep and suffer. Do you wish me to marry such a girl and spend my whole life in misery?” said Ponniyin Selvan, and with that, he swiftly left towards the rear of the palace.

Once he crossed the garden, he saw Vanathi seated at the bathing ghat of the Ponni river, taking flowers from the plate beside her and offering them one by one into the flowing waters.

Had Vanathi not been engaged in her worship, she would have seemed like a golden statue of a maiden placed upon that Kaveri ghat.

Ponniyin Selvan went silently and sat on the upper step behind Vanathi. She must have sensed that someone was approaching. By her inner intuition, she seemed to know it was Ponniyin Selvan himself. So, without turning around, she ceased her worship and sat quietly.

On the petals of the flowers in the plate, a few dewdrops could be seen.

On the petals of Vanathi’s eyes, two pearl-like tears shone brightly.

As the rays of the rising sun mingled with the gentle ripples of the Ponni river, the maiden of the Chola empire appeared as if golden threads were weaving through her, her blue silk saree draped like an upper garment, gleaming in the light. On either side of that blue silk saree, the green silk borders seemed to mirror the lush groves flourishing on both banks of the river.

On either bank of the Kaveri, in harmony with the sweet music of her flowing current, myriad birds in the groves sang auspicious songs and offered their blessings. The time, the place, and the very atmosphere were most suited for wandering in the world of imagination and dreaming in broad daylight.

After a moment’s silence, the prince looked at her and said, “Vanathi! Are you daydreaming? Did I disturb your dream?”

“I am indeed dreaming in the daylight, my lord! But how could you possibly shatter my dream? Even when I dream at night, is it not you who shines as the hero in the midst of my visions? That is why, when I see you beside me, I am left to wonder, ‘Is this a dream or is it reality?’ I cannot even bring myself to call out, ‘Come!’ Yes, my lord! For so many days, I have dreamed so many kinds of dreams. When I first met you in the gardens of the palace at Thirunallam, I thought you were a mahout. Many times afterwards, I wished you could remain just a simple elephant driver. In my imagination, I have often seen myself riding behind you on an elephant, rejoicing in the vision. Yet, at those times, it never seemed to me that I was riding an ordinary dark elephant of this world. It always felt as though I was ascending the white Airavata of the celestial realms. I would imagine you as Indra himself, and myself as Indrani…”

“If that is so, then now…” Ponniyin Selvan tried to interject, but Vanathi stopped him and continued:

“Wait a moment, my king! I will at once change this fantasy of Indra and Indrani. What peace is there for Indra and Indrani? When have they ever had the chance to ride alone, joyfully, upon Airavata? Are not the gods and goddesses ever surrounded by their retinues, always in the midst of a great assembly? So I will immediately set aside that thought. Instead, I shall imagine that I was not born a princess, but into the family of a boatman living by the seashore.”

“I can see it, Vanathi! I know it! You