Lakshmi

Chapter 16 He is not a slave

Karuppiah and Lakshmi gave their smile while  the king departed. Then they took the horses for a walk on the ground. They both walked before the horses, and the horses followed them with no questions. After a brief walk, Lakshmi told the horses to prepare for a ride tomorrow at the cockle-o-doo of the first rooster. The horses wigwagged their tails in approval.

Karuppiah enquired Lakshmi, " Do you have the dress to mount  on the horse". Lakshmi grinned, and said," Ahilandam has already given me. A Jothpur dress ." Karuppiah replied her in all smiles. " If you had no dress available to mount on the horse, I was thinking to drape you with  a saree in a Maharashtrian way", he chuckled at his imagination of draping her with a long saree.

"You don't need to. I myself know how to do it. I learnt it from Yamuna, my kumbakonam friend. Originally she is a Maharashtrian women", replied Lakshmi jovially, while slapping his butt slightly. Karuppiah was in all his joy. 

" Lakshmi, you have absolutely denied me the chance of draping you with the saree. I look forward to that opportunity, some times later", he spoke, winking his one eye. Lakshmi blushed at the understanding of his intention.

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Devi saw the couple  her house. She was in her joy to see the addition of beauty that had come on the body of Lakshmi. She wished to carry the child of Lakshmi soon in her hands. She intently looked at Lakshmi. Lakshmi and Karuppiah were eating their ragi dosa being made by the priest himself; the priest had now become the cook.

Lakshmi, in a slow voice, so Karuppiah could not hear, told Devi,"Mother, I am eating the herb, that prevents conceiving,  since the evening I got married with my Kala. We have decided to have your grandchildren after three years only. We have a mission to do". A note of disappointment came out of Devi's nostril with a sigh of resignation. 

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Even before the dawn, that too before the priest had arrived at  the temple, both Kattayya and Sasivarnam were on their horses. The king arrived at  the king's horse stable, and untied Ron for himself.He asked Karuppiah and Lakshmi to use Seeta. 

The king untied himself Seeta and brought the horse closer to the stair case near the upper room, so Lakshmi could make the stairs as an elevated ground, to helping herself mount on the horse conveniently. She had already half- learned how to mount on the horse at Kumbakonam. She had now draped herself  in her Jodhpur dress. Karuppiah  helped Lakshmi to mount on the horse comfortably 

While she did it, Karuppiah mounted on the Seeta, at the back of Lakshmi, brushing his torso firmly  to the back of Lakshmi. Lakshmi could feel Karuppiah's torso entwined with her. She was little uncomfortable at her state in the presence of other men, and she giggled.The men understood her dilemma and they all laughed. They teased Karuppiah. Seeta was in delight, as she and Ron could walk on together, and was pleased to have her friends on her back. 

Now the horses were on their way to Krishna Achari's house. From the east gate itself,  four escort soldiers on their horses were guiding the king's team, two soldiers in front and two soldiers following, and they arrived at the morning twilight at their host's place. They alinghted from their horses. They  were welcomed by Krishna Achari and his wife. Ahilandam was there to receive Sasivarnam. 

Karuppiah saw his mother Deivanai approaching the main entrance. Deivanai told Karuppiah that both Sarasu and Saroja had gone to the house of Sarasu's friend, and would return  only at the evening to see lord Perumal in  his procession on the streets. The king and others sat on the entrance main hall. They were appreciating the colored paintings of Krishna Achari.

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Krishna Achari and his wife Sundari and their girls  gave the guests  a tasty breakfast of exclusive Chettinad recipes. Lakshmi wanted to learn few dishes, to spoil the stomach of Karuppiah. She would find time this evening. Lakshmi thought.

The king and Kattayya now were discussing the need for good governance at Tamilnadu. Both Karuppiah and Lakshmi began to attend to the discussion, having started by the king. They prepared themselves to listen. 

Kattayya was telling in a mood of worriness.

" Father, it appears that Sasivarnam is wanting to fight with the tiger being groomed by the Tanjore king. Ahilandam is worried. She is worried for two reasons. One Sasivarnam may get killed. Secondly if he would win, he is obliged to marry the only daughter of the Tanjore king". 

Upon hearing, Ahilandam started to weep in great distress. Sasivarnam was helpless at this time, and he was happy that the king was, at once, interfering with his soothing words.

The king's eyes was on Ahilandam. He retorted," Ahilandam! Your husband Sasivarnam is a brave man. He would definitely kill the tiger. I assure you. He has that blessing he received from the saint living now in  the Maravamangalam forests. He won't get marry with the daughter of the Tanjore king, because my spies have confirmed me that the girl is in love with a soldier in the Tanjore army. I got the news that the above soldier is truly handsome, and honest in all probabilities; he may be elevated as the deputy captain to the Tanjore army. He would help Kattaya in defeating the illegitimate claimers now operating in Ramanathapuram. So leave all the worries and cheer up Sasivarnam. More over, Sasivarnam would fight the tiger, after he marry Ahilandam only. He then would get a double courage", laughing profusely.

He also was explaining his plans once again: " My dear Kattayya, Sasivarnam, Lakshmi, Karuppiah, Krishna Achari  and my dear daughters Ahilandam and Sundari, listen to me. While the lord's procession is about to be over today, both Kattayya and Sasivarnam would leave for Tanjore. Kattayya will hand over my letter to Tanjore king. Perhaps he would have a chance to meet that Tanjore young man.  Since Sasivarnam is accompanying him, I have no worries about Kattayya. Sasivarnam, see you hand over the bundle from the monks promptly at the British man", remarked the king with a satisfying breath.

Now turning to Lakshmi and Karuppiah, and seeing Deivanai, the king added. " I am aware Sarasu is still loving Karuppiah. I believe it is an eternal bond. Even if we compel her for a marriage with any other, she would decline. Hence my advice to Lakshmi is this. Lakshmi has to treat Sarasu as her best intimate friend. Sarasu should be never deprived of that love. She will not travel beyond Lakshmipuram. That is destined to her, as the leader of that hamlet". Deivanai wiped out her tears, with  her saree end. Lakshmi was in absolute silence for a few minutes. Then she replied," Honorable king. I have two eyes. One is my Kala and the other is my Sarasu. I know they are together in my mission", in tears. The king noted those words.

The king continued turning to Ahilandam. " I wish you  leave tomorrow at the twilight to Ramanathapuram through the forests of Unjanai. You proceed further and  visit the Anandur temple. You then pass through the tanks of Varavani. Then reach Ramanathapuram late in the evening. Prepare therefore for your journey, and your guards. As for me, I stay in the fort for a couple of days and then I meet you at Ramanathapuram. There is a nice saree in the bag that is with Ron now. I received it, for presenting to  your mother, from the  hands of Kumbakonam visitors.  They have come to dharshan the lord", saying these he invited Ahilandam and kissed her on her forehead. 

Deivanai was wondering at the attitude and actions of the king, not as a powerful king, but as the simplest man ever who understands the heart emotions of his fellow beings. A deep cry of satisfaction erupted as a sigh.

The king then left for the fort with Ron, to inspect final arrangements with respect to the lord's procession. Ahilandam accompanied both Sasivarnam and Kattayya to survey the waters facing the south and west gates of the fort. Kattayya was advising Sasivarnam to cross the crocodile infected water at a safer place, at this midnight.

While their horses were passing through the south gate of the fort, Kattayya stopped them and said to Sasivarnam," Sasivarnam. This is the fourth month of Tamils. And it is also a full moon day. The heat is overwhelming. It appears late this night, the heat  would further increase. I am assuming our crocodile would be retreating themselves in this heat, while the moon reaches  up the  sky,  by burying themselves usually on the rich mud".

Kattayya continued, saying," So my preference is we plunge into the water facing the north gate with our horses, in the mid might, and  reach the forest. Then  we ride towards Tanjore passing the white Vellar river, and then the Ambuli moon river,  finally reaching the Gandharvakottai palace. We take rest at the palace till next dawn, and then ride to arrive at  Tanjore on the next day before noon" Sasivarnam nodded his head, while Ahilandam, fully immersed in  delight, glanced Sasivarnam with her smiling eyes. " Fighting with the tiger! What else are there for his fight?", thinking she chuckled. 

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Karuppiah was talking to Deivanai now. Lakshmi was with Sundari and the children in the kitchen. Krishna Achari was attending to the needs of guardian soldiers of Ahilandam. He was so much satisfied on the visit of the king; on the progressing lives of Karuppiah and Lakshmi. His mind  was planning a ten by ten room for his future work on canvas in that room, specifically on the upper room. He immediately thought of contacting the masons who built the room and upper room for Karuppiah. 

In the kitchen, Lakshmi was after Sundari to getting to know the different recipes of Chettinad cuisine, and its delicate culinary practices. The two little girls of Sundari were busy grinding coconut chutney for today's flour appam, a dish like dosa, but sweet and aromatic in fragrance.

Deivanai was expressing her worries about Saroja. Karuppiah replied, " Amma, there is nothing to worry about Saroja. I know she is growing. I am thinking to ask Ahilandam the princes to take her to Sivaganga after Ahilandam gets married with Sasivarnam.  Saroja can study, and help our hamlet".

Patting his left cheek by her tender right hand, she replied," Karuppiah, you are my only wonderful son. I am happy that Lakshmi is with you, a delightful clever girl. But my worries are with  Sarasu",

"Do not get terrified, Amma. Sarasu is under the care of our goddess Lakshmi of the bunyan grove. You and Sarasu stay at our house, once Saroja leaves for Sivaganga. I am ensuring some regular helps reach you each full moon day. Deivanai smiled at him. Yet she was in tears for unknown reasons. She could not explain that to Karuppiah.

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Sarasu was in her friend's house organizing jasmine tiny banquets for the women to wear by the evening. But her mouth was explaining to Saroja about her love on Karuppiah. She remarked," Saroja, you are  little girl, but you are knowing the world. I loved your brother so deeply from that day I was born. I wished I would be his wife at Lakshmipuram. I was thinking to go to the ragi fields, working with him in weeding and harvesting ragi, gathering cereals and cucumbers. In fact I wished him  to take me to the trees to collect honey at the call of the indicator bird. I wished that our tiger to escort us to places of sweetness. Now all were lost because of another woman". It appeared that she was in a rage of jealousy.

 Saroja retorted," My brother is not a slave to you. He is intelligent, brave, and good at horse riding. He has studied well. He has to know sword fighting. Can you teach him sword fighting? Once you are able to teach him, I will ask my brother to marry you as his second wife. By the way, are you capable of adjusting with Lakshmi?". Having replied thus, Saroja was loudly laughing. Sarasu's friend came out of the kitchen, and asked why these big laughs. Sarasu was in chuckles. So was Saroja.

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Lakshmi saw both Sarasu and Saroja entering the house of Krishna Achari. In their hands, she found beautifully organized tiny bouquets of jasmine. She felt the fragrance of marigold and jasmine going around Karuppiah as a whirlwind enticing Karuppiah for the next few days ahead. She felt the immediate need for exploring the temple cave, and the immediate need for planning for a better revenue administration in the territory