A Horse Galloped

Kundavai had decided that Vanathi was the appropriate
bride for her incomparable brother. But Vanathi had one
fault: she was too timid. How could a girl who was to
marry the bravest of brave warriors, who was to give birth
to a son to rule the whole world, be so fainthearted?
Kundavai wanted to change her timidity and make her
brave and courageous. She had arranged for the deception
with the stuffed crocodile for this very purpose. But, the
Lady of Kodumbalur passed that test easily.
Upon returning from the house of the Kudanthai
Astrologer, Kundavai and Vanathi climbed into their swan
shaped barge. The barge floated downstream for a short
distance. The girls would often play in the water amidst the
thick groves of trees. They reached their favorite spot and
disembarked. When everyone had climbed down, one of
the girls screamed "Crocodile!" "Help!" She was pointing
beyond the tree near which they were standing. All the
other girls soon took up the cry and ran hither and thither.
But Vanathi, who was usually of a frightened disposition,
did not exhibit any fear. She was not scared even upon
seeing the horrible crocodile, with its wide open jaws, right
next to her. Vanathi was not afraid even when she saw the
faces of the other girls who were pretending to be afraid
according to Kundavai's instructions.
"Akka, the crocodile is powerful only when it is in the
water; it has no strength when it is on land. Tell these girls
not to be afraid!" said Vanathi.
"You deceiving thief! This is not a live crocodile; it is a
stuffed carcass! Someone has already told you that!" said
one of the other girls.
"I am not afraid even if it is really alive. I am only afraid
of lizards."
It was at this point, that Vandiya Devan arrived there to
save those maids from the terrifying crocodile! He jumped
off his horse and in one run threw his spear as he came
rushing forward. When Vallavarayan heard the words of
the lady who stood in front of the crocodile, his whole
body became alert. His disappointment that she had not
talked to him earlier at the astrologer's house was now
demolished.
But, that crocodile behind her - with its gaping jaws --
somehow created an uneasiness in him. Why is she
standing in front of the crocodile? Why is she asking me
not to bother? And why is that horrible crocodile not
moving from its spot all this time?
The lady continued: "Sir! In Kudanthai, you begged
pardon for having entered the astrologer's house in a hurry.
We came away without giving you any reply. You might
have perhaps construed that all women of the Chozla
country are mannerless creatures. Please do not think so. I
was a little confused because my friend had suddenly
fainted in that house. That is why I did not reply ... ..."
Oh, ho! What a pleasing voice this is? Why is my heart
pounding like this on hearing her speak? Why is my throat
parched? Not even did the marching drums of the war, or
even the sweet music of the flute and lute fill me with such
joy. Nothing shook me up like this. Why am I not able to
interrupt her and say something? Why is my tongue tied?
Why has the gentle breeze stopped? Why has the Arisil
stopped flowing? And then .... this crocodile? Why is it
still, like this?
While Vandiya Devan's heart was agitated in this manner,
his ears could continue hearing that girl's voice as if in a
dream: "... even now, you did this Sir, thinking that you
were saving us. You threw the spear at the crocodile. It is
rare to find gallants who can handle the spear with such
speed and accuracy..."
All the other girls standing under that tree now laughed
sharply. The laughter shattered Vandiya Devan's infatuated
dream. The magic cords, -- that girl's speech -- which
bound him, were cut loose. He examined the crocodile
again; moved aside from the girl in front of him and neared
the reptile. He shook the spear embedded on its back and
pulled it loose. No blood gushed from the hole made by his
weapon: then? some plantain fiber and cotton came out.
Those wicked girls laughed again. This time they clapped
their hands and applauded.
Vallavarayan's heart and body shrank with mortification.
He had never met such disgrace ever before. Such a great
blow to his pride in front of all these women! Are these
women? No, no! they are ogresses! I should not tarry next
to them. I should not look upon their faces. Damn this! My
darling spear! Is this your fate, to suffer such dishonor?
How will I wipe out this blemish? ...
All these thoughts raced through Vandiya Devan's mind
within one moment. If those who stood there laughingly
had been men, the clearing would have turned into a
battlefield! Those who dared to laugh would have lost their
lives that very instant! River Arisil would have run red
with their blood. But they were women! What could he do
to them? The only recourse was to run away and escape!
Without even looking back at the face of the girl who had
captivated his mind, Vandiya Devan ran up the river
embankment. His horse, which was standing up there,
neighed. Vandiya Devan felt that even his horse was
laughing at him along with those girls. All his anger turned
towards the horse. He jumped upon its back and smacked
it sharply, twice with his whip. The self-respecting horse
quickly galloped along the trail on the riverside.
For a while, Kundavai Pirati gazed in the direction in
which the horse had galloped away. She watched till the
dust raised by the horse had settled.
Turning towards her companions, she said, "Girls! None of
you have any refinement even now! You shouldn't have
laughed like that. When we are alone we can laugh and
tease as we wish. Don't we have to show some decorum
when a stranger is in our midst? What would that youth
think about the women of the Chozla country?" spoke
Kundavai.