A Sorcerer

In the distance the booming of large drums could be heard. Cymbals sounded and men raised cheers. They heard the
fortress-gates close shut with a bang; hoof-beats of horses and elephants. Vandiya Devan realized that those noises had
distracted Nandini's attention. The maid sitting on guard came up, "My Lady! it seems that the Master has returned."
Nandini said, "I know. Go back to your place." She then turned towards Vandiya Devan, "The Finance Officer is
entering the fort. He will go to the palace to enquire after the health of the Emperor. Then meet and talk with the Commander
and then come here. You must depart before he comes here. What was the message from Mr. Azlvar-adiyan Nambi?" she
cherished me as his own sister. It's a pity! I disappointed him greatly."
"Then it is alright. The message from Mr. Nambi is this: God Krishna is waiting for you. All the ardent Vaishnava
devotees are waiting anxiously to see you wed the holy Lord Krishna!"
Nandini signed loudly. "Ah! He has not forgotten those foolish dreams. If you see him again tell him this from me:
Ask him to completely forget me. Tell him that I am in no way deserving to become a great apostle like Andal."
"I don't agree with that, My Lady."
"What don't you agree with?"
"I don't agree with your saying that you cannot become another apostle like Andal! Andal had to immerse herself in
devotion and worship, sing verse and psalm -- shed tears and weave flower garlands before she could marry the Lord. But you
will have no such difficulty. All that is needed is that Lord Krishna see you -- He will forsake all those divine maids like
Rukmini, Bhama, Radha and the mystic milkmaids. He will seat you on his throne besides him!"
"Sir! You are an expert in flattery. I have never liked that."
"My Lady, what is the meaning of flattery?"
"Praising someone to their face."
"If so, please turn around a little and show me your back."
"Why? ..."
"To praise you, without looking at your face. That's why. Is there anything wrong in that?"
"You talk very cleverly."
"Now, you are flattering me!"
"Why don't you also turn around, and show me your back?"
"Great Queen, it is never my habit, be it in the battlefield or in the presence of women, to turn my back. You can
freely flatter me."
Upon hearing this, Nandini laughed loudly, gleefully. "You are surely a magician. There is no doubt now. It has been
a long time since I laughed so joyously."
"But My Lady, it is very dangerous to make you laugh: the lotus in the pool bloomed in joyous laughter; the honey
bee fell swooning down!" said Vandiya Devan.
"You are not only a magician; you also seem to be a kavi!"
"I am not afraid of flattery; nor do I fear scolds."
(The Tamil word kavi has two meanings: 1. poet 2. monkey.)
"You were called `monkey face!' Who were those scholars?"
"None of them are alive now."
"I didn't call you that! I said you seemed like a poet able to compose verse!"
"Oh yes! I can also compose verse; but I usually sing in front of my enemies. Those who do not die by my piercing
arrows can die by my piercing words!"
"My dear Sir! Oh you bravest lion among poets! You have not yet told me your name?" asked Nandini with laughter.
"My given name is Vandiya Devan. I also have the title Vallavarayan."
"Of a noble family?"
"I come from the ancient and famous Vaanar clan."
"These days ... Your kingdom ...?"
"The sky above me; the earth below my feet; now I am the sole emperor of all the known worlds!"
Nandini examined Vallavarayan from head to toe for sometime.
"There is nothing impossible. You can get back your ancient territories."
"How is that possible? How can anything swallowed by the tiger come out again? Can I get back my kingdom
swallowed by the Chozla Empire?"
"I can arrange to get it back!"
"My Lady! Please don't! No need! I never had any wish to rule a kingdom. Whatever tiny wish I had, it totally
vanished today, after I saw Emperor Sundara Chozla. It is better to remain a free pauper without knowing where my next meal
comes from than be a prince beholden to everyone."
"That is my opinion too." Nandini spoke again as if she remembered something that she had forgotten. "Why are the
Commander's men looking for you?"
"Like your maid, he too had a suspicion about me!"
"What suspicion?"
"About how I came to posses a signet ring with the palmtree symbol."
A tiny shade of fear engulfed Nandini's face. "Where is the ring?" she asked in a shaken voice.
"Here it is my Lady. Will I loose it so easily?" saying it, he took out the ring from his pouch and showed it to her.
"How did he know that you posses this?" asked Nandini.
The fear on her face and voice had now disappeared, "Did he believe you?" she asked.
"I don't think he believed me fully. That's why he must have sent those guards to follow me. He might have intended
to place me before his elder brother and find the truth when he returned."
Nandini said with a smile, "You don't have to fear the Elder Lord. I shall take care that he does not chew you out."
"My Lady! The whole world knows of your influence over the Finance Officer. But I have some urgent chores outside
the fort. That's why I seek your help in escaping."
"What are those urgent chores?"
"I have several. For example I have to meet Mr. Azlvar-adiyan and give him your reply. What shall I tell him?"
"Tell him to completely forget that he had a sister known as Nandini."
"I can tell him that; but it may not be possible."
"What?"
"Forgetting you completely. I who have casually met you twice cannot forget you. How can he who spent his lifetime
with you, forget you?"
A trace of victory and pride dwelt on Nandini's face. Her lance like eyes pierced through Vandiya Devan's heart as she
looked at him. "Why were you so eager to meet the Emperor?"
"What is so surprising about my wanting to see that world famous, handsome personality? Most monarchs on this
world wish to establish the fame of their bravery, their prestige, and the grandeur of their empires for ever. Their subjects pray
for such fame. But do you know what the buddhist monks in the monasteries pray for?
... May Sundara Chozla
grow in prosperity, benevolence, and in good looks and health; ...
I had a long time urge, to see this modern day Cupid, the God of Good Looks. ..."
"Yes; the Emperor is quite proud of his good looks. His darling girl is even more proud ....."
"His girl? ... Whom are you talking about?"
"She who lives at Pazlayarai. That arrogant, proud and prejudiced female -- I am talking about that Younger Pirati
Kundavai Devi!"
Vandiya Deva! You are fortunate! The tool you were searching for has come to you, here it is in your hands. Use it
well! Vandiya Devan's mind advised him thus.
Nandini, who had been reclining languorously all this time, now sat up suddenly. "Sir! I shall tell you one thing. Will
you agree?"
"Tell me, My Lady!"
He stood undisturbed.
"I need a confidential retainer. If I find you some such job in this palace, will you accept?" she asked.
"I have already agreed to serve another Lady in such a fashion. If she refuses to accept me, I shall surely come back to
you."
"Who is she? In competition with me?"
"You talked with great affection about her a little while ago, that very same Younger Pirati Kundavai Devi."
"Lies! Lies! It can never be possible! Are you jesting with me ..."
"Great Queen, several persons have already stolen and read this letter. There can be no harm in you also reading this."
Saying this, Vandiya Devan extended the letter given by Aditya Karikala to Kundavai.
Nandini held the letter under the lamp light and read it. As she was reading, the lightning darts that jumped out of her
eyes seemed like the forked, darting tongue of a king cobra to Vandiya Devan. Unconsciously, his body shivered.
Nandini looked at him with great dignity, "Sir! You intend to escape from this fort with your life, don't you?"
"Yes, My Lady, that is why I sought your help and came here."
"Only on one condition will I help you escape from here."
"Tell me the condition, My Lady."
"Whatever letter Kundavai gives in reply to this, you must bring that and come back to me. Do you agree?"
"A very dangerous condition!"
"You boasted some time ago about not minding any danger."
"Being courageous in such danger should merit an appropriate reward? ..."
"Reward? You want a reward? You will get a reward beyond your wildest dreams. You will get a reward for which,
the all powerful chief of this Chozla Empire, the Elder Lord Pazluvoor has been yearning for years. Such a reward will be
yours!" saying this, Nandini once again threw her weapons of enchantment at Vandiya Devan.
Poor Vandiya Devan! His head swam in dizziness. He muttered to himself: "Dear heart be courageous, don't loose
your reason."
In that moment, as if to help him, the horrible screech of an owl could be heard in the garden. Once, twice, thrice --
they heard the hoot.
His body shivered. Nandini looked towards the garden -- from where the hoots were heard -- saying, "The real
sorcerer has come."
She looked at Vandiya Devan again and continued, "I don't need him anymore. But let me say a few words to him
Nandini came out to stand near the doorway of the gazebo and clapped her hands thrice. One could not say if it was
the shadow of darkness or the trace of fear that covered her face. For some distance one could see the huge trees and creepers
that climbed their thick trunks; beyond was pitch darkness. The Sorcerer emerged from behind one such tree, cleaving the
darkness, pushing aside creepers.
Nandini went back to recline on her flower-laden couch. Her face now appeared calm and composed. The Sorcerer
entered the gazebo, and the golden light of the lamp now fell on his face.
Haven't we seen this face before? Who is he? -- Oh yes! He is one of the conspirators who met near Thiru-purambiyam
at midnight. He was the one who threw the tinkling gold coins on the ground from a bag; he is Ravidasa who urged,
"Kill Azlvar-adiyan instantly, wherever you see him."
Even as he stepped inside, his face seethed with anger. On seeing Nandini, reclining calmly on her swinging couch,
rage filled his cat-like eyes. He sat down on the wooden bench in front of the couch and stared at Nandini. His lips muttered
some incantations like, "Hoom, kreem, hareem, haraam!"
"Enough! Stop it! My maid, the idiot must have gone to sleep on the doorstep. Say what you have come to say and
leave quickly. I think he has returned to the fort." Nandini spoke with authority.
"You degenerate fiend!" snarled Ravidasa, like a hissing king cobra.
"Whom do you mean?" Nandini asked quite calmly.
"Thankless Nandini; Young-Queen of Pazluvoor; I mean you!" Ravidasa pointed at her with one finger.
Nandini kept quiet.
"You woman! You have forgotten the incidents which you should remember, I shall remind you."
"Why those old stories, now?" asked Nandini.
"You ask why? Why now? I will tell you -- I will first remind you of those incidents and then tell you ..." Ravidasa
spoke with fury.
Realizing that there would be no way of stopping him, Nandini sighed and turned her face away.
"Hey Queen! Listen, three years ago, one midnight, a corpse was burning in the cremation grounds beside the Vaigai
River. No final rites according to the sacred texts were offered and no priest officiated. They had built the pyre with dried
leaves and deadwood from the forest. They threw a body hidden behind trees onto that pyre. Then they set fire to it. The dry
wood of the forest caught fire easily and burned bright. At that time some men dragged you out of hiding in the forest. Your
hands and feet were bound and your mouth was stuffed with cloth. Your lovely tresses, which you have beautifully dressed
with flowers today, those tresses were unkempt, sweeping the dust, that midnight. Those men intended to throw you in that
burning pyre and roast you alive. One of them said, `Let the fire burn a little more furiously.' They threw you on the ground as
they sat a little apart. Each of those men, individually, took a terrible oath. You were listening. Though your limbs and mouth
were bound, your eyes and ears were free. So, you watched and listened. After they had all sworn their oaths, the men
approached you again. You, who were quiet till then, tried to make some signs -- trying to free your hands from the rope,
rolling your ravishing eyes. One of the men noticed, `She seems to wish to say something,' he said. `Must be the old story,
throw her into the fire,' said another. `Wait, before we throw her into the fire, let us at least hear what she wants; remove the
cloth from her mouth,' spoke a third fellow. Because he was their leader, the other men removed the cloth stuffed into your
convinced. I trusted you, and prevented them from throwing you into that burning pyre. I saved your life. Do you remember all
that?" asked Ravidasa.
Nandini turned towards him slightly, "Are you asking me, if I remember? Those incidents have been burned with fire
upon my heart."
"After that night, one day we were all walking along the banks of the wide, South Cauvery. Suddenly we heard the
pounding noise of a cavalry coming down the path. We decided to hide in the forest, each on their own, till those horse-men
had gone past. But you broke the pact, forsook us and stood on the road side. Those men caught hold of you. Their leader, that
fellow of Pazluvoor, fell victim to your charms: Later, you married him. All my men taunted me, saying that you had betrayed
us. But I did not let you escape. Somehow, one day I managed to meet you. I intended to kill you, a betrayer, with my knife.
Again you employed your wiles and begged for life. You maintained that you came here, merely to fulfil our oath. You
promised to remain in this palace and arrange for all sorts of help for me and my men. Is all this true?" Ravidasa finally
stopped.
"Yes, everything is true. Who refuted it? Why do you keep repeating that story? Why did you come here now? Tell
me that."
"No, wretched woman! No. You have forgotten everything. You have become engrossed in these comforts and
luxuries of being the Queen of Pazluvoor and forgotten your oath. Eating six course meals, enjoying silken garments and new
ornaments, reclining on silken couches and sleeping on soft beds, travelling in ivory palanquins -- you are a queen now! How
will you remember those old happenings?"
"Rubbish! Who wants these soft couches, rich clothes and jewels? You think I live for such luxuries? Never!"
"Or, you have been charmed by the handsome face of the wayside youth! Perhaps you have forgotten the old oaths in
the light of this new love?"
Nandini was slightly startled. But she overcame her feelings to shout, "Lies! Lies!"
"If it is false, how come that even though I had sent you word that I was coming, you had not sent your servant girl to
the usual place?"
"I did send her. Some other fellow came up the ladder meant for you. That stupid girl thought that he was you and
brought him here. Is that my mistake?"
"How does it matter whose mistake it was? For a few minutes my very life was in danger! The soldiers searching for
that youth would have imprisoned me. I hid myself in the pond near this garden -- immersing myself by holding my breath --
till those men left and then emerged from the water to come here. See I am dripping wet!"
"You deserve it. You suspected me! You atoned for your thoughts by immersing yourself in the pool."
"Woman! swear the truth -- are you sure that you haven't been seduced by that youth's beauty?"
"Absurd! What do you mean? Will anybody praise the `beauty' of men? It is only in this shameless Chozla country
that the people celebrate their Emperor's `beauty'. The beauty of men lies in their valor, the battle scars on their body!"
"You say it well. If you speak the truth, then why did the young stranger come here?"
"You wretched female! In the end you showed your tendency? You disclosed our secret to some unknown stranger..."
"You get perturbed unnecessarily. I didn't tell him anything. I discovered his secrets."
"What did you discover?"
"He is a messenger taking letters from Kanchi to Pazlayarai. He his carrying the letter for the tigress at Pazlayarai, he
showed it to me. I was trying to convince him to bring the letter given in reply back here to me. You came in at that time."
"Damn the letter; damn the message; what is the use of all that to us?"
"That shows the limit of your understanding. We have sworn an oath to destroy the tiger clan and its very roots. But
you men have been thinking only of the male tigers, you forget that clans will also thrive because of female tigers. Moreover,
who do you think really rules this Chozla Empire? Is it the old man lying on his sickbed without any strength or use of limbs?
Are they the Princes in Kanchi and Lanka? ..."
"No; it is that Lord Pazluvoor who is fortunate to have you as his queen. The world knows it."
"Even that is inaccurate. The world may think so; this old man may also think it and feel self-satisfied. You too have
been mislead. In reality, that female tiger-cub at Pazlayarai is ruling this nation. That arrogant female sits in her palace and
pulls the strings to make everyone dance. I shall put an end to her exploits. I shall use this youth for that purpose."
Surprise and even respect now replaced the rage on Ravidasa's face. "You are a truly capable female! No doubt. But
how am I to believe all this as truth? What is the proof?"
"I shall deliver that youth to your responsibility. You lead him through the underground passage and take him outside.
Bind his eyes and then lead him. Go with him till Pazlayarai and wait. Bring him back here with Kundavai's reply. If he tries to
escape or hoodwink you, kill him!" said Nandini.
"No way! You and he can go to hell. The Commander's men are now searching for him inside the fort. Very soon they
will begin to look for him outside the fort. If I go with him, I too will be in jeopardy. What do you say about the matter on
which I have come?"
"You have not yet told me why you have come."
"Arrangements have already been made to send men to Kanchi and Lanka. The plight of those going to Lanka is very
difficult, they have to be very cautious over there. ..."
"What am I to do about that? Do you need more funds? There is no end to your demands for money!"
"The gold is not for our personal use, it is for completing the task we have undertaken. Why do you think I have left
you alive, here? Those going to Lanka cannot use Chozla coins. It would be good to have some Lankan funds."
"You took all this time to say that! I have made arrangements even before you asked."
Nandini then bent down to look below her couch. She pulled out a bag and placed it in Ravidasa's hands. "This is full
of Lankan gold coins. Take it and leave quickly. He may return any time now."