Wayside Chitchat

Vandiya Devan had spent all his life until that day, in the
dry lands north of the River Palar. Consequently, he did
not know how to swim in a flowing river. Once, when he
was in the army on border patrol along the banks of the
North Pennar, he waded into the river for a bath. He was
caught in a swollen whirlpool. That sinister and devilish
whirlpool made him go round and round. At the same time
it dragged him downwards. Very soon the whirlpool had
drained all his strength. I cannot escape now; I have to
drown in this whirlpool and die! -- just as he lost hope he
was thrown out, by God's grace. The waves threw him on
the shores and saved him.
When he went back to bed that night in Kadamboor, he
experienced the same feeling he had while caught in the
whirlpool. He felt that with no choosing of his own, he
had fallen into the huge whirlpool of a political conspiracy.
Could he escape from this swirling treachery just as he had
escaped from that whirlpool?
The information he had gleaned from the midnight
meeting at Kadamboor baffled him. The dangers from
external enemies to the Chozla Empire had been overcome
only a few years ago. Prince Aditya Karikala -- brave,
expert in warfare, a veritable Chanakya in politics; with his
intelligence and optimum use of the capable Chozla
armies, he routed the powers of the Rashtrakuta monarch,
King Krishna, from the Thondai lands. In a way the
external enemies were destroyed. Now, internal disruption
and intrigue were raising their head. What would be the
consequence of this internal discord which is more
dangerous than external strife?
Are not the important officials, ministers, chieftains and
famous warriors of the Chozla nation involved in this
frightening endeavor? What kind of persons are the Lord
of Pazluvoor and his brother? What is their power? How
much prestige do they have? What about the others who
met here today? They are all powerful, distinguished and
eminent personalities. Is this the first meeting of this kind?
I wonder; to how many other places has the Prince been
taken in a closed palanquin by Lord Pazluvoor? Aha! The
fact of being married to a young girl in his old age has
served him so usefully in this conspiracy!
Until that day, no doubt about Prince Karikala's eligibility
to the Chozla throne had risen in Vandiya Devan's mind.
He had not even dreamed that a challenge would arise. Of
course, he had heard of Madurandaka, the son of King
Gandara Aditya. He had heard that, like the father the son
was an ardent worshipper of God Shiva. But he had never
heard anything about his rights to the succession or that he
would demand his rights. In fact Vandiya Devan had never
thought about such things.
What is the legality, the justice? Who is truly eligible to
succeed to the throne? Karikala? Madurandaka? The more
he thought about it, he felt that both sides had equal
justification. If it really comes to a confrontation, who will
come out victorious? What is my duty in this situation?
Aha! I started on this journey from Kanchi while building
all sorts of dream fortresses. I desired to attain eminent
positions in the Chozla Empire by pleasing the Crown
Prince Karikala! I even hoped that in due course I would
regain the ancestral territories of my Vaanar clan. The very
limb that I caught hold of, to achieve all these dreams,
seems ready to drop! ... Thinking of all such things when
he came to bed the second time that night, Vandiya Devan
suffered with sleeplessness for a long time. In the end,
towards the late hours of the night just as the eastern skies
were turning light, he somehow went to sleep.
The next morning, Vandiya Devan did not get up even
when the golden-red rays of the rising sun fell piercingly
upon him. He was jolted awake when Kandamaran came
and shook his shoulders. With the courtesy shown to any guest, Kandamaran asked, "Did you sleep well?" And then
he added, "After all my other guests had gone to sleep, I
came up here and checked; you excelled in service like
Kumbakarna (a mythical hero who slept half his lifetime)!"
Stifling everything that he remembered, Vandiya Devan
said, "All that I recall is coming up to bed after the gypsy
dance. I am just getting up! Oh, ho! It is already so late: it
must be several hours past sunrise. I have to start
immediately. Kandamara, tell your servants to get my
horse ready."
"This is really fine! How can you leave so soon? What is
the hurry? You must stay here for at least ten days before
you go on," said Kandamaran.
"No, my dear fellow! I had news that my uncle in Tanjore
was in a bad shape; his survival itself is doubtful. I have to
go quickly to see him before he is gone. I must leave
immediately." Vandiya Devan said this with total
conviction, without any hesitation.
"You must then stay here for a while, at least when you go
back."
"Why not? We shall think of it at that time. Permit me to
leave now."
"Don't be in such a hurry. We can start after the morning
meal. I shall accompany you till the banks of River
Kollidam."
"How can you do that? You have all sorts of important
guests. How can you leave them and ..."
"I have no guest more important than you ..." saying this
Kandamaran stopped suddenly. "Yes the guests are
important people. But my father can take care of them. The
other officials of this palace can do that. I could not chat
with you even last night. I can rest in peace only if I
chitchat with you for a little while, along the road. I shall
certainly come with you till the Kollidam."
"I have no objection. Your wish. Your convenience," said
Vandiya Devan.
After more than two hours, both friends mounted on two
horses started from Lord Sambuvaraya's palace. The
horses cantered quite slowly. The ride was rather pleasant.
The friends did not seem to mind even the road dust
sprayed upon them by the swift northern wind. They had
lost themselves in old remembrances. After some time
Vandiya Devan said: "Kandamara! Even though I spent
just one night in your house, it was very useful to me. Just
one disappointment. You used to recount all sorts of things
about your sister, while we were on the banks of the North
Pennar. I could not even see her properly! When she
peeped from hiding behind your mother, I could glimpse
about one-eighth of her face! Your sister seems to possess a shyness and modesty that is more than any one girl's
share."
Kandamaran's lips twitched as if to say something. But no
words came out.
"Still, no regrets. You have invited me to stay with you for
a few days on my way back. I can make her acquaintance
at that time. By that time your younger sister may be able
to overcome her shyness about me. Kandamara, what is
your sister's name?"
"Manimekala."
"Oh! What a delightful name! If her character and beauty
are like the name..."
Kandamaran intervened and said in a forlorn voice, "My
friend! I beg this one thing of you. Please forget my sister.
Please forget all that I mentioned about her to you. Do not
even utter her name."
"What is this Kandamara? Every thing seems topsy-turvy?
Even last night you hinted that I may become a son-in-law
to your clan!"
"It is true that I said it. Since then the situation has
changed. My parents have arranged to wed my young
sister elsewhere. Manimekala has also agreed."
Vandiya Devan cheered within his heart: "Long live
Manimekala." He did not have any trouble guessing who
was selected to wed Manimekala. They must have pledged
her to Madurandaka who stepped out of the closed
palanquin. They are perhaps arranging such marriage
alliances in order to gain strength for the Prince's cause.
Lord Pazluvoor is a dangerous and capable politician.
"Oh! You have contracted one of your rich guests who
came last night as the bridegroom. Kandamara, I have no
surprise about this; nor am I really disappointed. In a way
it was expected."
"Expected? How is that?"
"Who would give their daughter to a destitute-orphan like
me? Which maid will agree to marry a poor fellow who
has neither house nor land. What is the use now if my
ancestors had ruled kingdoms long ago?"
"My dear friend! Enough of this, stop! Don't think so
shoddily of me or my family. What you think, is not the
reason. There is something much more important. You will
agree if you know of it. But I cannot reveal the reason
now. When the time comes you will know."
"Kandamara, what is this? You have been talking quite
mysteriously today."
"Forgive me for that. It is a big secret that I cannot reveal
even to you. Whatever happens, trust me that nothing will
come between our friendship. When it is time to reveal
plans, I will run to you and disclose all the details. Trust
me until then."
"Thanks for the pledge! But what is the situation wherein
you may have to forsake me? And, I am not one to live
upon my faith in somebody else. I trust my own sword and
spear."
"There may be an opportunity to use that sword and that
spear soon. At that time I hope we will fight side by side.
Your dreams also may then be fulfilled."
"What is this? Are you soon expecting some war? Or, are
you planning to enter the battlefields of Lanka?"
"To Lanka? You will be surprised if you hear the details of
the ridiculous campaign in Lanka. I believe we have to
supply the rice and other foodstuffs from Chozla country
for the soldiers fighting in Lanka. Shameful! I am talking
about something else. Be patient for a while. I will tell you
at the right time. Don't kindle my mouth now."
"Alright. If you don't wish, don't tell me anything. Don't
even open your mouth. I think I can see the river ahead of
us."
They could really see the torrents of the immense River
Kollidam at the end of the road. Within a few minutes the
friends reached the river bank.
The fresh floods of the spring month filled that great river.
The far side seemed very distant. Trees on the other shore
seemed like small bushes. Reddish silt laden waters, filled
with rapids and whirlpools drawing fantastic pictures,
thundering joyously, celebrating with a loud roaring sound,
trying to break through the high banks on both sides,
rolling and tumbling towards the eastern sea, rushing
onwards -- Vandiya Devan looked upon this sight and
stood there in amazement.
A ferry boat waited near the landing wharf. Two boatmen
with long poles in their hands waited readily. One
gentleman was already seated in the boat. He appeared to
be of the Saiva sect. Catching sight of the two men coming
upon the bank, a boatman asked, "Sirs! Are you both
coming in this boat?"
"Yes. He will come. Wait for a while."
Both friends jumped off their horses. "I came without
thinking. What can I do with this horse of mine? Can it go
in the boat?" asked Vandiya Devan.
"No need. There! Look! Two of my footmen are following
us. One of them will lead your horse back to Kadamboor.
The other fellow will come with you in this boat. He will procure another horse for you on the other shore," said
Kandamaran.
"Aha! How thoughtful. You are my true friend."
"You must have thought of the Kollidam as comparable to
the Palar and Pennar rivers. You wouldn't have known that
you cannot cross this river with a horse."
"Yes. Forgive me for under-estimating the rivers of your
Chozla lands. Gosh! What a river! What floods? It seems
to roar like the ocean."
The two friends took leave of each other with a hearty
embrace. Vandiya Devan walked down the river bank and
got into the boat. One of Kandamaran's footmen also
climbed into the boat. The boat was ready to leave. The
boatmen thrust their long poles deep into the water.
Suddenly, from a distance they could hear shouts: "Stop!
Stop the boat!" said a voice. The boatmen hesitated
without pushing their poles. The fellow who shouted came
running up the bank. With one glance, Vandiya Devan
recognized him. He was Azlvar-adiyan Nambi.
Recognizing the newcomer as a follower of the Vaishnava
sect, the gentleman in the boat said "Go! Let the boat go! I
will not come in the same boat as that imposter. Let him
come in the next ferry."
But Vandiya Devan looked at the boatmen and said, "Wait
a bit. Let him also come. There is plenty of room in this
ferry boat. Let us take him." Vandiya Devan wished to
question Azlvar-adiyan and learn more about the
happenings of last night.