Under the Magizham Tree

Pavithra Srinivasan

Author’s Note: Exploring Kalki’s characters has always been a favourite pastime of mine. This little piece is an extension of an important conversation between Kundhavai and Arulmozhi that took place in Book III.

It was a sunny morning – like most that dawned in the Chola Empire, these days. The spires of the Thiruvaiyaru Temple rose in the distance, obscured by the mists of winter; the Kaveri flowed gracefully; her touch benign, soothing. All was at peace in the kingdom – and she seemed a living echo of peace. Which was certainly a commodity that had been in short supply, lately. She sat under a magizham tree on the banks, an ethereal statue on the soft grass, watching the water. Little eddies swirling, disrupting the flow, sinking to nothing. A twig, flower, or branch rushing along with the current. The low murmur of voices: people going about their work, worship, daily chores. Her eyes were filled with wisdom beyond her ears – but she was a young woman, an epitome of beauty with her coiffed hair, delicate figure and tasteful attire.

Footsteps attracted her attention. Someone walked up to her and sat down. She smiled.

“Well, Arulmozhi? Where’s Vanathi?”

The Chola Empire’s most beloved prince smiled. “Dressing. Packing. I never knew how much time women spent on making themselves up. Your doing, I know.”

“I object!” Kundhavai, Chola Princess and now the consort of Vandiyathevar laughed.

“Making-up, as you call it, is indispensable to both men and women. Sometimes it’s done in the open – at others, its not.”

Arulmozhi drew his knees together and coupled his hands around them. “You’re wise. As always.”

Kundhavai smiled slightly. “Does that bother you?”
Arulmozhi drew a deep breath. “If you won’t take offence, may I ask you something?”

“This sounds mysterious. Since when do you need my permission to ask me anything?”

“For this, I do.” Arulmozhi paused. He seemed to be struggling with some emotion; the question came out in a rush. “What would it have been like if I had married Poonghuzhali?”

Kundhavai sat still, startled. The sound of Thamizh hymns floated to them across the water. “What sort of a question is this?” her voice held censure. The woman in question was, after all, now the Chola Empress, the consort of Uthama Chozhar, their uncle.

“The question is hypothetical Akka. I cherish no designs on her – now, least of all,” Arulmozhi said wryly. “My personal honour wouldn’t allow me to even think of such a thing.”

“I should hope it wouldn’t.” An outsider wouldn’t notice the nuance, but Arulmozhi could detect the faint relief in her voice. Irrationally, his ire rose.

“Every single step in my life has been pre-determined,” he said suddenly. “My studies, my training, my visits, my military strategies –”
“– and your marriage,” Kundhavai said slowly.

And at last, it was out. For weeks, brother and sister had been carried along inexorably along the tides of great upheaval: plots and counter-plots, Adithya Karikalan’s death, Nandini’s betrayal and then, finally, the crowning and weddings …they had barely had time to speak to each other. Until now.

“You don’t like Vanathi, then?” Kundhavai asked. Arulmozhi’s consort had been and was her very dear friend; the scion of the Kodumbaloor clan – and eminently fit, in Kundhavai opinion, to make her brother an excellent wife.

“It’s a little too late for that.”

Arulmozhi’s words sent a chill skittering through her. “You don’t regret – you – what are you saying?”

Arulmozhi sighed. “Don’t worry. Vanathi is my wife, for now and always. She was your choice – but the decision was mine, in the end. The first time I saw her, standing under a tree trying to rescue a nest of birds …”

Kundhavai raised her eye-brows. She’d thought she knew everything about their courtship – but Vanathi, apparently, had had a few secrets on her own. “You don’t seem very happy about it.” There was a sinking feeling in her stomach. Had she made a great mistake?

“I want you to know that I have never disliked your friend. Far from it …” Arulmozhi’s voice trailed away, and she heaved a sigh of relief.

“What seems to be the problem, then?”

“Meeting Poonghuzhali when I did. She liked me – I saw that in her eyes.”
Kundhavai smiled. “Arulmozhi, name me one young woman – marriageable age or otherwise – who could look at you and not like you. Or want to wed you.”

For the first time, a crimson blush suffused Arulmozhi’s face. “I don’t think that’s true, but let’s say, for the sake of argument, that it is. It doesn’t follow that I must like every woman.”
Kundhavai’s fingers curled with unknown tension. “I see.”

Arulmozhi shifted uncomfortably. “This has not been easy for me – for any of us. Our best friends are those who are true to us when we are caught in crisis. Vandiyathevar, for example. He came to us as our brother’s emissary… ”

“And ended up your brother-in-law. Yes, I see your point.”

Arulmozhi looked at her. “You don’t like what I’m implying. But that wasn’t my intention. I’ve never met anyone like Poonguzhali, before. Strong, resilient, imaginative – and a spirit like the soaring winds and sea – nothing and no one can stop her.”

“And yet – she chose our meek, pious uncle. Opposites attract, indeed.”

Arulmozhi bit his lips, aware of the sternness in her voice. “She will always be a woman I admire.”

Kundhavai sat up. “As our aunt – she deserves all our respect and admiration.” Even mine, she thought. Though she came so close to displacing Vanathi from her rightful position, she did eventually save her, after all, from the jaws of a crocodile.

Arulmozhi smiled. “Never fear – I consider her our revered aunt as well.”

Suddenly, Kundhavai sat up. “Arulmozhi – I’m aware that you think I interfere too much – that I must keep to myself –”

“I don’t think that at all.” Arulmozhi relaxed. “I know what you feel, Akka. Believe me – I am grateful to have someone who has so much of my best interests at heart.” He smiled. “Even if it is only to further the Empire.”

And then, suddenly, things seemed to clear. The conversation in Nagai, when Kundhavai had spoken with such zeal about their country. She had meant what she said, of course – but there were many different interpretations to her words. So this was what Arulmozhi had been carrying within all these months – and what he wanted to know.

“Arulmozhi – I stand by what I said. I would sacrifice anything if it meant the welfare of our Empire.”

Arulmozhi’s eyes grew steely. “I see.”

“Anything – except you. You are the embodiment of the Empire’s ideals. You are the symbol of everything that is great about our dynasty. You are its soul. But more than anything else …” she reached out to take one of his hands. “You are my little brother. I have watched you grow from a child to a man. You are everything I hoped you would be. You will be more. I foresee a time of greatness for us. You will head it. And if you will let me – I will always be at your side.”

After a long moment, Arulmozhi’s stance relaxed. A slight smile tugged at his lips. He clasped his sister’s hands. And Kundhavai knew that she had said the right thing, at the right time.

“My big sister – always wise.”

Kundhavai laughed. “And always right.”