Tuesday 10 April 2012

The Queen Of Hearts- Part 3

Chokkanatha's eyes roved lazily on the damsel standing by the window, her back to him. This woman can drive me crazy, he mused. Annam stood still, her face devoid of any expressions, lips tightly pursed and hands trembling. Chokkanatha climbed down his bed and came near her. She seemed lost in her thoughts. He gently held her shoulders and turned her toward him. She turned with such a speed that Chokkanatha was startled. Her eyes a fiery red and face writ with anger, she hissed- " Don't you lay your hands on me!" Chokkanatha stood awestruck a moment and broke into laughter. Ah! This was a ploy to get to him, wasn't it, he thought. He tried again to hug her and only then did he feel the cool blade of her short knife on his chest. A tiny droplet of blood trickled where the knife was pressed and his temper flared. Twisting her hand behind her, he overpowered her and the knife fell to the floor with a metallic clang. He looked at her face- the face of a wounded tigress.

And suddenly, hot tears started pouring from her eyes. That woman, that spitfire was wailing her heart out. Chokkanatha could not understand what was happening to her, to them. All he could gather was, he had married Annam against her wish. Was she forced, coerced? He had to know. But for now, he couldn't bear the hiccups. " Listen, Annam. I don't know what makes you unhappy. Your father Lingama accepted the alliance immediately and i thought you gave your consent free. I know, it takes time to adjust to the Palace and the culture here. And i wouldn't force myself on a fragile woman. Go to sleep now. And be assured, Chokkanatha never forces women. Trust me, i can wait." With that, he turned his heel and left the room in long, confident strides, befitting a King. Tired and confused, Annam lay on the bed and closed her eyes warily. When would Achaiya come and save her from this hell? 


Mangamma spent her days in the Meenakshi Amman temple, praying and watching the Royal Durbar proceedings everyday religiously. She was astounded by the wisdom and intelligence of Chokkanatha Naik. Her evenings were spent in the Royal garden amid the deer and tamed lions, tigers. She loved playing her harp, sadness pouring out as soul stirring music. Both  Chokkanatha and Annam enjoyed a companionable silence during the daytime, listening to the Tamil poems recited by poets, took part in religious discussions and at times, she surprised herself by offering to help ailing poets and scholars. Chokkanatha was amazed by her knowledge of language and her love for religion. At times, Annam caught him staring at her, his eyes definitely speaking volumes of his love for her. And that was really unnerving her. He never came again to her Chamber at nights, nor did he go to any of his women in the harem. He seemed besotted with her and was sure a man of his word, waiting for her to give up. Annam was losing hope that Achaiya might turn up one day. Her aides gathered news that he had left the city gates the day her wedding was announced and has never returned. As days grew to months, Annam was losing hope...And Chokkanatha was growing impatient too.

Annam was stunned to learn the King had ordered all the women of his harem be sent back to their homes with gold and silver, being asked to abstain from the Palace forever. He had converted his harem to a huge 'madapalli' ( community kitchen) where the poor were fed free everyday. And Annam received gifts everyday from the King- temple jewelry, silk wraps from visiting travelers and surprisingly, arranged for her a secluded courtyard to practice sword fighting. It was those rigorous fights that provided her a relief. His furtive glances, longing in his eyes and the gifts he sent her religiously every morning moved her. She knew he was trying to woo her and God help her, she was falling for him, hard. 

It was a humid and hot afternoon that the emissary from Thajavur returned with message from King Vijayaraghava Naik. Chokkanatha glanced sideways at Annam who showed no expression and sat stone faced and slowly it dawned on him why she refused him. He had foolishly believed her pride was hurt as she wasn't asked consent for the wedding. But one look at her now, told him the whole story. He had hurt her deeply, by saying he was waiting for Malarkodi to marry him. Chokkanatha was worried sick. He did not want the emissary to break the news in Annam's presence. Or even better, he did not want the hand of Malarkodi, however strategic the alliance might be- the two Naik Kings of Madurai and Thanjavur united against the Mysore Nawab and Mughal Empire. As he waited with bated breath for the news to unravel, Annam looked down at him from the Royal Womens' Arena. He could read the pain and anguish in her eyes and he felt sick for her...Only when the emissary read out aloud that Vijayaraghava refused to offer his daughter's hand to Chokkanatha due to his 'lowly' Naik roots, did he let out his breath. Though the tone of Vijayaraghava's message angered him, sense did prevail. He was now free- to woo Annam, to make her the Principal and perhaps the Only Queen of Madurai.

It had been almost a year since she came to this Chamber as one of Chokkanatha's women, a wry smile escaped Annam's lips. And Chokkanatha was a man of his word, he had never returned to this Chamber again. Few days back, he had announced in his beaming voice that Mangamma was the Queen of Madurai and she would be crowned the coming Pournami. ( Full moon day). As Annam splashed water from the small but elegant bathing pool adjacent to the Palace and bathed in the tranquil moonlight, her heart was brimming with love for Chokkanatha Naik, the King of Madurai. Of course, he had fulfilled her every wish, her every dream and was still waiting...She summoned Alarmelamma, her trusted aide and sent word that she wanted to meet the King, in the Queen's Chamber. When Chokkanatha arrived, his eyes were riveted on what he saw, Annam, waiting for him...fully clad in the best clothes and bedecked with the finest jewelry and he knew he would come here to her...every night till his death. He had finally conquered her heart- The Heart of His Queen. The night bells of Meenakshiamman temple chimed by and the lamps glowed, spreading their light and warmth around the Chamber, as the King and Queen of Madurai were lost in a hot embrace...Will Mangamma be crowned as Queen???


TO BE CONTINUED...


18 comments:

  1. Loved thissss interestingggg!!!!!!!

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  2. Now missy.....I hope next is the last part and if it is not, I don't care how long it is.....I can read it continously for 3 days but make sure you finish it soon! This is sooooo interesting and the wait is getting long now!
    Bring it out soon!!!

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    1. LOL! CD! Girl, you are really mad;) And so like me:) Next part will be out tonight:)

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  3. This is getting more and more interesting Cloud Nine!!!

    I am reading historical fiction after so many years..and this series has piqued my interest...

    Get the next part rolling :) :)

    -Visha

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    1. Visha! Thank you so much for the comment. I promise to bring out a part everyday, now:)

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  4. Is she a schemeing woman? One could witness the subtle change from intense dislike to longing after Malarkodi was out of way and the announcement that Mangamma would be the queen.You have not given an inkling of how her mind worked.Waiting eagerly to know what you have in store for your readers in the next.

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    1. KP! That is brilliant;) Yes, she was not scheming, but very sharp and intelligent...may be her political expertise in shunning Aurangazeb and managing advances of Raghunatha Sethupathy's army are classic examples of her manipulations:)Wait for the next part;)

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  5. wow! so he sent all his harem back ehn? Love is indeed so sweet... took her one year to fall in love ..hmmm...she is truly a tigress!.. ahahhahaaa....just love the story! ...so was there no queen before she arrived in the palace? ......now, i can imagine how the night was after the hot embrace....ehehehehe.

    love! love it!.....so it continues tonight ehn? #waiting with abated breath#

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    1. Ibhade:))) Yes, i bet you know;) Thank you so much for the interest and sweet comments on this series:)

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  6. Replies
    1. Thank you Rama. I really appreciate you reading all three parts back to back and replying at once. Feel so happy:)

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  7. This was a super build up to the story CN!! Though I am a bit late here, but I enjoyed reading all the parts. The story is so very gripping with all the coming, going and dilemmas of the central characters... just cant wait for the next part in the series to unravel now! Put it up soon :)

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    1. Arti...thank you so much for the positive comment. Trying to write a part every day. Hope you like the story:)

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    2. 1.Now the story takes plot of MOUNARAGAM, "andha 7 naatkal" likes of.
      2.bt justiifcation is nt suffiecnt .. bet a gal who placed swords on her chest to stop his hug Vs. she invite him for a visit in King's - QQueen chamber.
      3.in particular where do u take these pics from - superb na!

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    3. 1. May be you are comparing the scenario to those movies;)
      2. Justification, i thought it was enough as he had proved his love for him by closing down the harem, remember i mentioned it took her a year to understand him.Why should we make lead characters of every novel a Ram and Sita? LOL!
      3. I hunt these pictures from the web, many of these works are by my all time favorite MA...SE!

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  8. Aww.I'm liking Chokkanatha's character a lot! What a gentleman he is!

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  9. I have this weird habit of reading the sequels when the author has completed posting it. I bookmarked yours when I saw that you will be making it a long series. I checked in between to see the word 'The End'. So, finally today I am reading the series.

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Hey, just let me know your feedback:)