Let me tell you a story...

Moonlit Serenade - Vanmozhi Fic

The moon cast its silvery glow over the tranquil waters of the Veeranarayana Lake. Vanathi, seated on the stone steps leading to the lake, strummed a gentle melody on her veena. The soft music blended with the sweet songs of the night birds, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

As she played, Vanathi's thoughts drifted to Arulmozhi, the young prince who had captured her heart. She wondered if he would ever return from his journey, and if he would still cherish the memories they had shared. The persisting yearning in her heart was too much to bear.

Just then, a faint rustling sound came from the nearby bushes. Vanathi's heart skipped a beat as Arulmozhi emerged, his eyes shining with a warm smile.

"Illavarase, you...here?" For a moment she thought she was dreaming.

Arulmozhi smiled, "I came back today morning. I specifically told akka not to let you know, I wanted to surprise you" he said softly. He stepped closer to her, confident in his stride and gaze.

"Vanathi, your music has beckoned me," he said, his voice low and husky. "I couldn't resist the allure of your veena."

Vanathi's cheeks flushed as Arulmozhi sat beside her, his shoulder touching hers. Together, they watched the moon's reflection dance on the lake's surface.

As the night wore on, their conversation flowed like the gentle lapping of the water against the shore. They spoke of their dreams, their passions, and their love for the land and its people.

In the midst of their tender conversation, Arulmozhi reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind Vanathi's ear. The touch sent shivers down her spine, and she knew in that moment that she was forever bound to this kind and courageous prince.

As the moon reached its zenith, Arulmozhi took Vanathi's hand, and they walked along the lake's edge, their footsteps echoing in harmony with the music of the night.

In that magical moment, they both knew that their love would flourish, just like the lotus flowers that bloomed in the lake's waters, under the watchful gaze of the moon.

A/N: Thanos x shy!reader

You stood frozen, eyes fixed on the giant, animatronic doll in front of you. The Red Light, Green Light game had begun, and players were scattering across the field, desparate to reach the finish line.

As you hesitated, Thanos emerged from the crowd, his tall frame towering over the other players. His gaze swept the field, and his eyes locked onto you. To your surprise, he strode towards you, his long strides eating up the distance. You had heard about the ex-rapper who is rumoured to be carrying a pack of drugs in his hidden cross necklace. You trembled, expecting him to push past you or eliminate you from the game.

Instead, Thanos halted beside you, his eyes never leaving yours. "You afraid?" It was more of a statement than a question. "Come on, I'll help you" He said, deep voice low and gentle. Without waiting for your response, he reached out and wrapped his hand around your wrist. His touch was warm, and his grip was firm but gentle.

As the doll's head swiveled, it's eyes glowing red, Thanos whispered,"Don't move. Don't breathe". You held your breath, Thanos' hand anchoring you in place. The doll's gaze swept over you, but Thanos' presence seemed to shield you from its notice. When the doll's head turned away, Thanos released your wrist, his eyes sparkling with amusement, "Now, Senorita. Run"

With those words, Thanos gave you a gentle push, urging you forward. You sprinted across the field, the finish line beckoning. As you reached the end, you glanced back, searching for Thanos. He winked at you before joining player 124 and walking away.

Thangyu fic, here’s the premise.

Disease breaks out among the players and the “people in charge” have decided that every player and guard will receive a mandatory vaccination to reduce unfair deaths. Thanos, however, is scared of needles, while Nam-Gyu… isn’t, to say the least. Nam-Gyu comforts him and holds him while he sobs???

:D happy writing

First time attempting to write a fanfic for Squid Games...thank you for the prompt and happy reading

Disclaimer: This is a platonic Thangyu fic because those are few and far between

Weak Spot - Thangyu Fic

It's been a few days since the sounds of coughing and wheezing started in the dorm. People randomly started falling sick in the otherwise closely preserved dome. At this rate, Nam-Gyu predicted a lot of players will die from the unknown disease rather than the games, he doesn't mind, as long as he's close to the reward money each day. His thoughts were broken by an announcement.

"Attention all players, on account of the unforseen circumstances all players are requested to proceed to the right-hand area for a mandatory vaccination to reduce any unfair deaths. I repeat, this vaccination is mandatory for both the players and guards"

"Huh. Guess they do care a bit. I thought they would just leave us to die since that would be more convenient for them to get rid of us" Nam-Gyu snickered, nudging Thanos in the elbow for his reply. But the ex-rapper was unusually quiet.

"Dude what's wrong with you? Afraid of a needle?" He prodded Thanos further, urging him to join in his joke. But Thanos jerked his head towards Nam-Gyu with wide eyes.

"Wait, are you seriously afraid of a stupid needle?" Nam-Gyu was confused.

"It's not stupid. Its a legit fear. Its called Trypanophobia" Thanos said matter-of-factly, trying to stop his hands from shaking. Nam-Gyu realised that Thanos was not coming down from one of his pill-popping effects but was genuinely feeling anxiety.

"Hey" he was overcome by a sudden feeling to say something comforting but was embarrassed to be lacking in that department. "Calm down its just a needle. Take it from someone who has experience in that department, all you would feel is just a prick" He shrugged. Thanos simply hummed, still staring at a random spot on the floor and taking long breathes. Nam-Gyu draped an arm over his shoulder, felt Thanos slightly lean towards him before breaking into silent sobs. He didn't knew what else to do other than to just wait for the panic attack to pass.

In that moment he realised one thing. Thanos may act like he owns the entire place. He may be arrogant and snobby and has the memory power of a goldfish, but there is a vulnerable side to this man which he seldom shows to others. And Nam-Gyu may feel irritated everytime Thanos misspells his name but he'd like to believe that there are cut from the same piece of cloth because of their past. He doesn't want to go out of his way and make promises of keeping each other safe but he'd like to believe that they'd be there for each other when this place turns into an even more of a hell-hole in the coming days.

Guess who's back from a hiatus? 😅 Will try to finish my pending fanfics before jumping to other fandoms

Any tips to manage fiction writing with studies? Because I'm feeling overwhelmed....

@willkatfanfromasia and I are back with the new chapter to our modern KunxVT series... happy reading 💖

This is getting more difficult by the minute, she huffed. Kriti was trying hard- very hard,mind you!- to look only into the laptop screen as Vaishakh was entertaining her niece with a game of scrabble. 

Seems convenient enough, if not for two things 

Her niece popping up with enthusiastic questions

Vaishakh looking at her from the corner of his eyes

"Mama! What about Pandemic? Will it fit? " 

Kriti couldn't help but smirk, her niece was a chip off the old block. 

"Ayo! I didn't know that word till i was 12…Besides it's 8, we need 9 letters!"

This was enough trigger for the vivacious Kriti jr. 

"Athaiii, help me!!! Oh no wait" 

"Pancake? No!"

"Premier? Pendant? Nooo"

Her niece had apparently inherited not just her intelligence but also her stubbornness in solving problems alone. 

Vaishakh opened his mouth, eager to put the child out her misery but the sight of her aunt's narrowed eyes silenced him

"Let her be, she'll figure it out" the eyes signalled. 

And what eyes they were!

 "Got it! Pachyderm" the little girl yelled pulling him out of his reverie 

She had a smile plastered on her face as she arranged the letters on board. " You never fail to amaze me! How'd you hear about it?" He asked the jubilant child

" Simple,uncle Arun supports a charity that cares for rescue elephants. So I remembered him saying that"  

This kid was truly something else! Aditya and Nandini raved about how intimidating their daughter would be if she's anything like her aunt…I think I might find out soon, he mused.

The game demanded a 5 letter word starting with M. 

"Marry" he decided subconsciously.. not expecting a barrage of questions. 

"Marry? As in marriage? Like how uncle Arun says he'll marry aunt Vinita" 

"Er.. yes"

"Like how those grandmas at the parties we attend keep asking athai when she'll marry" 

Interesting tidbit,he grinned, as he saw a blush spread down Kriti sr's neck. 

Kriti knew her niece's fondness for mischief rivalled her mother's. Her niece knew the word, even if she doesn't understand the concept.

"You know what the word means, sweetheart, that's enough" said the soft but firm voice. Kriti jr turned away from her playmate to shoot her aunt a cheeky smile.

Before she could open her mouth again, Kriti pointed at the side table "I have an old PlayStation kept there. Haven't used it in ages but feel free to dust it and explore" 

Vaishakh, already boyish, turned even more youthful in that moment as he shared her niece's curiosity.

She'd pay to see that face everyday… wait, where did that come from?

They gleefully unwrapped the device, intermittently coughing as they dusted it off. 

All the living room plug points were occupied, so they followed Kriti's instruction and headed to the guest room.

She felt a vague sense of doubt as she saw them go. "There's something wrong with the guest room…but what was the problem? Shit! Looking at numbers all day has addled my brain"

Just as she perused her memories to figure it out…

The house was engulfed in pitch darkness

"Oh…shi…shih-tzu" exclaimed the male voice

Charming even now, she snickered.

 Kriti breathed through the initial shock and reached for her phone. She realised she left it to charge in her bedroom and smacked her head.  Her niece's 'spooky' howling was only encouraged by the big kid next to her. The dual tones of wolf mimicry only cemented Kriti's migraine.

'This will have to do' she exhaled turned her laptop screen towards the room. She spotted a torch in a shelf beneath the TV. She walked carefully and picked it up. 

The howls had died down and only faint yelps could be heard. 

Curious,she switched it on, pointing it towards the guest room. 

Lo and behold! She saw the two 'wolves' tamed by a bar of chocolate.

Turns out her co-babysitter is not just a pretty airhead.

The assurance of their safety only itched her need to tell them off

"Breathe kriti. It's not their fault remember" she thought as she breathed slowly.

The guest room circuit had tripped once before. She'd been putting off replacing it due to her never-ending schedule of business meetings and deadlines. 

In fact, it was the latest 'deadline' that distracted her from warning her guests. 

The 2 "wolves" looked sheepish, hoping she wouldn't tell them off for the short-circuit or eating chocolate on her bed. Kriti harrumphed " if you can't beat them, then join them" and bounced on the mattress- swiftly stealing a molten square from their hands.

"So..." Vaisakh said, licking his fingers off the chocolate "I think the power went out when we switched on the light. Maybe it must be a short circuit?"

"The wire had been faulty" Kriti sr replied, popping another chunk of chocolate into her mouth, "I've been meaning to get it fixed"

"You mean the great perfectionist Kriti forgot to do a task?" Vaisakh fixed her with a teasing look "You're clumsy"

That struck a nerve because Kriti was so proud of her organisational skills and getting things done on time. "I wasn't being clumsy, I was busy. There's a huge difference between the two - maybe you'd understand if you stop being so childish " She retorted and saw the smile vanish from Vaisakh's lips.

"You don't know me so don't just assume" He said in a serious tone

"Right back at you" Kriti strike back, neither noticing Kriti jr glancing between them with a frown.

She let out a small whimper and both adults looked in her direction.. Kriti felt bad on seeing her niece so upset.

"Okay, this useless banter is not helping our situation" She said, looking back at Vaisakh "And how can we conclude this was just the short circuit? It could also be a general power cut "

Vaishakh nodded "Let's go ask next door". They washed their hands and knocked on the opposite door.

Mrs.Venkatesh opened the door with her usual friendly smile and regarded the visitors with curiosity "Yes, Kriti dear. Is there any problem?"

"I'm so sorry to disturb you but our lights just went out and I was wondering if it was a power cut"

Mrs. Venkatesh glanced back at her brilliantly lit living room "Well, I don't think so. Must be a short circuit". Kriti hummed, trying not to look at Vaisakh and give him the satisfaction of proving her wrong.

"Would you like to come in?" Mrs. Venkatesh stole a glance at Vaisakh "And don't forget to introduce your boyfriend to me" she half whispered to Kriti who turned red at the implication. "No we're fine and " She pointed towards the boy next to her "and he's not my boyfriend "

"That's what they always say" Mrs. Venkatesh commented before waving them goodbye and closing the door.

Kriti glared at a smirking Vaisakh "Stop laughing. It wasn't that funny"

"It was a little funny" He said, now smirk turning into a grin

"Whatever, grab jr. Let's get inside. I'll call maintenance " She ordered and noted his puzzled expression "I thought she was with you" He said slowly

"No, I thought she was with you"

They looked around at the empty corridor and their opened door. Kriti felt like she was going to be sick.

Her niece was missing!

To be continued...

To say that Arun was surprised at the turn of events of the night would be an understatement. Contrary to what he thought how the blind date set up very cleverly by his sister would go, here he was, walking side by side his sister's best friend a.k.a his date while she was on a solo mission to find the "perfect" street foodspot, scanning the roadside with her wide eyes. He failed to suppress a short laugh and Vanathi turned to him inquisitivly "What's so funny?" She asked curiously. He shook his head and said "Just imagining my Akka thinking that we are bonding over champagne and steak". That got her to laugh as well "Speaking of food" Vanathi said, pointing to a dhaba opposite the road, "Let's start with appatizers". They crossed the road to a seemingly crowded dhaba, "Pani poori or Pav Bhajji?" She asked Arun. "Arun shrugged and grinned "Both?" Apparently that was the right answer because Vanathi's eyes lighted up and she turned to the dhabawale to make the order. The dhabawale handed them a plate each of Pani poori and pav bhaji each and said another plate is going to take some time because of the crowd. They said it's not a problem and decided to share. Arun popped a Pani poori into his mouth and chuckled at Vanathi trying to stuff a large portion of Pav bhaji into her mouth. "Hey, leave some for me too". She blushed and turned the other way, her hair forming a curtain over her face, obstructing him from seeing her expression. He wanted to look at her face, make sure she was happy and enjoying this moment as much as him. What to do to make her look at again? He extended the Pani poori plate towards her and that got her attention. She looked flustered but quickly recovered to pick up a Pani poori and pop it into her mouth, closing her eyes and giving him a thumbs up. "This is so delicious" She said and he gave her a thumbs up too, agreeing silently. Together they finished the meal and paid. "Where to next?" Vanathi asked, looking around. Arun had already noted a chaiwala some distance away. "A perfect cup of midnight chai" He said and made way for the shop.

Vanathi blew on her hot chai in clay cup. She stole a glance at her companion who was busy scrolling through his phone. This was better than she ever imagined. The perfect date. One of many to come, maybe? She felt her cheeks heat up thinking of the possibility of a second date and focused back on her cup. "Penny for your thoughts?" She looked up to see him smile at her and suddenly felt tonguetied. She let out a breathy chuckle and shook her head "I was just thinking, you seem really comfortable doing this. Ever been on a street food date before?" She was just attempting to make small talk and blutered out the first thing that came to her mind.

"Nope, this type of a blind date is first time" He said, smiling.

"If you think about it, it's not exactly a "blind" date" Vanathi continued, fully knowing she was just babbling but not able to stop her talk "I mean, I have seen you around and know you as Keerthana's brother and I'm pretty sure you know me too" She said softly, thinking if he said no, it would be so embarrassing.

"You have seen me around?" Arun looked at her questioningly "Where?" Because while it was true he knew her as his Akka's best friend, he didn't remember seeing her around before.

Vanathi found herself tongue tied for a second time that night . Well, better to come clean rather than lie around it. " I once came to your house to film a dance video. Keerthana was going to let me borrow your guest room for the filming. I didn't really knew my way around and ended up coming into your room. You were sitting by the balcony, with headphones so you didn't really notice me. I went out quickly, that was the first time I saw you" Vanathi deliberately left out the part where she had stood for some time, admiring his good looks and wondering if she'll ever get the courage to strike up a conversation with him before making her out of the room. But apparently the universe had heard her prayer because here she was, living out the date of her dreams with the guy of her dreams. "I remember that. Keerthana said it was the first time she was participating in a dance video" Arun remembered. He also remembered Keerthana sending him the link and him forgetting to watch it. For the next few minutes they spend watching some of her dance videos on YouTube. "This is really beautiful. You are superbly talented" Vanathi basked in Arun's compliments. After finishing their chai, they decided to end the date and go back to their respective cars parked in the hotel parking lot. 

They made their way, walking slowly to the parking lot. They were walking so close that they could feel each other's fingers touching and both let it lingering there. 

"So, does this meet up with your expectations of an ideal date?" Arun asked nervously.

Vanathi gave him a reassuring smile "It was better than my expectations" 

Arun returned the smile and mustered up the courage to touch her hand and was relieved when she held his hand tighter. He felt they reached the parking lot faster than he thought of and gazed at her. "So…" He began, wondering how to phrase what he wanted to say next.

"So…." She mimicked his sentence, also seeming to be in a dilemma. Then she let out a gasp "What are we going to tell Keerthana?" 

"We both been to the fancy hotel she booked. Just comment on the quality of the food and the quantity of the people or something. I'm not saying she's going to buy the lie but atleast we can confuse her" Arun winked and Vanathi gave him an amused look. "You are unbelievable!" She said, "Maybe you can tell me how much you confused her on our second date?"

Arun was impressed on how straightforward she was "Only if you promise we'll be having that conversation in a streetfood - style date again" 

They shook their hands again, neither making an effort to move and gazing into each other's eyes with goofy smiles on their lips.

Hope you liked this...waiting eagerly for your reviews

The next part of Aarampam is here and it is based on the book version with the fledglings scene from AMV's pov so hope you'll like it

Three months after Vanathi arrived at Pazhayarai, she and Kundavai were invited to the beautiful Thirunallam by Sembiyan Mahadevi.

As soon as she reached Thirunallam, she was overjoyed by the beautiful gardens the city has to offer . It reminded her so much of the garden she had back in Kodumbalur, which served as a place of refuge for her . But alas, Vanathi the continuous rain had stopped her from going out in the garden , and she was forced to confine herself within the close quarters of the palace and focus on the book Kundavai ordered her to read.

" Kanna" - Vanathi looked up from the windowsill 

" Yes akka?"

Kundavai smiled at her young friend, 

" It's a pleasant day ,the rain has finally stopped. Why don't you go out and enjoy the beautiful gardens of  Thirunallam like you wanted to?"

" Ok akka" - Vanathi replied as she put down her book and went outside, bouncing in  happiness , overjoyed by the prospect of fresh air after days of confinement.

Arulmozhi sighed in frustration, as he stood at the banks of Ponni Nadhi, overlooking the magnificent river that is the life source of their Chola Nadu. Since he was a child Arulmozhi had a weird connection with this river , maybe it is due to a small accident he encountered in his childhood . Ponni always offers its prince a much needed recluse whenever ,he feels frustrated and suffocated by the royal life . Glancing at the beauty of Ponni and swimming in her cool water always helps in relieving his mind and provides him with some clarity. Today was one such day when Arulmozhi needed to get away from his royal life . He arrived in Thirunallam last night and since then his dear akka and Patti had continuously tortured him with countless marriage proposals. Who is going to tell them that he doesn't want to get married to all these princesses ? Especially not to Kundavai's new best friend, The Kodumbalur ilavarasi!. Kundavai and Periya Velar are hellbent on arranging a match between him and the princess. Ponniyin Selvan still hasn't met the aforementioned girl, but he doesn't need to meet her to know that she wants him only for his throne. Arulmozhi, a hopeless romantic in his heart, always wanted a maiden with whom he could share the small joys of his life , someone who will understand his thoughts and support him in his dreams , unfortunately none of these princesses fit this bill.

" This Ilavarasi is going to drive me insane "- Arulmozhi muttered under his breath as he took off his angavastram and dived into the chilly water of Ponni. The water welcomed and embraced him as he swimmed through it , he shaked water droplets hanging into his unruly hair as Ponni worked her usual magic on his mind, unknown to fact that a young maiden was watching him from behind a tree, clearly admiring his wonderful physique.

yone else to be there at that moment. Although the rational part of her mind instructed her to walk away, her mischievous heart told her to stay for some time, lest the young man might find himself in danger and may need her to call for help? Believing this excuse, she stood hidden behind the tree while letting her eyes roam over the luscious glowing skin of the bathing man. Could this be the Ponniyin Selvan she has been hearing about so much? No, how could it be? Was he even here? And even if he were, why would he choose to bathe in Ponni when he has a palace pond and hundreds of servants to do his bidding? But then why was she having an instinct to go and talk to him, find out who he is?

The rational part of her mind came back to chide her more stronger Vanathi, you shameless girl! What are you doing, gawking at a stranger like this? What would Kundavai Akka say if she comes to know of this? The image of Kundavai Akka distracted Vanathi and she decided to walk back. That was when she heard a sound. It sounded like cries of a bird, following the sound, she looked up at the tree she was standing under, noticing a nest with some fledglings sticking their necks out and crying loudly. The danger presented itself in the form of a cat which was approaching the nest quickly, its eyes trained upon the helpless chicks.

"Ayyo" Vanathi exclaimed loudly, as the sight of the parentless fledglings reminded her of a younger version of herself who cried to sleep in the absence of her own parents. She barely registered the young man who was swimming in Ponni earlier hearing her voice and coming over to enquire.

Arulmozhi opened his eyes abruptly. From where did he hear a voice just now? Did he imagine it? He listened carefully to his surroundings and this time he heard a female shriek. His instincts kicked in and he immediately exited the river, wrapping a dry angavastram around him and ran to the direction of the sound, assuming a maiden to be in danger. He only had to go a short distance before he saw a woman stand under a tree looking up at the top branch, her hands covering her mouth. He approached her, "Devi, What happened?" He asked soothingly. The woman turned to him, only registering his presence now. And the first thought that struck him was What beautiful eyes! But this was hardly the time to appreciate her beauty as she looked at him with anxiety and shyness. She didn't say anything, merely pointed a finger to what she was staring at a while ago.

The scene has changed now. The parents of the fledglings, which we can assume to be woodpeckers, had heard their cries and had now arrived and were busy fighting off the cat. But the cat was equally receptive, trying to paw at its target with its sharp claws. Arulmozhi was relieved that the young maiden was not in any danger but the compassion she was showing to the helpless birds won his heart. He gave her a reassuring smile which seemed to have calmed her and proceeded to the branch where the nest was sitting, reproaching the cat with some dark threats of his own. The cat now turned its attention on him with its hissing and spitting. "This seems to be an annoying cat," He joked to the maiden, who was standing there looking at his actions with curiosity. Finally he threw a rock at the branch which shook from the impact and scared the cat so much that it abandoned its mission to retreat back to the foliage.

Now he saw they had another problem at hand. The nest was dangling precariously on the branches after the assault of the cat. He got an idea and after telling the girl to wait and catch the nest in her saree should they fall, he rushed off to get his trusty elephant. He watched the girl look in wonder when he reappeared in his elephant and as if reading his mind, stood aside to the lotus pond. I must get to know her more , he thought, wondering about the identity of this mysterious lady. The elephant stood right below the branch where the nest was dangling and Arulmozhi, standing on the tusker, carefully placed the nest back onto the nest and was greeted by the joyful chirping of the fledglings. He couldn't exactly see the maiden now, assuming she had gone to a safe distance away, he hoped she was watching him, hoped that she was impressed with how he chose to resolve the problem and also hoped that she would want to know about him as much as he wanted to know about her. 

Stay tuned for the next part...will they know each other's identity?

When will we get the next chapter of heart's union?

I know u r eagerly waiting for this and as much as we r eager to finish writing this, pls understand that sometimes the right ideas don't come at the right time or writer's block get in the way. But we r making some progress, so here is a preview of what we have written so far as an apology gift for making you wait so much ☺️

Here is the second chapter of Sakhi . This is a parallel to AK and Kundavai's conversation from the movie but here Nandini's location is unknown.

"Anna" Kundavai began but Aditha cut her off "What is the topic of discussion this time, thanggai?" He asked sarcastically, hinting that she always comes up to persuade him to do one thing or the other.

"I did tell you earlier" She said "That there is a conspiracy happening to bring about the destruction of Choza Nadu. You are the crown prince. You must come to Tanjore to protect our father. That is his wish" 

Aditha began to walk through the corridor with Kundavai trailing behind "Is that whi he send you here?" He asked before nodded at some soldiers who bowed before them while they passed.

"Everyone is afraid to talk to you, Anna" She reminded him of his intimidating persona "That is why I am here, to take you back to Tanjore ". Aditha knew he had a rash attitude and that his sister always knew how to confront him on it. "I don't want to come to Tanjore. I have lots of works to do here" He stopped walking, also signifying an end to the conversation but his sister was equally stubborn. 

" Are you still downing in your misery because of Nandini?" She asked exasperated and immediately regretted opening up another argument as he stared at her. "Not because of Nandini, but because of you. The emperor didn't drive her out of the kingdom. You did" 

There was a minute of silence as Kundavai thought of counterarguing him, like always. She had her reasons which no matter how much she tried to explain, passed right through his stubbornness. But she would always keep on trying, to make him understand, why she thought it was necessary. "Yes, I was the one who told the queen about her. She sent the soldiers to throw her out" 

Aditha glared at her " My life was ruined!" 

"It was for your own good!" 

"You were jealous" Aditha said.Even though he lost track of how many times they had such similar arguments, he couldn't help but mention Nandini in every conversation he had and defend her whenever Kundavai said getting Nandini out of his life was 'for his own good' "Her beauty and intelligence put yours to shame". He wanted to rile her up, wanted her to admit that she was jealous of his Nandini but Kundavai remained stoic "She was an orphan. She didn't even know her lineage. She could not be a Chola queen" She explained "I am not just your sister but also, a princess of the realm. What matters to me are the Chola people. None of us matters more" Aditha nodded and another minute of silence fell upon them. He was proud of his sister, he really was. When he first saw her step foot into the royal politics, he had his share of doubts and insecurities. On whether she would be able to handle such pressurising game of thrones and power. He was also cautious of any danger she might fall into but to his surprise, she rose to become such a fine woman that all the Choza people admired and loved. And so he was proud. He still is. But did she had to build her stack of startegies to protect Choza Nadu by stomping on his heart? 

"You took her away from me and turned me into a monster" He said looking away because he didn't had the strength to look at her. He did said those words to make her feel some guilt, some hurt just like he feels when he think about his long-lost love, but he also didn't wanted to watch his sister cry because that would break his resolve. "I was indifferent to her tears. I lost her. Since then, day and night she continues to haunt me. I don't know where she is now, no matter how much I try to search. It's like God refuses to make me meet her again" 

Kundavai felt her heart tighten. She never meant for this to happen. To turn her loving brother into a disillusioned lovelorn shell of a human. All she wanted…. She felt her eyes pricken with tears and hurried to wipe them off because she didn't wanted her brother to see her cry. 

Unknown to the both of them, a certain Vana Kula Prince was watching the verbal exchange from the start, hiding behind a pillar,his heart heavy on seeing the look of defeat in his Uyir Thozan's face and the woman he has come to love fighting back silent tears.

A/N: only the convo is taken from the movie with very slight edits. I am writing this on the go with very little pre-planning so if u have any suggestions or plot ideas u want to share, feel free to do so…eagerly waiting to hear your thoughts. Thank you ☺️

@harinishivaa 's Enadhuyire part 1 enabled me to reimagine AMV & Vanathi's first meeting at Thirunallam…hope you'll like it

 Arulmozhi closed his eyes and enjoyed the light breeze that ruffled his hair. Maybe coming to Thirunallam was a good idea after all. He was riding his elephant after a refreshing bath at Ponni. This was the only breather he could take before his family and the royal council bombarded him with marriage proposals. Why couldn't they understand that he didn't wanted to marry a girl right of the bat but needed time to understand that person before making such a critical decision. It was not only about the future of the Chozha Nadu but also about his future. And the future of the girl he was marrying. But apparently the council only cared about securing their positions as inlaws and strengthening their own status. He let out a deep sigh. No use getting a headache thinking about all this now. He came here to distract himself from the royal politics and to be with nature. Be with his Ponni. 

"Oh Yaanai Paaga!" Hearing a female shout he turned his head around and saw a woman standing near a big tree, waving her hands at him. "Come here, quick!" She called him over urgently.

A million thoughts passed through his mind. Who was this woman? She did seem familiar, judging from her clothes and jewelleries, he assumed she must be one of his Akka's companions perhaps. She didn't visibly seemed to be in any sort of danger but her face held an expression of fear and anxiety which made him hurry his elephant over to her. "Yes, what is the matter Devi?" He asked, giving her a reassuring smile. The woman blushed and seemed to be tongue tied, merely pointed her finger towards the upper branch of the tree. Arulmozhi followed the direction of her finger and saw a nest consisting of what looked like woodpecker fledglings, crying out as the nest was lopsided on the branch. "A wild cat attacked the nest" He heard her again, and couldn't help but note how sweet her voice was "I shooed away the cat but the nest got lopsided. Could you help fix it?" She looked at him with pleaded eyes. 

He nodded and touched the elephant's forehead and pointed towards the nest. The elephant, his constant companion in expeditions, understood his intention and using its trunk, slightly nudged the nest upright,the fledglings ceasing their cries immediately. The task accomplished, he looked around for the girl, only to find her missing. Has she gone already? He didn't even had a chance to talk to her properly, he was surprised to find himself so disappointed. 

"Penne, where have you gone?" He called out for good measure and was surprised when he heard a reply "I am here" He found her standing near the lotus pond, flashing him a friendly smile. "You have my infinite gratitude Yaanai Paaga" Ah, so she truly believed he was a mahout! No blame to her, since he was wearing ordinary clothes, ditching his princely attires so no one can report his wanderings to his Akka. He decided to see how much he could keep his act. "Don't I get a reward Devi?" He meant to lightly tease her, for what he didn't knew. The woman regarded him "Of course. I'll ask my uncle to appoint you to the highest position in the mahout regiment of the Kodumbalur army" She said genuinely and he felt his smile fade. Kodumbalur? And she mentioned her uncle. So Is this Vanathi Devi, the niece of Periya Velar and the Kodumbalur Kula Vilakk? Not to mention the first candidate in his Akka's list of potential brides for him. He allowed himself to look at her properly this time. Her purple saree complimented her complexion well. She was beautiful, no doubt, with an even more beautiful smile and big, doe eyes. She spoke with confidence although her cheeks were tinged red from nervous or shyness. Arulmozhi felt his heart beating out of his chest, afraid the Kodumbalur Ilavarasi might hear it. Nevertheless, he managed to keep his composure. 

"I'm truly glad to serve Arulmozhi Ilavarase, Devi. But thank you for the offer" He said and prepared to leave.

"What's your opinion of your Ponniyin Selvan?" He was pleasantly surprised by her question.

"Why do ask, Devi?"  She looked embarrassed. "I heard he has arrived at Thirunallam and I just wanted to know. Beyond the usual description of him as the Surya Kula Manikkam and Ponniyin Selvan. About his likes and dislikes and his pasttime activities and his favourite thevarams." 

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Yes, now he was eager to talk with her and imagine her shock when he reveals his identity.

"Maybe I will" She said, saying more to herself than to him, gaze fixed on the lotus pond."I cannot marry someone unless I understand them as a person" 

"I was thinking the same" He realised he said that thought aloud when he saw her face him " Why? You're marriage is also fixed?" She asked genuinely.

"Ummm….yes Devi. Now, excuse me. I have to leave" He guided his elephant to turn around and walk, not before hearing her call out "Oh Yaanai Paaga, don't tell Ponniyin Selvan I asked about him" 

He suppressed a laugh and turned around to see her "Why would I tell him when he himself knows?" 

She gave him a puzzled look "What do you mean?"

"You'll know" He shouted back "Now let me go back to my Akka. She is very persistent, being the Ilaiya Piratti" 

He enjoyed seeing her confused look turn into utter shock and embarrassment and flashed her a grin.

Can't wait to hear from you guys….Like, Comment and reblog 💜

A/N: Recreating the iconic rain scene from the movie Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein with a little twist ….enjoy

Kundavai= Kavya and Vanthiyathevan= Dev

Dev ran to the telephone booth soaked to the core in the rain and picked up the telephone to call his dad. It's been some time since he has called, he thought back to the last conversation he had where his father was asking him why there isn't a girl in his life. He simply stated that he hasn't met his kind of girl yet. Obviously the next question was what was his kind of girl to find surprisingly he didn't had an answer. He believed in the book and movie version of love at first sight where you just feel different when you meet your soulmate. A good difference which is extremely difficult to describe than you think. "My kind of girl is…..my kind of girl" He found himself saying, his dad giving him a puzzled look. He laughed thinking what his dad will say when he hears that his dear son has not met "his kind of girl" even in the country's capital New Delhi. It's a lost cause. His dreams and aspirations of a relationship is a lost cause.

While waiting for the call to be picked up he looked outside, seeing a couple of children playing in the rain and a car on the side with a man checking on the engine. The road was empty otherwise what with the heat downpour.

"Dad pick up the phone yaar" He said to himself exasperated. He noticed then that the backdoor of the car opening. He didn't realise there was a passenger in the car till now. Why was the person opening the door? Maybe to come to the booth for a phone call? He saw a woman come out, slamming the door and soaking in the rain. Crazy. He thought not even an umbrella with her. She wrapped her shawl around her and approached the playing children. Now he was curious. What was she about to do? The children saw the woman come towards them with her arms crossed across her chest. They stopped playing and stood together as if waiting to get scolded for jumping around in the downpour. Dev also found himself waiting to see what she'd do, still holding the phone in his ear waiting for his dad to pick up. The woman stepped back a bit and slowly started to take off her heels. It was at this moment that his dad decided to take the call, "Hello, hello"

He visibly jerked out of his stupor and said "Hello, this is Delhi calling from Dev"

"Hello Dev..Hello Delhi..I mean Hello Dev, hello hello" He lowered the phone and with his other hand cleared the glass of the raindrops to see the scene more clearly. The woman kicked out her legs and started jumping around, the children joining her the next second, dancing around her and shouting and howling in their fun. Dev was…he actually didn't knew what he was feeling. It was a mixture of surprise, wonder, curiosity, hapiness. The lightning illuminated her face while she was twirling on of the boys and jumping along with them. Dev caught his breath. The lightning revealed a beautiful face and an even more beautiful smile - the best he has ever seen. She was enjoying the moment, laughing with her companions with her hair bouncing with her every movement. What was this feeling he was having? He wasn't able to pinpoint it. It felt different. Good different….oh God! Was this..?

Smiling from the realisation he put the telephone to his ear again with his dad still saying hello from the other side.

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"I saw her?"

"Arrey, Who did you see?"

"My kind of girl" He said grinning looking at the mystery girl .

Just then the man who was fixing the engine, closed the hood and signalled to the dancing girl, who in turn waved to the children and climbed back into the car, her heels in her hands.

"Dad she's going" Dev said, disappointed that the car was fixed so quickly.

"Who is going?" His dad asked, still confused

"Going" He said again, watching the car move, wishing it had a breakdown again

The children waved back to the car which passed the telephone booth and a frustrated Dev looking at the car and saying "Gone". He just realised that he didn't knew anything about the dancing girl who he was quick to label his girl. What was her name? Where was she from? Nothing. In the time he was gaping at her, he could've made his way over, met her talked with her and even danced with her and the kids. But what did he do? Nothing!

In the background, he could still hear his dad, asking him what nonsense he was sprouting from the other side of the telephone line. He hang up the phone and pressed his forehead against the glass of the booth, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world.

************************************

Kavya didn't regret what she did one bit. Sure, it was out of her character to go and get soaked in rain but today she was feeling different. The longer she sat in the car watching the children playing in the rain, the more she wanted to join them and finally she gave in to her urge. She laughed at how shocked her mother was going to be on seeing her but she didn't care. She felt good. Crazy good and romantic. Must be the rain. She thought, being the monsoon lover and a fan of rom-com movies. 

This idea had been in my head for some time now…Finally decided to write it down and hope I did justice to the scene and characters. Waiting to hear your thoughts.

Been planning this collab with @whippersnappersbookworm for a long time..do read and review guys

It has been three months since Vanathi has left Kodumbalur . Three months have passed since she left her childhood home and moved to Pazhayari. Back in Kodumbalur, Vanathi was always the apple of everyone's eyes, since her mother had passed away, her father dedicated all his time in her upbringing. He took care of her all by himself, coddling her , and spoiling her with everything she wanted.But happiness was a temporary guest in Vanathi's life , her father died when she was just nine years old in the battle of Eezham , leaving his young daughter to deal with the cruel world on her own. That day changed everything for Vanathi, she transformed from a happy- go- lucky child to a quiet introvert girl who lacked confidence. Her uncle and aunt tried their best to make her comfortable and loved , but Vanathi refused to open up to anyone, she spent most of her time all alone in the gardens of Kodumbalur dreaming about the son she will have one day. She wholeheartedly believed that her father will come back to her in the form of her son, her son will solve every problem in her life, he will make her the happiest person in this world. 

Few months back her uncle finally put his foot down and decided to send her to Pazhayari so she can become friends with the Ilayi Priratti , who can groom her to become a better princess. Vanathi tried her best to convince her uncle , she tried everything from crying to giving up food but his uncle didn't budge from his decision . He had many big ambitions for her , and he believed that getting acquainted with ilavarasi is the very first step towards that path. So unfortunately teary-eyed Vanathi had to board the palanquin which took her to the Pazhayari palace , a place that later became the home she always craved for. 

She had heard of Ilaiya Piratti Kundavai Devi - the formidable, intelligent and gracious only daughter of the Emperor, the woman that the citizens claim is the real brain behind royal politics. What would she think of her? When she first came to Pazhaayari, she saw Sembiyan Madevi welcome her with an aarti while Kundavai watched from the side. 

"Welcome to Pazhaayari Kanne. I hope you will find your happiness here" Madevi said while placing a hand over her head. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw some other women, who she guessed must be the companions of Ilaiya Piratti sneering at her and whispering among themselves and her heart sank. Happiness? She might as well drown in Ponni now than suffer all the teasing from them. Why did her uncle choose such a fate for her? What did he mean that this stay is going to change her life? As she watched Periya Piratti Madevi go inside, she also noticed Kundavai was still standing at her spot, scrutinising her with her dark eyes. 

"Kodumbalur Ilavarasi" she addressed her in a majestic tone "Would you like to join me in the gardens for a while?" 

Vanathi could only nod and silently followed the former into the spacious gardens accompanied by some of the other women.

As they reached the gardens, Kundavai suddenly turned around and asked, "Ilavarasi, I have heard you are a good singer. And it is evident you have a sweet voice. Could you sing a thevaram for us?" 

Vanathi was shocked at this request to say the least. But she quickly collected her wits and sang a thevaram that she liked by Thirugnana Sambander. She closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at the envious and taunting gaze of the other onlookers and immersed herself in singing the thevaram as best as she could, not to impress the Chola Ilaiya Piratti but because singing gave her a momentary relief from her overthinking. When she finished singing and opened her eyes, she saw Kundavai smiled openly at her. "You are truly blessed with a sweet voice, Kanne. May your voice echo in these palatial chambers for everyone to hear and be mesmerized" Vanathi's heart skipped a beat after hearing these words uttered by Kundavai and a beautiful smile was etched on her face. 

"Of course, she must be here to charm our dear Ponniyin Selvan" She suddenly heard one of Kundavai's companions remark in a half-whisper. "She's an orphan. It is clear she brings misfortune to all who surround her" The smile that was present a second ago disappeared and she felt tears pricking her eyes no matter how much she tried to blink it away. She didn't see Kundavai fix the speaker with a stern look. "If you knew any better, you would remember never to judge a book by its cover. If my Thambi gets impressed by her inherent qualities, can you judge her Sugatha?" Kundavai asked in a grave tone. The girl who taunted Vanathi looked ashamed. "Forgive me for my recklessness Iliya Piratti"

Kundavai sighed and turned to a surprised Vanathi "Ilavarasi, I would like to personally escort you to your chamber" and looking back at the girls she added "All of you can go to the temple and prepare for the evening Pooja. I'll join you presently" 

Vanathi followed the former into the palace " Thank you for standing up for me Ilaiya Piratti" She said softly, voice dripping with gratitude. Kundavai glanced at her in amusement. "You don't know Ilavarasi, I am always correcting their behaviour. These girls have a habit of making wayward comments about each other. Do you know who they are?" Vanathi shook her head.

"They are girls from other Samatha kingdoms and noble families, left in my care to transform them into eligible brides. I am adamant in giving them the education and training they need in life but for my Thambi's bride ...." She gave Vanathi a once-over "Perhaps I may not have to look any further now that you are here " 

Vanathi was shocked to say the least. Her as a potential bride for the Chola Kula Surya Manikkam? "Iliya Piratti, how can I ever be eligible for the brave and radiant Ponniyin Selvan, the heartthrob of every girl in Chozha Naadu?" 

Kundavai gave her a reassuring smile " I know the world sees you as timid and I also learnt from your uncle that you are prone to fainting spells. But I believe that every woman is an avatar of Adi Parashakti and I'll help you discover the courage that resides in you" Vanathi stared at the woman in front of her. This is why people say she is the brain of the royal family! An idea germinated in her mind - yes, she will become strong. She will become the Vanathi that Kundavai aspires to see and show the world her true self. She nodded in determination "Thank you Iliya Piratti"

Kundavai continued to smile at her "I don't have a sister. Could you be that for me? If yes then you can call me Akka from now, Vanathi" She said gently.

Vanathi was floating on cloud nine by now. She came here unwillingly to what she assumed was to be an apprentice under Kundavai Devi and now she became a part of the family in the same day. Maybe this journey was going to be life-changing for her as her uncle mentioned.

"Yes Akka" She said fondly looking at the woman she began to feel great admiration for.

Since that day Vanathi had ended up becoming Kundavai's shadow, she had won Illiya Piratti's heart with her innocence and simplicity. Kundavai's influence on the other hand has  also transformed the introverted Vanathi into a bright , cheerful girl. She took extra care to make sure her Uyir Thozhi is comfortable in Pazhayarai, she took Vanathi with her to the temples and the various functions she has to attend , gives her private lessons and tells her tales about his beloved thambi: Ponniyin Selvan.

Vanathi has been hearing this name since she was child , she had heard tales about his beauty , his intelligence, his benevolence . He is a jewel of the Chozha Nadu adored by everyone, he is every girl's heartthrob, but Vanathi couldn't be less interested. Even though Kundavai akka had repeatedly told her how she is perfect for her thambi and how he is perfect for her , Vanathi never felt overjoyed at the prospect of marriage with The Chola Ilavarasan. Unlike the other girls Vanathi never dreamed of getting married; her daydreams only had one man in it , her future son.  Although she he had recently learned from the gossip of the Anthapuram that a child is impossible without marriage ,but somehow she could never imagine being married to a prince and leading a life of a queen like Sembiyan Mahadevi or Vanavan Mahadevi , that life doesn't interest her. Rather she always wanted a simple life, a life filled with love and simpler joys . She wanted a husband who would make her laugh, share his life with her. Can a prince do that? Can Ponniyin Selvan ever understand that?

Vanathi didn't had the answer to it. 

Want to see AMV and Vanathi meet up? Stay tuned to the next part..