PONNIYIN SELVAN - Chapter-wise Summary - Book I - Chapters 31 to 40

CHAPTER 31 - "THIEVES! THIEVES!!" - "திருடர்! திருடர்!"

Through the paintings in the hall, Vandhiya Thevan (VT) came to know the importance Pazhavettaraiyar clan had in Chola empire. In so many occasions, they had helped Chola kings. So, it wasn't surprising for VT that Chinna Pazhavettaraiyar (CPV) and Periya Pazhavettaraiyar (PPV) had immense power and reputation.

VT then realized the critical situation he was in. He knew CPV wasn't fully convinced by his reply about the 'danger'. He knew that PPV's arrival would reveal that because contrary to what VT had said, PPV hadn't actually given him the palm tree ring. VT also knew that the letter he brought for Kundhavai should also be with CPV. VT consoled himself that even without the letter, he could tell the message orally to Kundhavai. He didn't worry if she would believe him or not.

If he was found guilty by the Pazhavettaraiyar, he would be sent to the underground prison. He knew that if a person was sent to the underground prison, he could never come out but only as a corpse. So, he decided to leave (actually 'escape') the palace. An idea suddenly flashed in his mind.

From the balcony of the hall, he saw CPV approaching with his retinue. He went to the entrance of the painting hall where there were 3 guards. He insisted them to give him his old dress. When they were about to give some reply, he suddenly started attacking them, shouting "thieves! thieves!!". CPV heard these noises as he was arriving there.

CHAPTER 32 - EXAMINATION - பரிசோதனை

Upon seeing CPV, Vandhiyathevan (VT) stopped fighting and walked towards him. He complained to him the guards had stolen his dress and belongings in it. CPV enquired him thoroughly and VT revealed that he had brought a letter for Kundhavai from Aditha Karikalan (AK). (Of course, VT knew that CPV must have already read it). When asked what was in the letter, VT replied that he didn't have the habit of reading the letters of others.

CPV ordered the guards to give him his dress and his belongings. In his dress, he could find the letter and gold coins he had had. He sensed that CPV had put more coins in his dress. VT gave them back to CPV but he refused to get them saying that the extra money could be useful for his expenses. CPV asked VT if he wanted to stay that night or leave at once. VT cleverly replied that he wanted to stay and see PPV when he arrived. (Because, CPV might suspect him otherwise). Then he requested CPV that he wanted to go for a walk around the Chola country. CPV gave him permission but ordered him not to go out of the castle. He gave some instructions to two of the guards and sent them with him.

CHAPTER 33 - A WOMAN IN THE TREE - மரத்தில் ஒரு மங்கை

While roaming inside the castle, VT kept asking the guards many questions about the places there. Though he was engaged in conversations with them, his mind continuously thought about a way to escape.  It was then a mob of men came in the street. They were the Black Cats. VT suddenly went into the mob and started shouting with them. The two guards who had so far accompanied him waited outside the mob because they didn't have the nerve to go near the Black Cats.

A woman with a curd-pot came in the opposite direction of the Black Cats. One of the Black Cats teased her and started chasing her. VT, without any hesitation, started running with the man who chased her. After a while, they missed the woman but VT kept running wherever his feet allowed. He was running till the evening darkness fell. When it was dark, he stopped near a tall wall and waited for moonrise.

He knew that the two guards must have told about his escape to CPV. So, he decided to exit the castle before his men could catch him. Since he hadn't slept the previous night, and run for a long distance, he sat leaning against the wall. Soon, he fell asleep. When he woke up, he saw the moon in the sky. Some voice had woken him up. He saw a woman on a tree near the wall. She dropped a rope ladder and asked him to climb on it and jump into the other side of the wall. When he reached the top of the wall, he could see that it was the woman whom they had chased.She told him that Nandhini was waiting for him. Both of them jumped into the other side of the wall. At some distance, he could see a large palace with a lot of towers. The woman guided him towards it.

CHAPTER 34 - THE LATHA HALL - லதா மண்டபம்

The woman led him through a dense forest. Through her talk, VT came to know that she was supposed to take some other man (probably a warlock) - not him. However, VT managed to make her believe that she was actually taking the right person with her.

In the palace, she escorted him to Nandhini. Though Nandhini had been waiting for the warlock, she wasn't disappointed with the arrival of VT because her very purpose of meeting the warlock itself was to know about the whereabouts of VT. Nandhini told VT that she had been thinking of him since she had seen him the previous day. VT told her about his meeting with Azhvarkkadiyaan (AA) and about his wish to give her a message.

CHAPTER 35 - THE WARLOCK - மந்திரவாதி

VT and Nandhini had a lenghty conversation. VT told her whatever was told to him by AA. Nandhini asked VT to tell AA to forget about her. VT impressed Nandhini with his intelligent repartee. So, she asked him to be her personal guard. But VT replied her that he had already been appointed to be Kundhavai's personal guard. In order to prove it, he showed the letter to her. He added that if Kundhavai didn't accept him as her personal guard, he would surely come to Nandhini. He further asked for Nandhini's help to escape from there. He also revealed to her how he used the ring given by her to meet the king. However, he didn't tell her about the message he delivered.

Nandhini became nervous to know that he had used the ring in that way. But, VT consoled her saying that he had told CPV that the ring had been given to him by PPV.

At the moment, noises were heard from a distance to tell them that PPV was approaching. Both of them knew that VT must leave the place before PPV could reach there. Nandhini assured to help VT to escape - but with a condition. She asked him to inform her whatever reply Kundhavai would give him for the letter. VT accepted it after a small hesitation. Then, they heard the howling of an owl which was a signal for the arrival of the actual warlock. She asked VT to hide there for some time.

CHAPTER 36 - "DO YOU REMEMBER?" - "ஞாபகம் இருக்கிறதா?"

Then, another man arrived in the Latha Hall. He was Ravidhasan. (The head of the men who had met at Pallipadai). Through the conversation between Ravidhasan and Nandhini the readers can come to know that Ravidhasan had been visiting Nandhini in the disguise of a warlock. For some reason, he seemed furious on Nandhini. He reminded her what they had planned.

A FLASHBACK

=> Once a group of men burnt a dead body in a forest.

=> Then, they brought a woman near the fire and they were about to set her aflame too. The woman was Nandhini. Her mouth had been tied so she couldn't talk.

=> Before dying, she wanted to tell them something. The men understood it through her gestures and let her talk.

=> She promised them that she would also join with them in their conspiracy and use her intelligence and beauty to achieve it.

=> Nobody was ready to believe her but Ravidhasan believed her words.

=> He set her free.

=> While they all were walking back, a troupe of soldiers surrounded them.

=> PPV was also in the troupe.

=> He was stunned by Nandhini's beauty and kidnapped her.

=> Later, when Ravidhasan met Nandhini, she promised him to help them being there in PPV's palace.

=> Since then, she had been helping them.

Flashback ends.

But, Ravidhasan was furious and accused Nandhini that she had become addicted to the luxuries of the palace. Nandhini refused it. He also blamed her for being attracted towards the charm of a new man (referring to VT). Ravidhasan knew that CPV's men were looking for the man. Nandhini told him that they could use him in their plans but Ravidhasan rejected the idea. She then asked Ravidhasan to help VT to escape so that he would tell them the reply given by Kundhavai for Aditha Karikalan's (AK) message. Ravidhasan accepted it. When they searched for VT, he had already left.

CHAPTER 37 - LIONS CLASHED - சிம்மங்கள் மோதின

Periya Pazhavettaraiyar (PPV) returned from Kadambur. Uncharacteriscally, Chinna Pazhavettaraiyar (CPV) didn't go to the entrance of the palace to welcome him. PPV went straight to CPV. CPV asked him about the result of his visit.

The essence of PPV's long reply was...

=> Everyone expressed their support for making Madhuraandhagan the next king.

=> If anyone should oppose the idea, it should be either Malaiyaman, Parthiban or Kodumbalur Velan. Since Kodumbalur Velan was in Sri Lanka, the other two couldn't do anything against them. (These characters are yet to appear in the story)

=> Even the common public and Black Cats can also be tackled.

When CPV told him that they should be careful about Kundhavai, PPV replied that they shouldn't be afraid of women.

Then, CPV informed PPV that the King had asked both his sons to reach Tanjore at once. PPV was sure that Aditha Karikalan (AK) wouldn't come and that they should prevent Arulmozhi Varman (AMV) from coming home.

Then, CPV told him about VT's arrival and the happenings that followed. PPV scolded him for his carelessness. CPV told his elder brother that if he hadn't given the ring to the messenger, it must have been given to him by Nandhini. He added that PPV must get rid off her. At this remark, PPV became angry and warned him not to blame her one more time. The argument between the two brothers sounded like a clash between two lions.

CHAPTER 38 - FEIGNED AVERSION OF NANDHINI - நந்தினியின் ஊடல்

Though PPV scolded CPV for speaking ill of Nandhini, he himself had some questions to ask her.

The questions were...

=> Who was that warlock that visited Nandhini often? What was the purpose of their meetings?

=> Why did she get so many Palm Tree rings from him often? What did she do with them?

=> What did she do in the Latha Hall often?
(There were 3 palaces. Latha Hall was at the backyard. It was there Nandhini met VT. But, she was supposed to be in the other palace which was at the front portion)

=> Most importantly, why didn't she allow him to make love to her? She had been telling so many reasons for that. Were they genuine reasons or mere pretexts?

With all these questions in his mind, PPV reached the Latha Hall. The midnight had already passed yet Nandhini was still at the Latha Hall. When PPV went to her, she expressed her feigned aversion for parting with her for 3 days. Instead of asking questions, he started consoling her.

Through their conversation, the readers come to know that it was Nandhini who suggested that Madhuraandhagan should be the next king.

**When PPV and CPV had failed to convince Madhuraandhagan to be the next king, it was Nandhini who had changed his mind succesfully.

**It was her idea to take Madhuraandhagan to Kadambur in palanquin.

When PPV asked her about the warlock, she replied that she brought him in order to control Kundhavai. Nandhini warned him that they should be careful about Kundhavai. She also reminded him how Kundhavai humiliated her using cheap words in front of so many women - scolding her for marrying PPV.

CHAPTER 39 - THE EARTH REVOLVED - உலகம் சுழன்றது

Simple. PPV asked Nandhini when they could make love. Nandhini replied him that they could make love, only after her wish became true. Her wish was that her husband should become a King. Upon hearing this, PPV's head revolved. (Of course, figurative speech)

CHAPTER 40 - DARK PALACE - இருள் மாளிகை

When Nandhini asked him to hide, VT had hidden in the Latha Hall. Then, Ravidhasan (the so called warlock) arrived. VT tried to overhear them but they weren't audible. Then, VT contemplated and realized that his senses hadn't functioned normally in front of Nandhini. He realized that she had a vicious attraction in her. He decided that she was even more dangerous than PPV and CPV. So, he decided to escape. He went to a secret door and opened it. He entered into an extremely dark pathway. Since he didn't want Nandhini to follow him, he closed the door behind him.

It was completely dark that he couldn't literally see anything. After a while, he could see 3 people coming out from an underground path. They went upstairs using a stairs. VT could see them because one of them carried a lantern. The three people were, 

(i) His friend Kandhamaaran (KM)
(ii) Madhuraandhagan
(iii) And a stranger

VT guessed that PPV should have asked  Kandhamaaran (KM) to take Madhuraandhagan secretly into the Tanjore palace. VT decided to use the stairs to escape. He went into the complete darkness.