Ponniyin Selvan-Untold

The Game Begins-A Modern AU | Karikalan & Nandhini

(The last chapter of the trilogy)

Paatti looked upset. "I should've taken the decision, but no! I had to make him decide. My son is naive! Oh, what is he doing now?"

It had been 4 months since Madhuranthakan's marriage. After all the ceremonies got over, the bride and her parents requested Madhu to stay with them as a Veettoda Maapillai. Paatti felt that it was her son's choice, and he decided to oblige.

"It's okay, athai. We'll go visit him this Sunday." Assured Mahadevi. "Besides, we didn't go attend the Periyavar's wedding. Look at him, craving a young wife for his age! What was her name again? It was a lovely name."

"Who cares? I'm not coming ma," Aadhithan said without looking up from his phone.

"What's wrong with visiting your chittappa?"

"Ma, please. I don't want to go there."

"You'll never change."

Aadhithan rose and walked to his bedroom. Kundavai quickly followed him.

"What do you want?" He asked, annoyed.

"Why can't you stop thinking of her?" She questioned back.

"It was your fault."

"It was for the good of our family."

"You are a woman," Aadhithan argued "and yet you weren't able to understand the feelings of another."

"I am a woman. That's why I understood her intentions."

He looked away. "...Just get out."

•••

At the Pazhuvoor Maaligai, everyone had gone to sleep.

Atleast, it seemed like so.

The head of the house walked to his newly-wedded wife's room. Inside, she was braiding her hair in front of the mirror.

"Dearest," The Periyavar softly smiled. "You called for me?"

"Yes. Could you please send Madhu to the library? Your younger brother would suspect me if I asked him to come there." She requested. Her husband looked dejected.

"Oh. Fine then, but I thought that we'll-"

"As your wife, my main duty is to bring you prosperity. Everything else is secondary. Now, you're a shareholder at the Chozha Group of Companies. But if we place that dummy Madhuranthakan as the CEO, you could have indirect control on there. Do you know how happy would that make me?"

Her warm, sweet words gave comfort to his soul. It was as intoxicating as liquor and as soft as silk. Hearing it made him do whatever she asked for.

"Your happiness is my happiness. Silently sneak to the library without anyone noticing you. I'll take care of the rest."

She rose up and faced him. "Thank you."

The Periyavar felt the world spinning at his toes.

•••

Madhuranthakan waited in the library. His Periya Mamanar had asked him to wait there. Where was he?

He kinda missed being at home. People here treated him a bit too well. He almost missed his Amma's lighthearted scoldings, banterings and her singing the praises of Lord Sivan.

"I should go visit them with my wife." He muttered, flipping through an book. As he looked at the black words staring back at him, he heard the soft sound of anklets.