42

“It was so unexpected, you didn’t give me any clue,” Sumitra said to Kayanangai.

Kayanagai smiled for the sake and she looked at the distance to see Aathiyan talking to Narenthiran. She came out to meet Sumitra and unexpectedly Aathiyan is also here.

“Yes, even I didn’t expect it,” Kayanangai said.

“Why do you look like you are not happy?” Sumitra asked.

“No, I am happy,” Kayanangai retorted with a smile.

“Then you should smile a lot at this time,” Sumitra said and Kayanangai nodded.

Aathiyan saw her from there, after a long time he saw her smile and it made his heart race.

“Aathiya, you should come with me. It’s not best to go alone,” Narenthiran requested as he’s going to meet the King of the northern territory.

“No, I don’t like to travel at this time,” Aathiyan said and looked at Kayanangai.

“It only takes two days,” Narenthiran said.

“Kayanangai will be safe here,” he added, noticing Aathiyan’s eyes. “I am not worried about her,”

“It’s in your eyes,” Narenthiran smiled. “I can understand, you want to be with your wife at this time but we will return soon,”

Aathiyan is worried, so concerned because if he leaves her then Nakan will take his place. He’s afraid of everything that might happen in his absence. He wanted to protect her no matter what.

“What do you say?” Narenthiran asked. “Fine, I will come with you,” Aathiyan agreed because he doesn’t want any suspicion surrounding them. He needed some time away from this palace.

Narenthiran was surprised that he agreed quickly.

“Is there anything bothering you?” he asked. “No, I am just worried for no reason,” Aathiyan huffed. “Are you nervous to have another child?” Narenthiran asked.

I am anxious to have a child that isn’t mine, Aathiyan thought.

“No, I couldn’t explain what’s bothering me,” Aathiyan said.

“You are strange lately,” Narenthiran said.

Aathiyan smiled, looking down having nothing to say to that comment.

He looked at Kayanangai who was looking at him as well. They locked eyes for a moment and she was the one to turn away. Even when he was away from her, Aathiyan never missed her so much, she’s just here but he’s feeling like he’s losing her.

He walked away feeling this bothersome sadness.

“So you are going to see the physician now?” Sumitra asked when Kayanangai looked at Aathiyan walking away.

“Yes, I have to get medicine for my morning sickness,” Kayanangai lied.

“Oh, go ahead. I will see you later,′ Sumitra said and Kayanangai walked in the opposite direction to Aathiyan. As they left, Sumitra went to see her husband.

“Aathiyan worries so much about her,” Narenthiran said.

“Because she’s pregnant and he doesn’t want to go anywhere away from her. You know how much he cares about everyone,” Sumitra said but thought for a moment.

“Have you noticed that there’s something between them?” Narenthiran said.

“How do you say that?”

“Because, they are not talking much when we are around them,”

“Maybe they might have fought,” Sumitra smiled.

“I don’t think that’s the case,” Narenthiran said.

“What did my brother say? Is he coming with you?”

“Yes,”

“I will miss you,” Sumitra said.

Narenthiran smiled, “I will come back soon,” he hugged her.

Kayanangai walked into the physician’s place and saw one of her assistants.

“Where is she?” Kayanangai asked.

“Head physician has gone out for work, Rani,” she answered.

“Oh, do you know when she will return?”

“I don’t know, Rani,” she answered. “Do you want anything, I am glad to help you,”

Kayanangai looked at her and sat down on the bench.

“I feel weak, do you have anything to help me fall asleep?” Kayanangai asked.

“That’s a normal symptom, Rani. You don’t need to take any medicines. You just need to eat healthy,” she said. Kayanangai nodded, she knew that too . The reason she came here was not this.

“Do you… I am asking this just because I am curious,” Kayanangai hesitantly said.

“Yes, you can ask me, Rani,”

“Is there a way to abort a child?” Kayanangai asked in a whisper. She doesn’t care about whether Nakan is here.

Hearing that question, the lady was stunned, “Rani, why do you ask such a question?”

“I told you, I’m just curious,” Kayanangai frowned.

“But still, while you are pregnant, you can’t talk that way,” she said.

“You don’t have to teach me how I should talk,” Kayanangai retorted.

The lady looked down, realizing her mistake.

“Forgive me, highness. I shouldn’t have talked like that,” she apologized.

“Listen to what others speak before putting all your judgements,” Kayanangai advised.

“Please forgive me; I won’t talk like that again,”

“Stop apologizing and answer my question,” Kayanangai said.

“This is not about me, I am just curious to know this. Now tell me, is there a way to abort a child while you are pregnant?” Kayanangai asked.

“Yes, you can do that only in the early stage of pregnancy. Like you are now. Then once it starts to mature it will be dangerous to the woman,” she answered.

“Oh, what are the ways to abort?”

“It’s a risky way but there are poisonous herbs and consuming that you can prevent the growth,” “But it often lead to death or infertility for lifetime,” she answered.

“So one can’t have another child after that?” Kayanangai asked.

“Yes, you are right, Rani,”

Kayanangai nodded. “I am not asking this for me, so don’t let a word or a rumor out of these four walls, you understand?” Kayanangai asked in her threatening tone.

“I won’t do that, Rani. You can trust me,”

“If I ever heard anything, you will face the consequences,” Kayanangai said before leaving the place. She’s crazy to ask such a thing to a maid, but she wanted to find a way to get rid of this sin. Everytime she looked at the scar on her hip, she wanted to stab herself.

But she had no courage to do that. More than losing her dignity, she doesn’t want to bring any bad reputation to Aathiyan. He’s innocent and she’s the reason for all this to happen.

When she’s walking sadly to her place, thinking that she has deceived the Devil, Kayanangai comes across Aathiyan.

She looked at him in surprise and excitement seeped when she saw his smile. But she wondered whether this was really him.

“Where have you been, my love?”

That’s enough for her to understand that it’s not her husband.

She stepped back in fear and he stepped forward with a smile.

“Why are you afraid? Have you done something wrong?”

Kayanangai nodded and stared at him like she’s seeing a ghost.

“You must have done something? What is it?”She didn’t answer him and her hands started shaking when she was trapped between the wall and him.

“You have went to inquire about something important, I guess,”

“No, it’s not like what you think,” Kayanangai said. “What do I think?” it asked. “You can never find that, but I know what you think,”

Kayanangai’s eyes welled in tears. “What’s this tears suggest, Kayanangai?” he asked near her lips.

She hesitantly opened her mouth to answer. “I am asking you right, answer me?”

“I-I am afraid,”

“Why? Do I look scary? I am looking just like the man you love,”

In it’s sleek voice, he said, “Perhaps you have something that you shouldn’t have done,”

Kayanangai nodded, “Yes, you know what I have done,”

“Yes, I heard that,”

“Do you think you can cheat me?”

“I didn’t say that,” “But your actions proves it,”

“Forgive me,” Kayanangai apologized.

“Why do you want to get rid of our child?” he asked.

Kayanangai didn’t say anything.

“Don’t you know you can’t do that,” he said and caressed her cheeks. She nodded and lowered her gaze.

“You have been so good in the past month, what happened to you today. You must have thought I was not here,”

Kayanangai nodded.

“Oh, that’s so foolish of you, my love. I was here the whole time,” he smiled.

Kayanangai can’t believe this smile, can she trust that it’s not angry or is she in trouble?

“Don’t worry, I am not going to punish you for this,”

Relief spread across her heart to hear that.

“But I can punish your son or maybe your husband, what do you say?”Kayanangai’s eyes widened.

“Do you want me to do that?”“No, please don’t do anything. I won’t repeat this mistake ever again,” Kayanangai pleaded.

“Really?” he asked. The devil is more attractive in Aathiyan’s form than Aathiyan himself.

“Yes, punish me if you want. But please leave them alone,” she requested.

“You know I can do anything at any moment, I won’t hesitate,” he let her know.

“Yes, I know that,” she nodded.

“What you have done is wrong, so you need to do whatever I say to compensate that,”

She agreed.

The Devil smiled and kissed her lips. Kayanangai strangely didn’t feel that disgust. But she was anxious if someone finds them here.

“Aathiyan won’t be here for two days and I will stay with you,” the Devil said. She nodded, looking down. “Don’t feel bad, I am so good to you, do you know why?”

She stared at those glowing eyes, cluelessly.

“Because you are more important to me than anyone. I won’t hurt you until you obey,” he said and wiped her tears that rolled down to her cheek.

“This is all going to end soon,”

Saying that he stepped back giving her space to breathe.

“Go, and sleep well. You are fine,” he said and patted her shoulders. The Devil is acting as if it really cares about Kayanangai. It knows her heart and soul is moved by love, not by any threats.

Kayanangai is ashamed to admit that she’s grateful and comforted by it’s words.