In the direction where Aditya Karikalan pointed to, was a dilapidated stone mandapam. It looked like something that had been built by a charitable do-gooder for travelers to rest. The mandapam looked like it had weathered many summers and storms.
The prince asked, "Thatha, do you see that?"
Malayamaan responded, "I see the old mandapam. But I do not see any people inside. What do you want me to see?"
"Thatha, you have grown old, and your eyesight has diminished. Don't you see the beautiful carvings on the wall? Don't you see a large kite with huge wings? It has a small pigeon in its fangs. I see the blood dripping from the fresh kill. Look at the other pigeon flying towards the kite. Perhaps it is the wounded pigeon's lover. Is the pigeon begging for its lover's life?"
"Ah! No! The flapping of the wings of the pigeon seems like it is attacking the kite to let go of its lover. Amazing. Look at the courage of the pigeon attacking such a huge bird. Do you think the kite would be more forgiving? I don't think so. The kite must have taken the lives of so many such pigeons."
The prince then took up a small stone and flung it towards the carving, "Hey, kite, take this!" and roared loudly with laughter.
The grandfather, for a moment, started doubting if his grandson was in his senses. He walked up to where the stone had landed and saw the beautiful realistic carving that the prince had just described.
"Yes, my dear. I think my eyesight is indeed not as good as it was. It is indeed a wonderful carving," said Malayamaan softly.
"Wonderful. Hah. It is exquisite. I am not sure whether to complement the beautiful artwork or be angry at the sculptor for carving such a sentimental sight. How could he have the heart to have done this?"
"My boy, when did your heart of steel soften like this? It is natural for kites to kill birds like this. Lions need to kill goats, to maintain control of their forests. Kings and emperors need to kill people if they want to rule large kingdoms under one umbrella. Why are you having this confusion, Karikala?"
"But the fact that the kite did not feel sympathetic to the female pigeon, is what confuses me. Thatha, you tell me — if you were going to kill your enemy, and at that very time, his wife comes and begs for her husband's life, what would you do?"
"I would kick her with my left leg, and kill my enemy, without giving a second thought, Karikala," said the old man. He continued, "A lady's tears can be powerful and very dangerous. It can melt the strongest warriors. A warrior who gets defeated by a woman's tears is worse than a woman."
"Thatha, why are you speaking so lowly of women? Don't you feel that it is speaking lowly of my own mother?"
"My son, the amount of love that I have for your mother is immeasurable. I had six sons, and I lost every one of them in the battlefield. I did not bat an eyelid when I lost any of them. However, the amount of sorrow that I went through when my daughter left me to sit on the Chozha throne! I did not show it out to anyone, not even to her."
"I told her not to get too proud as she was going to wed not only the Chozha kingdom's emperor, but also its most handsome man. I told her to take care of the king. I told her that if she could not bear children, she should gracefully accept that the emperor was bound to marry more women to do so. If she did bear children, I asked her to bring them up as warriors. And if they died on the battlefield, she should not grieve. All she needed to do was take care of the king and keep him happy. If the king died, she should ascend his pier. I told her, whatever happened, she should not shed a single tear. The ladies of the Malayamaan dynasty do not shed tears. Never."
"Your mother has been true to this advice of mine ever since. She has brought her sons up as true warriors. She has been by your father's side, in good health, and now, when he is unwell too. I am indeed proud of her."
"Thatha, what if an enemy comes in front of my father with a sword, and she is there by his side. Would she beg for her husband's life?"
"Never. She would never do that, Karikala. She would try to protect him. Else, she would give up her life. Or, in the circumstance that she has to live, she would turn her heart to stone, and live only to avenge her husband's death."
Karikalan sighed. "Thatha, I will leave now."
Malayamaan replied, "Ok. I had initially advised you not to go, but then I also think it might be a good idea for you to go. I do not think Arulmozhi would be in any danger. I feel that he would have been washed on to some island, and is probably safe. Your father was also in such a state, a long time ago. But now, the entire kingdom is in shock, and so are your parents. You should go to Thanjavur and be with them. But, when you go, you should not go with the Pazhuvettarayars as your enemies. Going to Kadambur now gets them on your side."
"Thatha, why are you so afraid of sending me there? You think I am not that strong a warrior yet?"
"Karikala, I will send you into battle against a thousand armed men. I am just concerned about sending you into a place where there might be folks who will break your heart with tears and sentiments."
"Thatha, I have not heard such things about Sambuvarayar's daughter. Are you thinking about wedding your elder son's daughters to me, though?"
"I have not even thought about that, Karikala. I just have a very bad feeling that I might not even see you again, after today. I do not know why I am getting that feeling."
"I am not going to Kadambur to make friends with Sambuvarayar or anyone else, nor to wed his daughter. So please rest assured."
"Karikala, then, please tell me the truth. I heard bits of the conversation between your two friends. They were saying that the mohini-pisaasu of Pazhuvoor had written to you to come to Kadambur and that is why you have come."
"Oh God! Your ancestors have been of all kinds. Some have ruled large kingdoms, and some have just ruled over Uraiyur. Some have been Shaivites, some Vaishnavites, and some atheists. Some have been eka-patni rulers like Lord Rama, and some have wedded several wives. But none have gone after someone else's wife. Don't fall for the lusty gaze of that maaya-mohini. Karikala, please don't do this."
"Thatha, do not worry. I will do no such thing. I will not bring disgrace to the Chozha or the Malayamaan dynasties."
"Then, why are you going there by her invitation?"
"Hmm. Let me give you the truth, Thatha. I wronged her once a long time ago. I am going there to apologize to her."
"Aah. You are going to apologize to a woman? I cannot even tolerate hearing that statement."
The prince narrated the incident about the last moments of Veerapandiyan to the old man. He told the old man how that incident has been tormenting him ever since then.
"If I apologize to her, I think my mind will become at ease. It looks like she is also prepared to forget the past. She is also working towards bringing stability to the kingdom and wants to avoid any internal skirmishes. I will finish this work quickly and return to Kanchi very soon. Once I return, I will take my ships out to find Arulmozhi."
The old man sighed. "Several things that remained mysteries to me are clearing up now. One cannot win over fate."