Karikalan: Saviour of the Cholas

Chapter 11: Indra Vizha Part 4

Valavan looked out of his window, bemused. The morning light caught on his hair, making it glint.

Who could that girl be?

Images of her haunted him. The way her long, lustrous black hair swayed in the wind.

The way her gorgeous eyes narrowed in anger.

The way her lips twitched.

"THIRUMAVALAVAN!!!"

He jerked out of his stupor, stunned. What was happening to him? He had never felt this way before! Chittapa Irungovel stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed. "I've been calling out your name thrice." His eyes narrowed some more. "Didn't hear me?"

Valavan gulped. "I was just..." He vaguely gestured around.

Irungovel cocked his head. "You were just?"

"Thinking", he lamely finished.

Way to go, Valava. Way. To. Go.

Apparently, his chittapa didn't deem his nephew's brain cells to be capable of such an act. His eyebrows rose mockingly. "Thinking? ", he asked, his voice sarcastic. He pretended to ponder over it. "What could a young boy be possibly thinking about? Thinking so hard that he forgets his surroundings?" Irungovel snapped his fingers suddenly. "Aha! I found it. It's a girl!"

Valavan stiffened. Irungovel's eyes widened, his hand flying over to his mouth. "OH. MY. GOD!!! IS IT A GIRL THEN?! I WAS JUST KIDDING!!!!"

"Shhhhhh", hissed Valavan. "Keep your voice down!"

Irungovel simpered. His voice dropped to a dramatic stage whisper. "Why? Are we discussing some secret here?"

Valavan gritted his teeth. "No."

"No?"

"NO."

Irungovel laughed. "Just tell me already, boy. Is it some girl who just visited?"

Curiosity won over any shame he felt. He nodded, not meeting his eyes.

"Aha! Who is she? Royalty?", Irungovel asked. Valavan shrugged.

Irungovel raised his brow. "Name?"

Valavan shook his head. Irungovel looked incredulous. "Do you even know anything about her?"

Valavan fisted his hand, looking down. He didn't reply. Irungovel huffed. "I should have known. You are just like him!"

Valavan looked up at that. "What do you mean? Like who?"

Irungovel chuckled. "Why, like your father of course. He was just like you."

Valavan raised his brows. "But not like you?"

Irungovel laughed at that. "Me? Boy, girls are not what I want."

Valavan looked him over. One year younger than his father and unmarried yet, Irungovel still looked handsome with his well-built body at the age of twenty-eight. "Why not?"

Irungovel laughed some more, eyes twinkling. He merely winked.

Right then, Ilamchetchenni and Ilanchezhiyan entered, dressed in their gear. Valavan wanted to smack his forehead. The chariot-race was about to be held shortly!

Ilamchetchenni surveyed them. "Why have you not started for the arena yet? What's so important to be discussed now?"

Irungovel smiled cheekily. "I came here to fetch him. But we ended up discussing something very important indeed."