Nothing is More Important than You for Me

 [FANFIC]

Nandhini was burning with rage. She couldn't neither forgive nor forget what happened to her long ago. She wanted to wreak vengeance, even on her beloved Aditha.  "What did I do wrong to be set apart from him and unworthy of being the Chola Queen?" was the only question that has ever been on her mind. She couldn't resist all the discrimination that she had to face during her childhood. All her wait seemed to come to an end, as Aditha was supposedly coming to Kadambur, to attend the chieftains' meeting.

After Veera Pandiya's death, Nandhini was unanimously selected to rule the Pandiya Kingdom, as she was his right hand before his death. Though she was one of the very few people who knew that she is the daughter of Veera Pandiya, that too only after his death, she hated her father. She hated him for wronging her in her childhood; she hated him for the injustice he did to her mother. She even hated herself for having been born to a sinner. Yet, what made her took up the kingdom was her hunger and desperation for power, with which she wanted to take down the Chola Kingdom. She was witty, and clever enough to rule the kingdom all by herself, without having any male counterparts.

As for Aditha, he never saw his Nandhini after she had to leave the Chola Kingdom. He even avoided any possible chance that might make him meet her. He was both guilt stricken, for the injustice happened to her, and angry that she tried to save his rival's life. Yet he was unable to digest the fact that she is no-more a part of his life or forget and overcome her memories. And as the crown prince, he had many duties to fulfill. Thus, as a part of it, he was traveling to Kadambur, for the chieftains' meeting

It was dusk already when Aditha and the Chola troop were returning. Heavy thunders were heard. Aditha ordered his men to make arrangements for their stay there over-night. He wanted to be alone. He sat in his seat and closed his eyes. But, no matter how hard he tried, his thought kept lingering about only one person, who else but his Nandhini. 

Suddenly, he heard a thud. When he opened his eyes, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Nandhini, her hair let loose, was standing there in front of him, so near, yet so far, reaching for the fallen sword. He was experiencing a storm within. 

"Nandhini.. Nandhini... how?..." the great warrior was stuttering. He tried to look at her, but couldn't as she was facing the other side. Though she wanted to, she restrained herself from facing him straight. She couldn't help herself but smirked a little upon hearing his voice for the first time after an eternity. "I heard that you were coming to Kadambur. So I thought that I should greet you. What else is a great method than with a sword to welcome a great warrior like you?"

"What is the purpose of a sword in the hands of an elegant lady?" Aditha asked, while reaching for the sword too. As about he was about to hold her hand, Nandhini lets go of the sword. "I know Nandhini. I know that you want to get revenge on me. That sword of yours needs my head, doesn't it?"

Though that was the truth, it hurt Nandhini hearing him say that. She has never imagined a world without Aditha in it. Lightning and thunder clashed outside, depicting their state of mind and heart. Love or Revenge? she was unable to choose one. 

She turned towards him, looking in his eye. Nandhini and Aditha saw each other in utmost contiguity and intimacy. As Aditha looked into Nandhini's eyes, he witnessed her in her utmost glory. Nandhini, who didn't seem revengeful and scheming anymore, on the other hand, forgot herself and everybody else, forgot her purpose and became her younger self who gets intoxicated by the charm and dazzle of her lover. She continued to admire her beloved and Aditha’s spell of love leaves her in his position, breath hitched, words stuttered and drunk on his magnetic love. All the love she had and has for him had torn down her walls of revenge, conspiracy, and hate.

Aditha, being the first of two to find his words back, apologizes to Nandhini, for killing Veera Pandiya and for the injustice happened to her. Grabbing the sword quickly, he threw it to Nandhini while pointing it to his chest. "It is be the only remedy that I could provide you with. I didn't give what you wished for earlier, Veera Pandiya's life, which I regret till now. So, as you wish, take my life, kill me Nandhini" he said. He had a stern look in his face, which said that he was very serious about his decision. 

Nandhini was trying to steady herself as the turmoil got unfolded. After a battle between her heart and mind, about the power, the stance, the dispute between love and hate, the bloodlust, and the question to kill her other half with her own hands, the unjust, she quickly threw the wretched sword away, failing to hurt him and take her revenge.

"I can't kill you. I can't harm you in any way. I admit it. I admit that I wanted to harm and kill you. I admit that I wanted to take down the Chola Kingdom. But Aditha, no, I can't do that. No matter how hard I try, I can't stop thinking about you. I can't stop loving you. How can I even live in a world that is without you?" Nandhini spoke her heart out and admitted her feeling towards him once again.

"I've given you more pain than love. How can you say this to me? Only a few days a ago it came to my knowledge that Veera Pandiya is your father. I'm a murderer Nandhini, I killed your father. How am I worthy of your love?  I don't deserve you after all that I did to you." Aditha told her, with tears welling up in his eyes.

Nandhini spoke again, "You are the only person who loved me truly. My father was no-one but a sinner. I even hate my birth that I was born due to his wrongdoing. He did unjust to my mother, to me in my childhood. My mother left me and disappeared right after my birth. Even though I had a exile from Chola Kingdom long ago, I understand you had nothing to do with it. You sincerely cared for me. I can't unlove you Aditha."

"Nandhini, I will not make the same mistake again. I will make remedies for whatever unjust you faced in the past. I will never let you suffer again. Come to the kingdom my queen, I will make you the queen of queens. Will you?" Before even Aditha finished his question, Nandhini nodded, with a smile and teary eyes. "Will you wait for me some more? I will call you to the kingdom with all the rightful honors." Aditha embraced her, with warmth and unabundant love. "Nandhini, nothing is more important than you for me!" he reassured her. 

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On a fine sunny day, Nandhini in her palanquin, with tons of hope and love, like the sun itself, was travelling towards the Chola Kingdom. A soldier in the fort ordered loudly, "Open the gates for Her Royal Highness, The Chola Queen, Nandhini Devi." When the gates opened, there was her Aditha waiting for his Nandhini, with a smile on his face. Nandhini ran towards him and embraced him. "Aditha, I couldn't be more happier. I've yearned and dreamt of this moment to happen. I love you, and NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU FOR ME!"

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ps - this is how i wanted their story to unfold. they deserved better :(