The gentle drips of white milk glazed upon her hand. She kept her gaze fixed to the veins they drew as they glided.

"Devi."

Her thoughts kept circling, deafening her ears to the sounds around.

"Devi. Devi? Are you ok?"

A sudden shiver slapped her spine as she was shook to get her back to reality.

"Ah! I'm fine. Just that I'm a bit nervous."

"Eh? Nervous? You?"

The little young woman in her white and gold silk murmured a laugh very gentle enough to tease her.

"Now you are making me more nervous, Maghi!"

Akin to the oil poured upon the burning flame her laughter heightened, triggering her to splash the milk out of the theerthakundam.

"Stop it na Maghizhini. You are not really helping your Sakhi."

"Sakhi? Today she should adorn herself as devi. The devi of Eesan. We will have many disciples coming to worship her throughout the entire season of Deepam. Isn't this her month of divinity? How can I address the divine woman as my Sakhi?"

She cupped her gentle face sinking into thoughts that couldn't be read.

"Are you really worried?"

Her words were heard but she stood up silently as the milk dribbled down her golden skin, leaving traces to be kissed by the shimmering lights of the settled dawn. Her curves did thwack a few drops to the floor as she moved to pick her thugil. Wiping the hazy dews she wrapped the cloth around her petite waist adorned with green patterns of inked flowers. Taking another piece of the clothing, she covered her shoulders down her hips. Collecting her wet strands to one side, she picked the metal plate sprinkled with amber flowers.

"Sakhi, come with me."

Stating that she stepped down to the stone gravelled pavement. Her carmine feet tapped slowly as her hips spilled the grace akin to a fawn mellowing on the grass. She spilled a few petals but carefully stepped aside to not harm them. Her friend picked them up making her brows dance in curiosity.

"They might not be good for the lord but they will do better in the kulam. Why should these beauties be wasted?"

Smiling at her simple wisdom, she moved ahead to open the humbly lit wooden carved kadhavu. The serene flicks of golden flames from the lamps stacked on the pillars lit up the air. The aureolous rays nettled to light the finely carved boldly black bricks of the Garbha griham. Amidst the cavern of mild waves of warm water, there sat the lord. Their lord. He was adorned in the pearly white veshti around his doom shaped sculpture. Mimicking the husk around the paddy white rice pearls, the paste of vibhuti calmed him from the summery hustles of air.

"Sakhi, I shall wait outside for the snaanam of the lord."

She gently closed the door behind, leaving her alone with her lord. Taking the shells of coconut, the kopparai, she bathed the lord with the warm water. Her lips hummed her notes of love as she cleaned the thick paste, revealing the serene shades of nine gems etched on him. She painted him with honey, milk and turmeric, letting her hands feel his presence in the aruvam.

"My handsome lord, I shall clean you up."

She chuckled as her hands teased the curved top of the lingam. To her heart he was there, smiling at her devoted chores. Cleansing him with the love of her heart, she coated a thick paste of gingelly oil on him. Creating a thick paste, she covered him in white.

"Would you like to wear maragadham or pushparagam?"

Her eyes kept shifting between the two but the gentle sweep of wind dropped a flower on the neatly folded silk.

"Ahha! So you wish to wear this? Alright."

She pleated the golden veshti and tied it around him. With the sandalwood powder she drew the three streak thilagam on his forehead and then sprinkled the flowers on his feet.

"My Eesan is ready! Together we shall greet them with bright smiles."

Once again her eyes skimmed him only to realise what she missed. Picking the powdered red heap, she placed the kungumam on his forehead.

"There you go!"

She took a bit of the adorned vermillion and placed it in the space between her parted hair.

"Dearest Eesha! I shall serve you till I breath- Ah!"

Before she could make her promise, a sudden pain grabbed her limbs, making her spill everything she held.

"Devi shall we step in?"

"No, Sakhi! Not until I ask you to."

Perhaps the metallic jingles earned the attention of the surrounding people.

What's happening to me?

Answering her question, she could see the faint glint of greens surround the idol. Before she could realize it, the beams snaked to form a silhouette that resembled the tiny sphere. The glistening hues tempted her to caress it but unfortunately she could not move her palms.

"Eesha! Why would you tie my hands? Why would you restrict me?"

Her eyes brimmed with tears, partly of pain than the anger she held in her heart. The pounding beats of her heart slowly relaxed as she kept taking deeper breaths. She could see the sphere breath as it expanded to shrink infront of her.

"What would you want me to-"

Akin to a sudden hit of the wind on the delicate leaves, the sphere was shot into her forehead. The burning warmth of the divine element crumpled her. She crushed the pleats of her saree to get hold of the coiling emotions. Before she could anticipate,  the lights of the room began fading. The lamps flicked vigorously even when the breeze were kind.

"Eesha! Give me the strength. Just guide me in your way."

Her eyes clenched as she prayed. Her lips slowly turned rigid making her eyes ease out the tears. As her hands pooled woth sweat, things around her began turned cold. She knew what might come and before it turned more mysterious, she gave in.

"Sakh-"

Her parched throat couldn't articulate words. She knew who's play it was. It was him. The creator himself. She felt weak as the webbing burns consumed her. But her lips curved up as she smiled. When she closed her eyes, her heart remembered to call the one who could help her more than anyone.

"Om Namah Shivayah!"

__________________________

"Wake up, Yaazhan! We are late."

He yelled for the fourth time. But the silence that followed couldn't let him keep his calm. He strode to the knotted bed hanging amidst the two poles holding them. With a vigorous shake he wobbled the sleeping beauty. Yet again there came no answer, not even a hum.

"Ah! Not time for games. You want us to turn suspicious so soon?"

His nerves throbbed beneath the firmly build muscles. He did hit the hammock with his feet to jerk him off. To his shock, a screech was heard. His palm gripped his waist as the noise cautioned him. His ears steered sharp only to be humbled as he saw grains of sand pile beneath the hammock on the cowdung coated floor.

"Such a nervy stupid!"

The faltering footsteps from behind turned his head.

"Haahaa! Not me. Haahaa! Stupid is you!"

Without a word, he darted the koppai at him. The little ounce of water it held were spilt but the cup was held on time, saving it for a few more sips.

"Thinking that we are rich? We don't have a heavy bounty!"

"Then stop getting on my nerves!"

Keeping the cup over the gravel hemmed table, he went near him. Caressing his tightened chin, he smiled.

"Relax them first. We are not going to greet failures."

"Failures!? You think we can spare one in the least?"

"Not like-"

Tapping his hold to move aside, he emptied the water of the clay jug. His hurried eyes were peeking at the orange blue hues of the skies.

"Only Kottravai can save me."

"Keep it low. People can hear you!"

"Her name wouldn't get me in much trouble than your mocks Yaazhan."

Taking a few deep but disturbed breathe he ruffled his messy strands to tie them up in a bun.

"I have a plan."

He then took out something he had hid amidst the pleats of his waist.

"What is that? Yaazh, Don't joke again!"

"See it for yourself."

Peeking at his steady palm with brimming curiosity he mumbled a cuss.

"Don't you see what I have brought?"

"That's just a dry plant stem. You think it's going to save us? If yes, then Stupid is you! Fairly. "

His simple grin made him rethink. He never gives that cheeky smile for no reason.

"Alright. Stupid is me. What's the plan?"

"My nerdy kid, do you remember the stem that can kill people with its alluring fragrance?"

He chewed his lips as his thoughts raced. After a few breaths of jittery thoughts, his thin brows knitted to jump up on his forehead. All the pieces of the puzzle got themselves settled into a narrative.

"It is Nanjagathool. I never slept in Aasan classes."

"Exactly! We shall extract the essence."

"Wait- is it!?"

The waves of quietude carried the needed words.

"We can infuse it in the paintings. As we increase the strength of the scent, it gets deadly. We will do it when the time is right. And when the deed is done we can leave with no traces. What say?"

His silvery narrative planted a simple relief in his heart. His hands slowly held the stem making sure he didn't smell it.

"A snuff wouldn't harm. But people warn that it will burn your skin."

All of a sudden he dropped it to the floor as his hands trembled.

"Aadhi, be careful, I can't trade forty gold coins again!"

"What the hell- Kottravai kan neri tharuga! Forty for a finger length stick? Wait, let me guess. You traded your brain for a heavy ball of mud pudding before making this decision. Am I right?"

Heavy bursts of laughter filled the room with the mere warmth it needed.

"Where did you get this from-"

"Are you guys ready? We are ready to leave."

A sudden voice through the opening door startled them. He rolled the stem between the clay-wares stacked in the boulder carved table.

"Ah Veerare! We need some more time."

"What shall I say to Senatipati?"

His query made him click his tongue harder between his clenched teeth. Before he could retch, his gentle friend gripped his wrist.

"Ahha. You can tell him that we will be there soon."

Without a word, he left shutting the wooden door. The men stared at each other lost in their own haze of what had just occurred.

"Yaazh, do you think he would have heard us?"

"Maybe in bits."

His calm reply burned his thoughts.

"Hey listen, the people of marudham have no clue about this. Even if they might, they don't have any idea on how to use it."

"Ahh ahh, Yaazhan! I dont care if they try to use it. I'm bothered what if we get-"

"We will use it on them as well. If a forty more can help us thrive, it shall be spent."

His brows got stuck to his sleek tendrils of curls sticking to his temples with the pooling sweat.

"Is it really Forty gold coins?"

"Maybe one or two more."

"Kottravai kan neri tharuga-"

He cupped his mouth with his restricting hold. The sudden move made him bite the restraining fingers.

"Aadhi, are you out of your mind?"

"Is it me or you?"

"Don't repeat that sentence ever again. Atleast not when we are in dubious situation. Above all, don't fear too much and make it obvious."

Stating it all fast for his exploding nerves to comprehend he picked the sleek green dhoti and paired it with the golden hemmed vasthram to cover his chest.

"And yes dress up like a man. You can live here. Navapuri has worthy woman to tease."

He tossed him the fine clothes to pick from, making him flush with shame more than ever. He pushed them aside and walked out to the clearing built at the back of the room. After a few gentle sweep of winds, he entered as he wore the white vasthram around his sculpted muscles with a blue pleated dhoti wherein he had stacked the pleats akin to the coiling steps on his right thigh. A pair of silverine cuffs studded his collar while his bright white stud graced his earlobe.

"You need to learn some good fabric sense from me."

Flipping his gentle curls to the sides, he walked out of the room leaving him to muse alone at his wet footprints.

"Crazy him! But handsome."

Taking a fine look at his retreating figure, he looked at his reflection in the pond water build in the corner of the room. The budding pink lillies curved down to greet the tendrils. But out of the beautiful flowers, a green bug grabbed his attention. It kept pecking the waters while peeked into them. A gentle thrill crept up his spine, only to be interrupted by the annoyed man.

"The caravan has already left. We are doomed!"

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