After a long silence…
Bermi called out,
"Rudra…"
Rudran and Pandu walked forward together.
There was a strange tension in the air.
Everything was revealed.
The truth about his birth.His father.His destiny.
All eyes were fixed on him.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Fearing.
Rudran closed his eyes for a moment.
Then—
"I will come."
The answer shocked everyone.
No one expected him to accept it so easily.
The chief minister stepped forward.
"We will make the necessary arrangements for departure. Until then… speak with them."
He left with the others.
Pandu stepped closer, his voice breaking.
"Rudra… why are you leaving us?"
Chandravathi stood behind, silently crying.
Rudran looked at them… his family.
"Mother… I did not accept this for the throne… or the kingdom."
"They came this far… for my father's last wish."
"If I refuse… then even his final promise will be broken."
His voice trembled.
"If I go… I don't know if I will return alive."
"I don't even know if I will see you again…"
A heavy silence filled the room.
"So… before I leave…"
"Please… feed me one last time… with your own hands."
Chandravathi broke down.
She rushed forward and embraced him tightly.
"What are you saying, my son…?"
"How can I ever think like that?"
"You are my son… no matter what anyone says!"
"Never… ever speak like you won't return!"
She wiped her tears… and fed him with trembling hands.
After that—
Rudran fell at Bermi and Chandravathi's feet.
He took their blessings.
Then he turned to Pandu.
"I'm leaving…"
Pandu's eyes were filled with tears.
"Whatever happens… send me a message."
"I will come… no matter where you are."
Rudran nodded.
He mounted his horse.
And left.
Even as he rode away—
He kept looking back.
Until they disappeared from his sight.
The journey began.
But his mind…
Was lost in the past.
Memories…
As a child—
Rudran and Pandu trained together.
Rudran was exceptional with the sword.
Pandu… was always by his side.
Once—
A sword slipped from someone's hand, flying toward Rudran.
In a split second—
Pandu caught it barehanded.
Saving him.
That day…
Rudran understood.
Pandu would give his life for him.
Time passed.
Their bond only grew stronger.
Then—
She appeared.
A girl.
Beautiful… like a dream.
Rudran saw her once.
And everything changed.
His focus broke.
His sword slipped.
By the time he looked again—
She was gone.
He searched for her.
Found her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
His heart bloomed.
Her name…
Nandhini.
From that day—
His heart belonged to her.
Once—
A fire broke out.
Nandhini was trapped inside.
Without hesitation—
Rudran ran into the flames.
Saved her.
Even went back again—
To save another child.
But when he returned—
She was gone.
Still—
His love grew.
Silently.
One day—
He saw her again.
She stood with her friends.
Laughing.
Rudran smiled.
And walked closer.
Then—
His world shattered.
She was talking to Pandu.
Laughing with him.
Following him.
Rudran stood frozen.
His thoughts scattered.
"No… this can't be…"
But truth doesn't wait.
Later—
He overheard her friends asking:
"Do you love Pandu?"
"Yes…" she said.
Rudran's heart stopped.
"Why?" they asked.
"When I was trapped in fire… he saved me."
"He didn't care about his life…"
"From that moment… I started liking him."
Rudran closed his eyes.
So—
She thought Pandu saved her.
Not him.
He said nothing.
Not a word.
"Maybe… this isn't love," he told himself.
But his heart refused.
The next day—
He learned the truth.
Pandu loved her too.
That was the end.
Rudran tried to forget her.
But love…
Is not something you can throw away.
The more he tried—
The more it consumed him.
He smiled outside.
But inside—
He was breaking.
One-sided love…
Is a silent pain.
You cannot express it.
You cannot forget it.
You cannot escape it.
He chose silence.
He chose sacrifice.
"Let them be happy…"
That was his decision.
When he heard the truth about his birth—
He understood.
He was never meant to stay.
So when they came for him—
He agreed.
Because staying…
Would only hurt more.
Even as he left—
One pain remained.
Nandhini…
Never knew.
And that truth—
Burned inside him.
Present…
Rudran's horse slowed down.
In the distance—
He saw it.
The grand gates of the Gandharva Kingdom.
As he entered—
War drums echoed.
People gathered.
Watching him.
He walked into the palace.
Magnificent.
Overwhelming.
The sages stood before the people.
"This is your new king…"
"Rudra Senan!"
The crowd roared.
"RUDRASENAN!"
He stepped forward.
Received their blessings.
It was decided—
He would be crowned soon.
Before that—
They told him everything.
The kingdom.
Its dangers.
Its enemies.
His father.
Everything.
That night—
Rudran entered his father's chamber.
He lay there.
But sleep never came.
"I couldn't even see my parents…"
The thought crushed him.
His heart was heavy.
His mind restless.
That night—
Rudra Senan did not sleep.
Because from that moment—
He was no longer just Rudran.
He was—
THE KING...