KADHAI

Born in the year 1161 RM, Aadharshanaa opens her eyes underneath the Karthigai thiram and is raised by her parents Venkataram and Vaikyanavi alongside her twin, Leeneshwari and their elder brother, Maghumithren. Growing up, the twins stuck to each other consistently, their schooling, their friends, and their lives intricately tied together. In 1180 RN, the twins decide to run away from their father, and move to Keya. They spend a few months there, Aadhi soon to apply for the dancing institution within the Aadatham Koyil. However, she and Shwari are captured due to identification forgery, and hold an audience with Raasa Murugeshwara. As the judgement befalls them, the Raasa is slain, assassinated by the twins father, and the whole city is set ablaze. They join other audience holders, and run out of the palace. However, on the last steps, Raani Vanathi hands the group her two infant children, and asks them to protect and deliver them to a family member, and enters the flames. The party runs towards the Palani Hills, and there the adventure starts.

From the moment the adventure is set, Aadhi is acutely aware that something strange lives within her. Holy waters scald her, her manthiram seems tainted, and everyone seems to distrust her. She asks priests and scours libraries for knowledge, and finally resolves the questions: a malevolent spirit named Bodhi lives within her soul, powering her manthiram and residing within her mind. She was placed within Aadhi by the demands of her father, to save Aadhi from dying in childbirth. However, Aadhi's future looks uncertain at best and obselete at worst.

As the knowledge of Bodhi tears through her sense of self, Aadhi attempts to hold Bodhi at bay by changing her actions. At Lagaab, she is shown a sense of kindness and the best manthirans can offer, whilst Malai Hill shows her what the worst of manithans can do, teaching Aadhi that she must wholly change her outlook on the Vaanam, and the ways that she treats the ones inhabiting the world. However, this seismic shift is not enough to temper Bodhi, for she is able fully incapacitate Aadhi, and takeover Aadhi's body. The future of losing full control terrifies Aadhi, and realizes that she needs a solution fast. As they journey through the Kaalu Kaatu, she learns of Bodhi's history with the Vaanam, and despises her more, hatred filling both of their souls. After Kaalu Kaatu, the party travels to Thaanjaagam, where she revisits a past lover, wanting a future with him, and knowing that she might not have one at all. She is also able to enact revenge upon her father and the soonyam mage that placed Bodhi within her, yet the malevolent spirit still lives.

The party reaches their final destination: the Soodam Kingdom. There she learns that the only way to eradicate Bodhi is a high-intensive exorcism, which could kill Aadhi or Bhavannan, who must hold her down in place. The two agree to it, yet realize that their last days might be upon them. Aadhi helps the party with sieges and battles, whilst the looming death breathes down on her. The day finally arrives, and she is placed upon a rangoli, Bhavannan holding her shoulders down, and Haavani and Shwari delivering the holy light upon them. After excruciating burning and pain, she emerges from the rangoli cleansed, however Bhavannan is reduced to ashes. The results devastates Aadhi, as the loss of a friend was insurmountable, yet a sense of relief blossoms within her, having finally getting rid of this dark entity within. Her manthiram has fully vanished, and burn scars cover her body, yet she looks towards the future with hope.

The future Aadhi sets out for herself is tranquil and blissful. A loving husband, two children, and a dancing school to run keeps her busy and satisfied. She spends her time living with dharma, enriching the lives of herself and everyone around her.

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