Sisters, Mothers, Queens: Navigating the Zamorin Succession

The three women, Charulatha, Mrinalini, and Janaki, went into a small room in the nearby house. The tension in the air was thick. Janaki, always the practical one, tried to make it feel less tense.

"He needs to learn a lesson," she said firmly. "He is really troublesome, especially around women. I don't know what it is, but he has a way of charming them, and before you know it, he's involved with them."

She paused, smiling a little. "I've had to keep an eye on him for years. It isn't easy."

Mrinalini and Charulatha, still shaken from what had just happened, started to feel a bit more relaxed by Janaki's words.

Then, Janaki quickly took out her phone. "Let me add you both to a group chat," she said.

She quickly added Mrinalini and Charulatha to a WhatsApp group. There were only five members in it. "This is our family group," Janaki explained.

After that, she started a video call. The other four members quickly joined the call.

On the screen, they saw three faces. The first was an elderly woman, whose face showed many years of wisdom – she was Vikram's grandmother, the Queen. Next to her sat a calm, middle-aged woman – Vikram's mother, the Second Princess. Finally, a young woman in military uniform appeared on the screen.

"This is my grandmother, the Queen," Janaki said, pointing to the elderly woman. "And this," she said, pointing to the Second Princess, "is Vikram's mother, the Second Princess."

Then, she introduced the young woman in military clothes. "This is Gowri Bai," Janaki explained. "She is also engaged to Vikram."

Mrinalini and Charulatha exchanged surprised looks.

Janaki, not bothered by their reactions, continued. "And this," she said, pointing to Mrinalini, "is Mrinalini, the daughter of the Zamindar of Kolkata. And this," she said, pointing to Charulatha, "is Charu, the daughter of the Chief Priest of the Kalighat temple."

Janaki then turned to the Second Princess with a playful smile. "These two," she announced, "are your two newest daughters-in-law."

The screen lit up with excitement. The Second Princess looked shocked with her mouth open, while the Queen gasped in surprise. Gowri Bai, the young woman in the military uniform, just stared at the screen, her face showing a mix of shock and amusement.

The Queen remained calm, a playful sparkle in her eyes. "This is quite the surprise," she said with a light laugh. "Vikram is certainly a lively one, isn't he?"

Gowri Bai, a young woman in military clothes, replied, "He really is, Grandmother. A free spirit who loves to test limits."

"Free spirit?" asked the Second Princess, sounding a bit disapproving. "Maybe he's a bit too free-spirited. He needs someone to keep him in check."

"Exactly," Janaki agreed. "He should be kept under control, or he might create more trouble."

Suddenly, Janaki's mood changed, and a serious tone took over. "He won't be coming back," she said flatly.

The room fell silent. The Queen raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Where is he?" she asked, her voice calm yet showing concern.

"He's in the next room talking to First Uncle," Janaki explained.

Curious and worried, Charulatha spoke up. "Excuse me, Mother-in-law," she began, "You are the Queen's daughter. Why is your son the heir? Shouldn't the eldest son of another Prince be the one?"

The Queen who was listening to the question smiled gently and responded instead of the second princess, "Ah, dear Charulatha, our Zamorin dynasty has a unique way of passing on the throne. The eldest male member in our family becomes the heir. Our tradition has the throne passing from uncle to nephew, ensuring the royal bloodline continues. This system, though different, has worked well for us for centuries, as it helps the throne go to the most deserving person, no matter their place in the order of birth."

She paused for a moment, thinking. "The Zamorin lineage goes back to the Samanta Kshatriyas, a noble group from the Nair caste. While being a Kshatriya is important, our dynasty's unique succession system focuses on the bond between uncles and nephews. This not only keeps our bloodline strong but also builds loyalty in our family."

The Queen continued, "In our dynasty, there are five positions of power, called 'sthanams,' each with its duties. The first is the Zamorin, currently my brother, Vikram's Great Uncle. The second is held by my sister's son, the First Prince, whom you met. The third sthanam belongs to Janaki's father, the Second Prince. The fourth is held by my elder sister's second son. The fifth, the Naduralpadu, is my second son."

With a gentle smile, she added, "My sister and I have seven sons and four daughters. She is my daughter, your mother-in-law, the Second Princess. My elder sister has a daughter too, The First Princess and her son is the eighth prince. I have two more daughters and they have three daughters and two sons."

Charulatha and Mrinalini exchanged confused looks, trying to understand this complex system of succession.

The Queen continued, "This system creates a balance of power and ensures that those best fit to lead are in charge. It has kept the Zamorin dynasty strong and stable for many generations."

Gowri Bai, who had been listening carefully, added with a playful glint, "At least we don't have to worry about palace politics. None of us will ever be Queen, and our children will never fall in the line of succession."

The other women laughed, the earlier tension fading away. They continued their conversation, now feeling lighter as they explored the interesting history of the Zamorin dynasty.