Tormented by separation from his brother Indrajeet Singh, Anand Singh left the jungle at that very moment and, standing in the open field, began to look around. To the west, he saw two women riding horses, moving slowly. He hastened in that direction, and in hopes of catching up to them, followed them for two kos, but his hope was not fulfilled. For, as soon as they reached the foot of the hill, the two women stopped, looked back at Anand Singh following them, and then suddenly spurred their horses, disappearing around the side of the hill.

Because it was a bright, moonlit night, Anand Singh could see the two women and mustered the courage to pursue them. But when they vanished near the hill, he was greatly distressed. He stood there, pondering what to do next. Leaving him thus bewildered and lost in thought, the pitiless moon too slowly made its way home, and, seeing its enemy depart, the darkness seized the opportunity to assert its dominion on all sides. Anand Singh became even more sorrowful. What should he do? Where should he go? Whom should he ask who had taken Indrajeet Singh?

In the distance, a light appeared. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be coming from a hut...

Ahead, a fire was burning. Anand Singh walked in that direction, and in a short while, upon reaching near the hut, he saw that in front of a green bower made of leaves, eight or ten men were seated on rugs spread upon the ground. From their beards and attire, they were clearly Muslims. In the center, two wax candelabra were burning. One man was reciting Persian couplets aloud, while the rest were exclaiming "Wah! Wah!" in appreciation. To one side, a fire was burning, and two or three men were cooking some food. Anand Singh went and stood near the rug.

The moment they saw Anand Singh, all of them stood up and, with great respect, seated him upon the rug. The man who had been reciting Persian verses rose and, in a florid tongue, said, "Thanks be to God, that the Prince of Chunar has graced our gathering and elevated our honor to the 'Falak-e-Haftum.' In this desolate wilderness, what hospitality can we offer, save to place your footsteps upon our eyes and present you with perfume and cardamom!"

With these words, he brought forward a perfume bottle and a box of cardamom and placed them before Anand Singh. Considering it proper to accept the hospitality of such learned and noble men, Anand Singh inhaled the perfume and took some cardamom. After this, with Anand Singh's permission, the man resumed reciting Persian poetry. The other men placed a couple of cushions on either side of Anand Singh.

The strange fragrance of the perfume intoxicated him; his eyelids grew heavy, and gradually, unconsciousness overtook him, laying him down upon the rug. When he awoke the next day at noon, he found himself lying upon a bed under a mosquito net in an entirely different house. Alarmed, he sat up and looked around.

Before him stood five young and beautiful women, one of whom, standing slightly ahead of the rest, seemed to be their leader. At the sight of her beauty and grace, Anand Singh was left speechless. Her large eyes and sidelong glances drove him out of his senses; her slightest smile struck his heart like lightning, and when she stepped forward, joined her hands, and said, "Are you angry with me?"—that was the final blow.

Anand Singh, forgetting his brother's separation, the events of the night, the deceptions of the ayyars—forgot everything entirely, and, intoxicated by her love, replied, "How could one so fairy-like as you ever bring me sorrow?"

The woman sat upon the bed, put her arms around Anand Singh's neck, and said, "By God, I swear it has been a year now that your love has made me useless. Except for thoughts of you, I have no care for food or drink, but for lack of opportunity, I was helpless."

1. In Muslim texts, there are said to be seven levels of heaven. The highest is called Falak-e-Haftum.

Anand Singh: "(startled) What! Are you a Muslim, that you swear by Khuda?"

Woman: "(laughing) Yes, and are Muslims so terrible?"

Anand Singh stood up, saying, "Alas! If only you were not a Muslim, I would have loved you with all my heart and soul. But for the sake of a woman, I cannot forsake my faith."

Woman (grasping his hand): "Do not be so unkind! I swear, I cannot bear your separation any longer!"

Anand Singh: "I too speak the truth: do not expect anything from me."

Woman (frowning): "Do you say this from your heart?"

Anand Singh: "Yes, I swear it!"

Woman: "You will regret this, and never will you find another who loves you as I do."

Anand Singh: "(pulling his hand away) Curse such love!"

Woman: "So, you will leave this place?"

Anand Singh: "Certainly!"

Woman: "Impossible."

Anand Singh: "How dare you try to stop me?"

Woman: "Do not even think of it."

"Let us see who can stop me!" Saying this, Anand Singh stepped out of the room, and those women, opening a window set in the wall of that very room, slipped away from there.

Anand Singh began to wander about, hoping to find some way out, but his hope was in vain.

The house was not very large or spacious. Besides this room and a small courtyard, there was nowhere else to go. High walls surrounded it on all sides, and there was no door leading outside. Helpless and distressed, he returned to the same bed and lay down, pondering—

"What should I do now? How can I escape this wretch? It is simply impossible for me to love or desire her. God forbid—love and Islam! Such a thing could never happen, not even in a dream. Then what should I do? I am powerless. If I see no