Bhimsen's companions searched everywhere, but there was no trace of him. Helpless, they returned late at night and immediately went to Maharaj Shivdutt to report: "Today, the prince went hunting in the forest. While chasing a wild boar, he spurred his horse and disappeared somewhere—we searched thoroughly, but could not find him."

Hearing of his son's disappearance, Maharaj Shivdutt was deeply distressed. For a while, he vented his anger on those who had accompanied Bhimsen. At last, he summoned several spies and dispatched them in all directions to search for Bhimsen, and also gave strict instructions to the ayyaars. Yet, even after three days, there was no news of Bhimsen.

One day, tormented by his son's absence, the king sat alone in his chamber, lost in anxious thoughts, when a trusted servant entered and startled him with the sound of his footsteps. As the king looked toward him, the servant produced an envelope and said, "The chobdar entrusted me with this letter for Your Majesty. According to the chobdar, a stranger delivered it and left at once. The chobdars tried to stop him, but he slipped away swiftly."

Maharaj Shivdutt took the envelope and opened it. Recognizing his son Bhimsen's handwriting, he was overjoyed, but as he read the letter, signs of anxiety appeared on his face. The letter read:

"It will grieve you greatly to know that I have been bravely captured by a woman. But what can I do? I am helpless. I will explain everything when I return. For now, I can only be released if you set free all of Virendra Singh's ayyaars who are imprisoned by you, and allow them to return home safely and willingly. It is useless to try to find me; I am imprisoned in a most inaccessible place.

Your obedient son, Bhim."

After reading the letter, Maharaj Shivdutt was thrown into a strange turmoil. He thought, "Could it be that a woman captured Bhim? He is clever, strong, and skilled in arms. No, no, that woman must have tricked him! But now I must release those ayyaars who are in my custody! Alas, how difficult it was to capture those ayyaars, and now they must be released so easily. Well, I am helpless—what else can I do?"

After much deliberation, Maharaj Shivdutt summoned the ayyaar Bakr Ali and said, "Release Virendra Singh's ayyaars. Until they return home, my son will not be freed from that woman's captivity."

Bakar Ali (in astonishment): "What is this that Your Majesty has said? I do not understand a thing!"

Shivdatt Singh: "Bhimsen has been captured by a woman. She says that until Virendra Singh's spies are released, you too will not be allowed to return home."

Bakar Ali: "How did you come to know this?"

Shivdatt Singh (showing a letter): "Look at this, it is written in Bhimsen's own hand. There can be no doubt about this letter."

Bakar Ali (after reading): "It is true. The fact that we had no news of the prince for so many days already suggested that someone had deceived and trapped him. Now it is also clear that a woman has outwitted the men."

Shivdatt Singh: "It is astonishing, how could a woman so bravely capture Bhim! Well, the full story will only be known when we meet Bhim, and until Virendra Singh's spies reach Chunar, we shall keep longing to see Bhim's face. Go now and release those spies, but do not tell them the real reason for their release. Instead, say that peace has been made between us and Virendra Singh, and that they should go to Chunar at once. By saying this, they will not stop anywhere and will head straight to Chunar."

Bakar Ali rose from Maharaj Shivdatt Singh's presence and went to the place where Badrinath and the other spies were imprisoned. He brought them all out of the prison and said, "We bear you no enmity now. Go home, for peace has been made between our Maharaj and Raja Virendra Singh."

Badrinath: "That is very good! It is a moment of great joy. But if what you say is true, then please return our spy pouches and daggers as well."

Bakar Ali: "Yes, yes, of course! There is no objection to that. I will have them brought here at once, in fact, I will go myself and fetch them."

Taking two or three spies with him, Bakar Ali went towards his house to fetch the pouches and other belongings of the spies, while Pandit Badrinath, Pannalal, and the others, finding themselves free, began to talk among themselves.

Pannalal: "Well, friends, what is this matter that we are being released today?"

Ramnarayan: "This talk of peace does not sit right with me."

Chunnilal: "What peace, and what reconciliation! There must be some other reason behind this."

Jyotishi: "No doubt, Shivdatt is releasing us out of helplessness."

Badrinath: "Well, Bhairon Singh, what do you think about all this?"

Bhairon Singh: "What is there to think? I have understood the real matter."

Badrinath: "Come, tell us, what have you understood?"

Bhaironsingh: "There is no doubt that one of our companions has managed to capture a muddu* from here and has sent word to them that until our ayyars reach Chunar, he will not be released. That is why all these stories are being concocted—to make sure we hurry to Chunar."

[*Note: "muddu" is a tilism term, possibly meaning a magical being or a person of interest.]

Badrinath: "Bravo, that's very well thought out. There's no doubt about it. I believe Shivdatt's wife or son or daughter has been captured, that's why he's going to such lengths. Otherwise, he wouldn't care for anyone else, especially not someone who stands against us."

Bhaironsingh: "Exactly, that's the matter! And now, why should we go straight to Chunar, when we haven't even received any reward yet?"

Badrinath: "Just watch, I'll create quite a scene."

Bhaironsingh (laughing): "I'll tell Shivdatt plainly that my feet are aching, and even in three months