In the previous account, we described the morning scene, mentioning that Raja Virendra Singh, along with Kunwar Anand Singh and Tej Singh, was marching somewhere with his army. Readers must have guessed that they had certainly launched an attack in some direction, and indeed, that was the case. Raja Virendra Singh suddenly launched an assault on Madhavi's Gaya, which he considered a very easy conquest at this time, for he was well aware of Madhavi's conduct and behavior. He knew how weak a kingdom becomes when its king, neglecting affairs of state, spends his days and nights immersed in pleasure. He also knew how much the subjects come to despise such a king, and how fervently they pray for the arrival of some other virtuous and righteous ruler.

Virendra Singh's judgment was absolutely correct. He faced not the slightest difficulty in taking possession of Gaya; no one dared to oppose him. On one hand, his renown and valor were so great that no one had the courage to challenge him; on the other, the disheartened subjects and soldiers themselves wished for a king like Virendra Singh to rule over them. The lords, lost day and night in revelry and drunkenness, might have been oblivious, but the great landlords and royal officials were already aware of the conflict between Madhavi and Kunwar Indrajit, and they knew that these days, Virendra Singh's spies and agents were residing in Rajgriha.

Raja Virendra Singh entered the city unopposed and established his authority, having proclamations made in his name. A couple of royal officials, friends and well-wishers of Diwan Agnidatt, fled upon seeing the changing tides; the remaining military officers and subjects gladly accepted his rule. Raja Virendra Singh realized this from the fact that these people came to court without fear, smiling, and offered their congratulations along with gifts.

On the day before Vijayadashami, the kingdom of Gaya came under Raja Virendra Singh's control, and on Vijayadashami itself—that is, the next morning—people saw his son Anand Singh seated on the throne here, and presented their offerings. After bestowing the throne of Gaya upon his younger son, Kunwar Anand Singh, Raja Virendra Singh intended to return to Chunar the very next day. But before he could depart, his spies and agents arrived in Gaya, bringing with them the wounded and unconscious Kunwar Indrajit Singh. Upon seeing this, Raja Virendra Singh had to abandon his plans, and finding his beloved son—separated from him for so long—in such a state, he was so overwhelmed that he forgot all sense of himself.

Even with Raja Virendra Singh present, the grand royal palace of Gaya felt empty, for those who once dwelled there—Madhavi and the relatives of Diwan Agnidatt—

had escaped, and as per orders, no one had tried to stop them during their flight. At this time, apart from Raja Virendra Singh, his two sons, and the ayyaars, only a few military officers' encampment remained in this palace. Of the ayyaars, only Bhairon Singh and Tara Singh were present here; the rest had been sent back to Chunar.

The very first arrangement made for the city's administration was that, by making a hole in one side, two large chests were hung on either side of the royal palace gate for submitting letters or petitions, and a proclamation was made that anyone wishing to express their joys or sorrows should appear in court and present their petition, and if unable to appear, they could write their petition and drop it in these chests. The order was that these chests should be opened before Kunwar Anand Singh six times a day and night, one after another. The people of Gayaji were very pleased with this arrangement.

It was now well past the first quarter of the night. In a well-decorated room, brightly lit, wounded Kunwar Indrajeet Singh lay on a small, beautiful bed, a light quilt pulled up to his neck. After many days, he had regained consciousness today, and so, astonished, he looked all around this new room, taking in every detail. Beside him, on the left, his father Raja Virendra Singh sat on a low bed, watching his face. A little further, near the foot of the bed, Kunwar Anand Singh sat holding a writing board, gazing at his elder brother. At the foot of the bed, below the cot, Bhairon Singh and Tara Singh were quietly massaging his feet. Beside Kunwar Anand Singh sat Devi Singh. Apart from them, the physician, the surgeon, and many soldiers stood guard with naked swords.

For a while, silence reigned in the room. Then Kunwar Indrajeet looked at his father and asked—

Indrajeet Singh: "Where is this place? Whose house is this?"

Virendra Singh: "This is Gayaji, the capital of Chandradhar. By the grace of God, it has come into our possession today. This house, too, belonged to Chandradhar. We had already established our control over this city when you were brought here."

Hearing this, Indrajeet Singh fell silent and began to ponder. At the same time, the scene of the battle with Diwan Agnidatt in Rajgriha flashed before his eyes, and he remembered Kishori, feeling sorrowful. His heart was restless to know what had happened after he lost consciousness and what had befallen Kishori, but out of respect for his father, he could not bring himself to ask Bhairon Singh anything. He merely sighed deeply, but Devi Singh understood the feelings in his heart and, seizing the opportunity, spoke without being asked, "By the grace of God, all those who were with you during the battle in Rajgriha were saved and are at their respective places. Only you had to endure such suffering."

Though Devi Singh's words did not entirely dispel Indrajeet Singh's restlessness...

...has certainly lessened, though not entirely disappeared. In the meantime, Dev Singh, seeking some diversion, spoke up again.

Dev Singh: The petition chest is ready; it is time to look at it as well.

Indrajit: What kind of chest?

Anand Singh: Two chests have been placed