Back
Chandrakanta
Bookmarked

Table of Contents

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Glossary
The Tunnel and the Trap
24 / 57

Chapter 9

The Tunnel and the Trap

11 min read · 9 pages

Kunwar Indrajitsingh was now determined to act forcefully, watching for the moment when Madhavi would unlock the tunnel to go to the palace to meet the Diwan, so that he could reveal himself. Having been warned by Tilottama, Madhavi too had become cautious and had completely stopped visiting the Diwan Sahib. But ever since the water tunnel had been closed, Tilottama began using this second tunnel for her comings and goings, and kept the key to this tunnel, which used to be with Madhavi, with herself. As soon as the water tunnel was closed, Indrajitsingh realized that now the women's movements would be through this tunnel.

…would happen, but because Indrajeet Singh kept watching Madhavi, his purpose was not fulfilled for several days.

Now, Prince Indrajeet Singh began to pace more often in the veranda where the room with the secret tunnel door was. One night, at midnight, seeing Madhavi's bed empty, Indrajeet Singh realized that she had surely gone to meet the Diwan. He too rose from his bed, took down a sword hanging from a peg, extinguished the burning lamp, and quietly made his way to that veranda, which was now completely dark. He hid himself beside the door of the secret tunnel.

When a quarter of the night remained, the door of the tunnel opened from within, and a woman emerged, intending to lock it again. But Indrajeet Singh swiftly caught her wrist, snatched the key, and, entering the room, locked the door from inside.

That woman was Madhavi, from whose hand Indrajeet Singh had taken the key. In the darkness, she could not recognize him. However, from her cry, the prince knew it was Madhavi.

Indrajeet Singh had already once ventured into that tunnel; he knew its passages and stairs well, so he had little trouble in the dark. Feeling his way by instinct, he descended the steps to the underground chamber. When he opened the second door below, he saw a light some distance inside the tunnel, which surprised him, and he advanced very quietly. As he approached the light, he saw a woman who, bound by shackles and chains, was utterly helpless to rise or move. In the glow of the lamp, Indrajeet Singh saw her clearly, and she saw him—and both were startled.

From the previous account, readers will have understood that this was Kishori, who, due to her suffering, had become very weak and listless. In Indrajeet Singh's heart, her image was ever present, and in Kishori's eyes, Indrajeet Singh had taken up residence like the very pupil. Each recognized the other at once, and mingled astonishment and joy kept them gazing at each other for a long while. Then Indrajeet Singh unlocked her shackles and chains, and, taking her hand lovingly, said, "Kishori! How did you come here?"

Kishori (falling at Indrajeet Singh's feet): "Until now, I thought it was my misfortune that brought me here, but no, now I must say it was my good fortune that led me here,

Logging in only takes 3.5 seconds. It lets you download books offline and save your reading progress.

Sign in to read for free
24 / 57