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, and Lalita did me a great kindness by bringing me. Otherwise, who knows how long I would have waited to see your face…"

Poor Kishori could say no more and burst into tears. Indrajeet Singh too wept with her. At last, he raised Kishori up, holding both her wrists, and said—

"Ah! I never expected that I would see you here. The happiness I feel today will be remembered for the rest of my life. Alas, the enemy has made you suffer so much!"

Kishori: "Enough, I have no more desires left. All I ever asked of God was that I might see you by my side one day, and today that wish has been fulfilled. Now, even if Madhavi were to kill me, I would gladly accept it."

Indrajit Singh: "As long as there is breath in my body, who would dare to harm you! Now that I have the key to this tunnel in my hand, we both can be certain that our imprisonment is at an end. If I live, I shall deal with Madhavi—where can she escape from me?"

Only the two of them could truly know the happiness they felt at this sudden reunion. They forgot all about the world and its cares. They did not remember where they were going, where they were, what they were doing, or what they ought to do. But this happiness was short-lived, for at that very moment, a woman appeared, coming from the same direction Indrajit Singh had intended to go, holding a candle in her hand. At the sight of her, both were startled.

The woman approached Indrajit Singh and, showing the mark on her body, quickly revealed herself to be Chapla.

Chapla: "Indrajit Singh! Oh, how did you come here! (Looking around) It seems you found poor Kishori right here."

Indrajit Singh: "Yes, she was imprisoned here, though I did not know it. I forced the key from Madhavi's hand and entered this tunnel, leaving her behind, shouting."

Chapla: "Madhavi just went that way through this tunnel."

Indrajit Singh: "Yes, and I was hiding near the door. As soon as she opened the lock and entered, I caught her, snatched the key, and locked the door from inside."

Chapla: "You did very wrong; you should not have acted so hastily. Now you cannot spend even two days near Madhavi, for she is wicked and as merciless as a chandalini. If she finds you now, she will surely deceive you in some way and will not rest until she has taken your life."

Indrajit Singh: "But what else could I have done? The entrance to the water tunnel, the way you came, was sealed before my very eyes, so I realized that the devil's daughter had discovered your coming and going, and all hope of meeting you or receiving any help was lost. How long could I continue to act like a simpleton? And now, what need have I to return to Madhavi?"

Chapla: "No doubt, Madhavi