Instruments of Intrigue and the Warcraft of Karbharis Navinchandra’s care became Alak Kishori’s responsibility. Murkhdutt visited often and asked after him. The vaidya administered medication. The servants performed their tasks. Saubhagya Devi stayed downstairs but came up once a day to ascertain his well-being. Pramaddhan read him the newspaper and looked in on him every time he would pass by. He would also sit and chat by Navinchandra’s bed in the company of his friends. Buddhidhan visited him daily and spent some time talking with him. He had instructed the vaidya to report Navinchandra’s progress to him daily. Kumud Sundari never missed an opportunity to visit him whenever he had someone else for company. She would come in, keep her distance, and return feeling glad at the progress made by the patient. She would often sit in the adjacent room and listen to Navinchandra converse or make polite talk with visitors. If those visiting Navinchandra were not strangers, Alak Kishori would sit by his side, nurse him, chatter away innocently, and include Kumud or others in the conversation. At times, the sisters-in-law, their guest and Pramaddhan would play a game of dice. In a short time, the guest became one of the Counsellor’s family. His health improved. He no longer felt he was an outsider in a stranger’s house. These were pleasant times of peace and quiet for the Counsellor’s family. This was also around the time that the palace intrigues were at their height; and Navinchandra felt it was his misfortune that he was unable to witness this first hand. Rumours flew thick and fast; some even found their way to his chamber.

Since the incident with Jamal Khan, Buddhidhan had lost his equanimity. He imagined its roots to be much deeper than they actually were. Jamal Khan was held captive in the cellar. A clandestine search for him had been mounted. A worried Khalaknanda had incited her brother and compelled him to take certain actions. Buddhidhan had foreseen these events and was eager to turn the outcome to his favour. He could now clearly see on the horizon the advent of the day when he would need to confront Shathrai openly. The spark that Shathrai had lit by insulting the piety of his mother and Saubhagya Devi still smouldered within him; Shathrai’s intrigues had stoked the fire which burnt like live coal. The insufferable insult to Alak Kishori had added fuel to it, and fanned by Buddhidhan’s intellect, this fire of enmity now encircled Shathrai’s family and his Karbhar. Buddhidhan could also see his sun rise to its zenith. Kindly Dayashankar had taken the words spoken in anger by the young son of a poor widow to be the ranting of a sick, delirious boy. That affectionate man was still alive, though old and decrepit. Buddhidhan felt that what Dayashankar had laughed at was about to be realised, and it gave him pleasure. If only mother were still alive, what a support she would have been! At times,