Destiny Fulfilled Before leaving for the palace, Buddhidhan had left two faithful soldiers to guard the house. Saubhagya Devi bathed again, smeared sacred ash on her forehead, lit silver lamps and incense sticks and sat down to pray before the household deity. She recited the verses that her mother-in-law had taught her. Old Dayashankar sat in the courtyard enjoying the mild morning breeze of Chaitra. Alak Kishori and Kumud Sundari sat with him, listening to his reminiscences of the palace, the Rana, Shathrai, stories of Buddhidhan’s youth, his mother, and legends surrounding the Karbhari family. Dayashankar, like Sanjay of Mahabharata, satisfied their curiosity with great verve and pleasure, recalling the days of Buddhidhan’s long illness, his pledge, the plight of his widowed mother, and adolescent Saubhagya Devi. The two young women heard the stories, and felt the hardship and suffering of days gone by. Even their worst enemy should not have to see such days, they said. This re-telling brought back painful memories for Saubhagya Devi. She remembered the affection of her dear mother-in-law, and could no longer concentrate on her puja as tears streamed down her eyes. She wiped her tears, got up and joined Dayashankar in remembering the old days. She said, ‘Dayashankar Kaka, Mataji should have been around to see such good days. There can be no one like her. I weep every time I am reminded of her affection and her patience. It was her lot to suffer. She hardly knew any happiness. She was born only to raise and nurture us.’ And so it was on the day of the big assembly, as events in Rana Bhupsinh’s court unfolded according to Buddhidhan’s plan, such were the noble and uplifting scenes unfolding in his household. After the Jamal episode, Alak Kishori had sobered down. She had also matured greatly after the incident with Navinchandra. She had become less haughty in the company of the kind, intelligent and sensitive Kumud who had also turned Alak’s mind more and more towards Vidurprasad. Stories of the suffering and humiliation that her own parents had endured had mellowed Alak further. Vanleela had clearly heard Navinchandra say: ‘Behn Alak, I am like a brother to you.’ She was convinced of Navinchandra’s purity. This had removed a thorn from Kumud’s heart. Vanleela repeated to Kumud the lines she had sung in her delirium. Kumud could imagine the intense agony she must have caused Navinchandra and felt that her conduct had been heartless. She knew that her attraction and infatuation for him was contrary to her conduct as a chaste wife. Aware of her own weakness, and battling conflicting emotions, Kumud had counselled Alak. She realised her folly and resolved to curb her desire for Navinchandra. The episode of Padma’s blouse also served as a lesson for her—Kumud realised that in some ways it captured her innermost desires; if she did not crave for Sarasvatichandra, her husband, too, would not have sought Padma’s comfort. Kumud became determined to banish the man who possessed