Pleasure Garden Flowerbeds of mogra, rose and champa had recently been planted in the courtyard behind the temple. In that garden was kept a bare and rickety string cot belonging to Murkhdutt. When alone, he was given to lying on it and singing rustic songs or reciting verses in his crude speech. Alak Kishori and Kumud Sundari now sat on one side of this cot. Their companions sat on either side of them in attendance. Alak Kishori plucked some flowers and offered them to the others. ‘Bhabhisahib, which flower would you like?’ she asked Kumud Sundari. ‘Whichever you choose to give me.’ ‘No, you select one.’ ‘Whichever you give me is the one I will like.’ ‘If you do this in all matters, it will be hard on you!’ laughed Alak Kishori. ‘I accepted the good brother you gave me. Why would I need to choose now?’ ‘Then take this sephalika—it has your delicacy and your complexion.’ Kumud Sundari smiled and took the flowers tenderly. Her extended arms resembled a river of clear sparkling water, and the flowers were like white lotuses floating in it. Alak Kishori: ‘Vanleela, have you ever seen hands as beautiful as those of my bhabhi?’ Radha: ‘Behn, she is your bhabhi; how could she lack in anything!’

Vanleela: ‘You have given her flowers, but you should string them and adorn her hair with it—these are the days of spring.’ Radha: ‘The spring is new, and so is she!’ Alak Kishori: ‘Yes, we will string these flowers together and tie them around her bed. We would make a veni of roses for her hair.’ Vanleela: ‘And tie some mogra and champa on her wrists.’ Alak Kishori: ‘And bhabhi, then you must dance for my brother.’ Krishna Kalika laughed: ‘Only courtesans dance to seduce.’ Alak Kishori: ‘Die, you wretch! Watch your words! Shame on you.’ Dark and pockmarked, Krishna Kalika was shapely. But her intelligence was limited and her conduct was lax, so this rebuke was wasted on her. She considered Alak Kishori a little too smart and over wise. She thought she had said nothing inappropriate. But Kumud Sundari’s face fell at that comment. She felt slighted. She realised it was only because of the lowly company she was in. She thought about her relationship with Pramaddhan; fulfillment of bodily passion was the basis of their relationship. Pramaddhan was the provider of comfort, and if that were true, Kumud Sundari asked herself, What is wrong with what was said? She remembered the books she loved. Sarasvatichandra would have satisfied all her wants, all her desires. She felt a profound discontent. Sarasvatichandra’s virtues came to mind, and suddenly overcome with emotions, her eyes became moist. The women assumed she was hurt by Krishna Kalika’s comment, so they chided Kalika, and pleaded with Kumud. Kumud Sundari wiped her tears and said she was not hurt by the comment. But she could not explain the real reason for her tears, so the women continued to believe that she was