An Encounter with the Outlaws The carriage moved on at a steady pace with the mounted soldiers riding alongside, encircling it in a protective cordon. They had covered a distance of about four miles when the reign of night came to an end. Except for the creaking and lurching of the carriage on the uneven dust roads, the sounds of the bullocks’ hooves and the trotting of horses, the rustling and snapping of dry branches against the moving carriage and the crowing of roosters in distant villages, the forest was silent. Kumud Sundari was in pleasant and deep sleep. The carriage driver held on to the reins and the prod firmly, but he, too, seemed to be dozing. The soldiers were alert and talked in low voices among themselves. A soft light spread upon the earth. In this first light, the colours of leaves and flowers could not yet be discerned, but their silhouettes were taking shape. As light slowly began to spread across the sky from the east, the stars could no longer be seen. At that hour, the soldiers accompanying Kumud Sundari were surprised to see Manchatura approach with some other riders. Abdullah apprised them of the situation. Both parties merged and moved forward with the carriage. Old Manchatura gently raised the curtains of the carriage and peered inside—Kumud Sundari was still fast asleep. He lowered the curtains and joined the group of riders. The soldiers grew more alert now; their hands rested impatiently upon their weapons, ready to draw them. As night lifted its veil of darkness to usher in the day, the dramatic reality of the forest burst forth. Shrubs laden with red, yellow and white flowers swayed in the dawn breeze. Fields on either side of their path were harvested.

Fields which had exhausted their fecundity seemed to be in repose, regenerating themselves like women exhausted after childbirth. As the gossamer light of dawn spread through the forest freeing it from the slumber of night, the tops of the tallest trees caught the first rays of the sun. The dreaded nocturnal predators disappeared and beautiful, delicate birds of bright plumage took their place. They flew from tree to tree, chirping and singing melodiously. The male and the female of the species played their own games of love and desire. Mother birds fed their young ones; their doting love was an example for other animals. It was a new day. The sky was clear and the forest no longer appeared impregnable. The soft breeze and morning light entered through the drawn curtains of the carriage and played on Kumud’s closed eyelids. She opened her still sleep-laden eyes. Raising herself up a little on her elbows, she rubbed delicate fingers on her eyelids. She was fully awake now. Kumud took out Vanleela’s note from the folds of her blouse. She read it hurriedly at first—the letter was a true reflection of ever affectionate and playful Vanleela. Kumud read the letter again, this time pondering over each word.