Gunasundari The outlaws’ selection of the junction where the three roads met was not without reason. It was difficult to capture them as they moved between the boundaries of three states. If they were pursued by the police of one state, they could easily enter another. The road itself had many turns and forks which allowed them to disperse quickly. Moreover, the sea, the hills, the mango grove, the taad forest, the grasslands and the river facilitated quick movement and offered easy and diverse hiding places. Manoharpuri was a small village and its inhabitants were simple-minded. The outlaws did not harass them. The day the outlaws created trouble on the outskirts of Manoharpuri, the village was also bustling with activity. The arrival of newcomers gave some business to the village folks. The same evening on which the outlaws captured and injured Sarasvatichandra, who gave his ring to Aarthdas, who slipped away like a thief, we know that Chandrakant who had set out from Ratnanagari for Suvarnapur was also robbed by the outlaws. On the way Chandrakant had received a message from Vidya Chatura, warning him that the outlaws of Suvarnapur were expected to strike and asking him not to proceed further until the additional soldiers he had dispatched for Chandrakant’s protection reached him. The soldiers from Ratnanagari had also warned him. But impatient to meet Sarasvatichandra, Chandrakant decided to brave the danger. He was robbed, but his life was saved by the soldiers. Forced to halt at Manoharpuri that evening, Chandrakant became a guest of Gunasundari’s once again.

Gunasundari, as we know, was on her way to the temple at Bhadreshwar. There was no danger from outlaws on that side. She had decided to halt at Manoharpuri with her family and retinue. They were all waiting for Kumud Sundari’s arrival. That evening, there were about forty armed riders in Manoharpuri. They included the soldiers accompanying Gunasundari, Chandrakant, and the soldiers stationed at the local post. The three riders sent by Kumud Sundari for Sarasvatichandra’s protection had failed in their mission; dejected, they had turned towards Manoharpuri. On the way they heard rumours that the outlaws were to meet that night under the banyan tree. Harbhamji decided to spy on them and concealed himself in the tree, while his two associates went on to Manoharpuri. Vidya Chatura and his family shared bonds of deep affection with the villagers, who in turn responded with equal warmth. Women of the village would freely approach Gunasundari and share with her their joys and sorrows, their dreams and aspirations and claim her time for many such matters. Occasionally, she, too, would share small details of her family life with them, much to their surprise. Hearing of Gunasundari’s arrival in Manoharpuri, the women rushed towards her rest house like a monsoon river in spate. Religious brahmin women, generous garasia women, bania women adept at running the household with severe economy, industrious Kanbi women, and even the poorest of the poor outcaste women gathered at the back