In a large hall that was at a good distance from her suite, Priyamvada courteously said, "I apologise for summoning you so early in the day, Sumer."

"I'm always at your service, Your Highness," Sumer Singh replied respectfully, standing ramrod-straight and keeping his eyes lowered. "And I should be the one offering apologies for not obeying your command yesterday and -"

"I know. And you did the right thing by giving precedence to Prithvi's commands over mine. But do inform me if our instructions are clashing," Priyamvada said without rancour.

Her attitude didn't give any indication of how unsettled she'd been on discovering that, after escorting her to the room post dinner, Prithvi had gone to meet Sumer Singh and Kadambari and insisted that they should retire for the night. Then he had gone to Uday Singh to check on his health. She could understand her son's concern for the three individuals. But he had shown the same consideration for the other servants too and had given clear-cut instructions that no one should be on duty for more than eight or nine hours. Some other instances too pointed to major flaws in Prithvi's nature...

"I will do that in the future, Your Highness," Sumer Singh assured.

"Good. Sumer, I have two tasks for you," Priyamvada said slowly. "One - I want you to write down everything that happened from the time you took Prithvi from Devgarh to...yesterday. You can take as many days as you need. But the journal must contain every detail about the life he has led after – after I left. I know you may not recall the small things. But please write down whatever you do remember."

She had woken up at three in the night, her sleep ruined by some dreams in which she'd struggled to explain to Aditya why she'd not visited Indrajit, and others in which she'd been incapable of answering questions about Prithvi. Sleep had not been possible after that.

The strange demand did not faze Sumer Singh. Prithvi had prepared him for this discussion. He peacefully said, "You will receive the journal within a week, Your Highness."

"Thank you. Now, I want an overview of the years he spent in your care – and his personality. Tell me everything about my son's personal life and nature," Priyamvada demanded. "His temperament, habits, and traits. His likes and dislikes. His friendships and other relationships. His years in school and college. His studies and hobbies. His talents and his failings. Be honest. I want to know the good and the bad. This is your second task. And you have my permission to refer to my son by his name," she added swiftly, not wishing to spend the next hour listening to him fumble.

Sumer Singh felt slightly unsettled this time. The second task loomed before him like an insurmountable mountain. How and where should he start talking about the person that Prithvi was... It would be easier for him to describe the evolution of mankind.

Priyamvada noted with shock that Sumer Singh's eyes were moist.

"Prithvi is - has always been...extraordinary," he began quietly.

Three-quarters of an hour later, the tears had relocated to Priyamvada's eyes. Ferocious pride and elation were only a small reason for her emotional reaction. The main cause was a stabbing anguish that her husband had been deprived of the opportunity to see Prithvi grow up to become such a magnificent young man and rejoice in the continuous stream of his glorious triumphs.

Aditya would have been the happiest and proudest man on earth to have a son like Prithvi. A son so gifted and brilliant that he was pursuing a doctorate at the age of twenty ...so talented at extracurricular activities he had never tasted defeat in a contest and had won gold medals for his country in international competitions several times... and so capable and skilled that he was already earning the sort of money that was only seen by professionals in the top echelons of powerful companies.

However, despite Sumer Singh's well-intentioned endeavour to portray Prithvi as being perfection itself, she'd also understood that her son had numerous traits that weren't acceptable and needed to be rectified.

While deciding upon the shortcoming that needed to be tackled first, Priyamvada absently asked, "Was it his decision to pursue the doctorate? Does he really wish to take up a career in that field?"

Sumer Singh shuffled uneasily. "I don't believe so, Your Highness," he admitted, his voice hoarse because of having talked for a long time continuously. "After Prithvi returned from the US, he wanted to spend a year travelling throughout the country, especially the mountains in the north. But as I'd mentioned, he had a tendency to remain isolated from almost everyone as it was. I was afraid that if he spent a year alone, he would completely outgrow the need for companionship. So I requested him to consider studying further. He was against it at first. Then he agreed to visit some colleges...and finalised a good one."

"And that was where he met Nandini?" Priyamvada asked smoothly.

Taken aback, Sumer Singh falteringly said, "Oh - Yes – No! Nandini is – she is the daughter of a family friend."

"Ah yes...the mysterious family friend. May I ask which friend of which family member?" she enquired. "And what is her full name?"

He had dreaded this question, because he had known he wouldn't be able to lie to Priyamvada's face. Prithvi had not told his mother about Shamli and the Bharadwaj family. But that was when Priyamvada had seemed dangerously fragile. Could he take a risk and reveal the connection between the families...

Observing his conflict, Priyamvada graciously said, "You don't have to struggle to invent a worthy surname and background for Nandini, Sumer. I don't have any interest in finding out anything about her or her family. Nandini is a lovely girl but I'm not certain if I like the idea of her being Prithvi's...friend. Please make arrangements to send her home."

Nandini was a puzzling girl and she did have a calming quality, but the girl had not been of any use yesterday when Prithvi had gone missing, Priyamvada recalled sourly. And since she'd woken up, instinct had been telling her that the less she knew about the girl, the better it would be...

Feeling the ground slip from under his feet, Sumer Singh shakily said, "Please don't separate them, Your Highness."

"Why? Are they under the impression that they are in love?" Priyamvada asked amusedly.

Sumer Singh flushed and averted his gaze, but he couldn't allow embarrassment to stop him when Prithvi's happiness was at stake.

"They care deeply for each other, Your Highness," he mumbled. "And Nandini is the reason for many good things that have happened in Prithvi's life. In just months, she has changed him in ways that I cannot describe."

"I didn't realise their bond was so strong," Priyamvada said considerately, pretending to reconsider her decision. "You said she has changed him. Could you explain how?"

Buoyed by the change in attitude, Sumer Singh began his defence, his thoughts coming out in a jumble because of his trepidation.

"Yes – Yes...I can...Prithvi – Prithvi would hardly smile before he met her. Now he laughs. He didn't like to meet people or – or spend time with anyone. And he used to behave recklessly sometimes. But he isn't like that anymore...because she has brought happiness and peace to his life," he said anxiously. "When he doesn't want to do something, it's near impossible to convince him. But Nandini can persuade him to do anything. She has even saved his life in the past, and she's the reason he visited the exhibition yesterday. Nandini is...I believe she' a living, breathing miracle for him...and for the family too," he adjoined humbly.

Priyamvada carried out a conversation for the next five minutes but her mind had switched off.

"Thank you for helping me understand...I'm grateful to Nandini...Yes, she can stay for as long as she wants. And Sumer...it goes without saying, please don't tell Prithvi about this conversation...you can leave now..."

After he had exited, Priyamvada got up and began pacing around the room.

She'd wanted to know the seriousness of Prithvi's relationship with Nandini and the extent of his dependence on her. And Sumer Singh had helped her understand clearly that her unique, exceptional son was too emotionally reliant on an unworthy girl.

No...the situation was more hazardous than that. Her excessively independent and unnecessarily principled twenty-year-old son's strings were in the hands of an odd, childish girl from an inconsequential family.

Unacceptable...completely unacceptable...

*******************************

Nandini scrutinised her neck in the mirror. No marks were visible but the skin felt faintly sore. And she couldn't understand why.

It obviously wasn't because of Prithvi, she mulled bashfully. She had a dim recollection that he had crossed the pillow border at one point and had slept with his head on her shoulder. But his behaviour had been perfect, she thought with a smile.

However, the cheerfulness subsided as she wondered how he was feeling at the moment.

Nandini walked to the bed and sat down on the plush mattress.

They had not spoken about anything important last night. because neither of them had wanted to. Would Priyamvada have spoken to him about Indrajit last night? How would the situation be resolved? Would it even get resolved...or would everything become worse?

Moreover, Rajeshwari would be landing in Aadyabhoomi today. How would Priyamvada behave with her? How would Prithvi tell his mother that her despicable brother's daughter was going to stay with them.

Nandini rubbed her temples distractedly, inundated with anxiety and despair.

She was keen to meet Rajeshwari, and felt an upsurge of compassion on remembering the petrified and helpless girl who had clutched her hand in fear. However, the enthusiasm wasn't the same as it would have been if she hadn't learned of Harshvardhan's crimes.

She couldn't forget that Rajeshwari was the daughter of the man because of whom Prithvi and his mother had suffered for so many years. The man whose henchmen had hurt her father.

But Harshvardhan had paid for his crimes in the end, Nandini thought with a grim satisfaction. The wealth and power he had craved had not saved him. The punishment wasn't sufficient, but nature would balance the scales fully in that monster's next life.

But what if Harshvardhan had been alive and well today? How would she have reacted to Rajeshwari then, Nandini contemplated uneasily.

Unfortunately, she didn't have any doubts that she wouldn't have considered even meeting Rajeshwari then, irrespective of how Prithvi felt about it...

**************************

Rajeshwari progressed along the unfamiliar route in a tired haze. Her sleep-deprived brain was making everything seem blurry and it was difficult to focus on anything. But she was clasping her brother's arm, and felt capable of tackling any difficultly, even steep stairs.

"I'm not sleepy, Prithvi," Rajeshwari insisted in the fleeting gap between two yawns. "I want to talk. I have so many things to tell you....and ask you."

"Sure, I can see you're not sleepy at all and yawning is just the new black," Prithvi said solemnly.

At the end of her crying fit, his gnome-sized cousin had given him a nice bit of shock to start the morning by almost collapsing due to sheer tiredness. Thankfully, servants had come to the room just then with the tea and food he had ordered. He'd not had to force her to have the hot beverage and some heavily buttered toast. She had done everything he'd asked without question, unmistakably afraid that he would react badly to disobedience. Her fear had made him want to smash Rajyavardhan's skull into pieces...

Rajeshwari chortled sleepily at his mocking statement. Then she woozily asked, "Are we going to meet Kadambari? And Nandini? I was so happy to know she's here. I want to tell you how I met her."

"You can do that after you wake up from a long sleep and no longer resemble a tiny vampire," he said kindly. "And Choti maa will be waiting for you in your room."

"Choti maa...you used to call her that. And my pet name was Rai," Rajeshwari recalled happily as they walked across a vast marble foyer on the first floor.

"It still is, Rai," Prithvi said amusedly.

She beamed up at him, and then noticed his palm. "What happened to your hand? Why is it bandaged?"

"Nothing's wrong with it. This is the latest fashion in these parts," he said seriously. The injury was healing swiftly as usual and he would have liked to leave it open. But he'd wrapped a grey handkerchief around the hand to prevent hysterical reactions from at least two women.

"It looks very interesting," Rajeshwari said fervidly, keen to prove that she could understand his choices.

Prithvi didn't laugh, and his pity for her rose by several more notches.

"So...Prithvi, who else is staying in the palace?" Rajeshwari yawned.

"Nandini, my great-uncle Uday Singh, Sumer Baba, Choti maa, and...Indrajit," he added grudgingly.

"Indrajit? Your step-brother? But I thought he was a bad man," Rajeshwari asked fuzzily. "Grandfather hates him."

"Really? I feel fond of Indrajit all of a sudden," Prithvi reflected broodingly as they neared the big suite that he had selected for his cousin. "Anyone whom Rajyavardhan hates must definitely have a lot of good in them."

Rajeshwari's gleeful laugh was interrupted by a loud gasp.

Kadambari was rushing to them, delighted and overwhelmed.

Prithvi looked amusedly at the thrilled woman as she took charge of Rajeshwari, appearing compassionate and respectful and happy and worried and enthusiastic...all at once.

When Kadambari's initial excitement had ebbed, Prithvi gently said, "Choti maa, she hasn't slept all night. Take her to the room and put her to bed. Then come back outside."

Rajeshwari looked suppliantly at Prithvi, "But I want to talk to you, Prithvi."

"Hey, I'm just trying to protect you from ghosts," he claimed. "Research shows that ninety percent of spirits choose to possess people when they are yawning. So, the faster you go to sleep, the safer you will be."

"Prithvi, don't joke about such things," Kadambari scolded, but Rajeshwari just laughed as she was led to the room.

Kadambari came out after five minutes with a concerned air and pensively said, "Prithvi, I was thinking...if the princess doesn't mind, Nandini could share her room for some days."

"No," Prithvi said hurriedly, alarmed. "That's not a good idea."

"Why not?" Kadambari asked harshly, scrutinising him suspiciously.

Ensuring that his feelings weren't evident on his face or in his tone, Prithvi reasonably said, "She's not used to sharing a room, and Rai won't be comfortable either. You can sleep in this room for some days, Choti maa."

Kadambari nervously said, "But Her Highness Priyamvada..."

"I'll be telling her about Rajeshwari today. I just don't know when exactly," Prithvi admitted. "Nandini can be informed, but no one else needs to know as of now. The guards haven't told the manager or the maids. They'll bring all the meals to this room. If you or Rai need anything at any time, just give me or Sumer Baba a call."

"But what if your mother asks for me?" Kadambari asked worriedly.

"I'll tell Maa that you have a headache and will be resting all day," Prithvi said unconcernedly.

"Okay," Kadambari replied apprehensively. Then she lifted his carelessly bandaged hand and solicitously said, "Let me take a look at it. I'll apply fresh medicine and dress it again."

"It has almost healed, Choti maa," Prithvi comforted the stressed woman. "You take care of Rajeshwari. I'll handle everything else."

**************************

Wincing and squeaking continually, Nandini drew the cardboard side of the thin notepad in a gentle but quick motion across the floor, attempting to push the large and terrifyingly fast black centipede towards the edge of the corridor's floor.

Even the intuitive awareness that her much-loved prince was approaching didn't break her concentration. And she heaved a huge sigh of relief as the centipede fell over the edge and landed in the soil of the green garden outside her room.

Prithvi halted abruptly and stared at the girl hunched over the edge of the passageway and staring at the plants lining the edges.

Nandini looked at him without any surprise and smiled brightly.

"Yesterday's stress had finally taken its toll?" he asked doubtfully.

"There was a centipede outside my room. I pushed it into the garden," she said proudly.

"Those things can be poisonous," Prithvi said sharply, frowning as he walked to her.

"This one wasn't," she declared.

"You're a leading expert on centipedes now?" he asked testily, glancing distrustfully at the garden. "I think you should move back to your old room."

"Absolutely not," she said indignantly. "You're overreacting as usual."

The truth behind the accusation pricked him. "Fine. Start a colony of centipedes and become their queen since you love them so much," he said irritably.

Nandini chuckled, then touched his bandaged palm lightly and concernedly asked, "How's your hand?"

"It's fine. Now come with me...I need to talk to you for a minute."

He caught her elbow and propelled her back into the room.

"Talk about what?" she asked confusedly as they entered the room, then quickly asked. "Why are you closing the door?"

"Save that outrage for the future," he said impatiently, bolting the door shut. "Listen, if Choti maa tells you to share a room with Rai, tell her it won't be possible."

Nandini blankly asked, "Share a room with - Rai? Who is that?"

"Rajeshwari. She arrived some time ago. It's a short and emotional story that you can hear from her later," Prithvi informed her speedily.

"Rajeshwari's already here? Where is she?" Nandini asked interestedly. "And – wait – you call her Rai? That's her pet name?"

"It's just something I used to call her when we were kids," Prithvi grumbled uncomfortably.

She chuckled at his embarrassment. "You give funny pet names to people."

"It's my way of remembering who they are, Pumpkin," he grinned.

She hit his hand laughingly, and then asked again, "Where is Rajeshwari?"

"She was floating around in a sleep coma because she travelled all night," Prithvi replied. "I've asked Choti maa to help her settle down and stay with her for the rest of the day. Which brings me back to the reason I had to listen to you defend a centipede," he said resentfully. "If Choti maa asks you to share a room with Rajeshwari, reject the idea outright."

"Oh... but why should I refuse?" Nandini asked unsurely, starting to wonder if he did have any resentment against his cousin after all.

"Where will I go if you share a room with her?" he asked indignantly.

She gaped at him, her face growing hot, and then cheekily quipped, "You just reminded me of the biggest reason why I should share a room with her."

Prithvi glared at her, but his angry retort was interrupted by the tiny beep of his phone. A shadow fell across his features as he read Sumer Singh's message.

"Maa has gone to meet Indrajit," he muttered in a downcast voice.

A terrible ache spouted in Nandini's chest as she gazed at him. "You'd met your mother since morning?" she asked timidly.

Absorbed in staring at the message, Prithvi shook his head.

"Does she know that Rajeshwari -

"Not yet," he murmured. "So, in case you happen to speak to her..."

"I won't tell her anything," she assured.

"Thanks," he muttered, moving to the door and unbolting it.

"Where are you going?" Nandini asked nervously.

"To Indrajit's room," Prithvi answered resignedly as he stepped out of the room.

Disturbed at his tensed manner, Nandini kept the notepad on the top of the cabinet near the door and hurried in his wake.

"He won't be able to hurt her in this condition," she attempted to reassure him while walking beside him. "I don't think he'll be able to even speak to her."

"I know. I'm the cause of his condition, remember?" Prithvi said dryly.

"Then why are you worried?" she asked tentatively.

He paused and turned to gaze at her reflectively. "You told her about Indrajit, didn't you?"

Nandini couldn't meet his eyes. "Yes...I know I shouldn't have," she mumbled, staring at her feet. "Your mother was not in the right state of mind to hear the truth. But I couldn't take it when she -"

"Thank you," Prithvi said quietly.

Nandini glanced up in astonishment but he had already turned away and was strolling ahead. Feeling close to tears, she darted forward to seize his hand.

He stopped obediently and looked at her with subdued eyes.

She unevenly said, "Tell me what happened yesterday. Did your mother talk to you last night about Indrajit?"

He offered a curiously tired smile. "Yes...she wants me to forgive and forget."

Appalled, Nandini incredulously asked, "Even after knowing what Indrajit - " she controlled her angry words with difficulty. Trying to calm down, she asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I don't have to do anything," he said indifferently. "Indrajit's not going to give up his lunatic ideas of revenge."

"And you...will you be able to forgive him?" she asked uncertainly.

Prithvi shrugged. "I don't have anything against him. He has reasons for being the way he is," he said casually, then muttered, "Alright, I have to go now."

Beautiful features aglow with a loving adoration, Nandini softly begged, "Let me come with you."

"No," Prithvi refused flatly. He was more likely to send her into a bloody fight on his behalf than take her with him to this particular hell. Then lightening his tone, he smiled roguishly and said, "If you really want to help me, give me your word that you'll share your room only with me. No Rai and no centipedes."

With a shaky laugh, she hugged him, saying, "Done." And then she whispered, "I love you,"

"I love you too," he murmured, embracing her powerfully for a moment. His cool lips grazed her forehead, and then he was striding away.

******************************

Indrajit's bleary gaze glided over the room, with his mind doggedly attempting to untangle some knots.

He was on a hospital bed. There were doctors and nurses coming and going out of the room. Two male nurses were stationed by his side. A drip was attached to his hand. But this was not a hospital. He was trapped in Aadyabhoomi ...under the same roof as two people whom he despised.

He closed his eyes tiredly.

Consciousness had come and gone many times since morning. And each time, he had struggled to take stock of the situation but drowsiness had made it difficult. Now he was more alert, but he wished he wasn't.

Not because he'd realised there were casts on three of his limbs and his torso and his jaws were wired. The injuries and treatments were familiar to him. His teenaged years had involved numerous accidents because of his determination to prove his worth to his family. So he knew from experience that it was medication that was protecting him from atrocious pain. And the recovery process was going to be long and difficult as usual.

There weren't any known faces near him, which was obviously a ploy to ensure that he was at their mercy. But at the moment, it was his own mind that was making him feel defenceless.

At any other time, despite the bodily distress, he would have been savouring the satisfaction that his words had cut into Prithvi...or boiling in rage about being under the same roof as his step-brother and that vile female. However, he couldn't think about anything apart from the blurry moments before he had lost consciousness last evening.

The loathing that was entrenched in him was unchanged. But the seedling of a doubt had been planted in his consciousness in those moments when Priyamvada had called out desperately to his dead father and he had seen a glimpse of a grief that had seemed to mirror his own...

Was Priyamvada insane? Like his own mother? Had it been his father's fate to be tied to women who were unworthy of him in every way.

His mother had never loved his father though. And he had heard that Priyamvada had gone into such severe shock when his father had died that she had not spoken for months. And she had suffered from the starkest depression till she'd supposedly killed herself. He'd jeered at those tales, certain that they were blatant lies. But he wasn't sure anymore.

Had his father's death truly unhinged Priyamvada? Had she loved his father that deeply?

A sudden silence fell in the room. Indrajit opened his eyes and stiffened with shock. Priyamvada had walked into the room and was speaking to the medical staff.

The revulsion and rage ingrained in him had temporarily been clouded by confusion, but the animosity resurfaced violently on seeing her in person again. He wanted to break her ugly withered face and cut her heart out. But the only part of his body that was not in a cast was his left hand, and even that arm was bandaged heavily and painful to lift.

His angry sounds drew the attention of the nervous staff, but Priyamvada didn't react. She continued to speak to the doctors and nurses.

Presumably in response to Priyamvada's orders, one of the nurses hurried to the bottom of the bed and rotated the lever till he was in a half-sitting position. The second nurse placed a chair close to the bed. Then both of them left the room. The doctors were engaged in discussion with Priyamvada for some more moments. Then, glancing at him apprehensively, they left the room.

Indifferent to his growls, Priyamvada walked to the armchair by his bedside and sat down coolly, hands folded in her lap.

He didn't want to show weakness by shutting his eyes so he furiously turned them back to the ceiling.

The silence seemed to go on interminably, then unable to endure it anymore, he looked furiously at the foul woman seated near him.

"Thank you for showing the courtesy of looking at me," Priyamvada said evenly.

It was the tone of her voice that stunned Indrajit. His grandmother had often spoken to him in that very same manner, calm but tired.

"Indrajit, I'm aware that you hate me and my son," Priyamvada said evenly, gazing at her step-son's blue-black face. "And I've also been told that you've tried to kill Prithvi several times in the past. I understand your anger. But I will not tolerate your methods of expressing it. Nothing can change the fact that the same blood runs through your veins and his. Your father wanted both of you to grow up together as brothers. Real brothers. And that is exactly the way you both will behave from this day onwards. Do - you - understand - me?" she questioned, emphasising every word of the last line.

For reasons he was too exhausted to examine, Indrajit was ambushed by memories of an unhappy childhood that had been spent in trying to please the elders in the family. How deeply he had loathed his life back then...

With a kinder air, Priyamvada gently said, "You probably believe I took your father away from you. That is not true. We were going to take your mother's family to court and fight for you. We were going to live together as a family. Aditya wanted you and Prithvi to grow up together as brothers. If you want the name of the lawyer and the details of the case, I will give them to you once you recover. What are you doing, my child?" Priyamvada asked with a touch of impatience.

Emitting pained grunts, Indrajit was trying to move sideways, desperate to get away from Priyamvada. It was horrendous enough to hear his father's name being spoken by the vile woman. But to listen to her lies was an agonising ordeal. They had to be lies. If it was the truth that his father had intended to fight for him...then it meant he'd considered him worthy of being his son...

Priyamvada realised she had to take the sentimentality to another level. "You must be aware that Aditya and I had left the country after our marriage," she said quietly. "But only a handful of people knew that we used to make frequent trips back home. Just for you. Aditya would visit your school in disguise to see you. He couldn't interact with you because your grandfather had increased your security....well, Aditya could still have interacted with you but my father was also watching your movements closely because he'd suspected that Aditya would try to meet you. And your father didn't want to take a risk with my safety. So I owe you an apology for that. But I cannot allow you to continue believing that your father abandoned you. Until the day he...until that day, he received daily updates about your wellbeing. He couldn't spend time with you, but he did his best to support you from a distance and ensure that you were being looked after."

Indrajit's throat had closed. He couldn't bear to hear what she was saying. And he wanted to die with humiliation at the tears gliding down his temples despite his frantic mental efforts to stop them. If she didn't stop talking, he was going to break down completely.

Priyamvada was satisfied by the response she had evoked. Indrajit would soon be broken on the inside, and then she would shower motherly concern on him. That was the easiest and fastest way to get him to forget his nonsensical hostility and grow dependent on her.

She tenderly reminisced, "I remember he had gone to your school's grounds on the day when you were supposed to participate in a parade. You were in the second row of the group. At one point, you tripped and fell. Your father knew that you were embarrassed and ashamed...but you got up again and continued to walk. He was very pleased with you that day. Then months later, you had a serious accident while learning sword fighting. He didn't sleep the whole night till he was informed that you were fine. And I cannot describe his happiness on the day he found out that you did not give up the training."

Screams of agony were ringing in Indrajit's head. He wanted to beg Priyamvada to leave and grant him some privacy. But he no longer had the strength to make a sound.

Priyamvada rose from the chair and stood at his head. A skinny hand came towards his face and wiped his tears.

"You got that quality from your father," Priyamvada said kindly. "And he was very proud of you."

This was a lurid echo of his childhood, Indrajit thought miserably. His family would berate him for not having any commendable quality or talent, and he would have to listen in an asphyxiating silence, mentally begging his father to take him away. But no one had come to his rescue back then. And no one was going to do it today.

There was a loud knock on the door, and a second after that, his father walked into the room.

Indrajit's ecstatic happiness and reverent gratitude lasted for several seconds till reality came crashing down on him.

Prithvi glanced uneasily at the bandaged figure on the bed as he strode to his mother. His first impression was that Indrajit resembled an Egyptian mummy who had been prepared for the afterlife by a bunch of untrained priests. Then he noticed the look on his step-brother's pulpy, discoloured visage.

Priyamvada's annoyance turned into surprise on seeing her son. His visit was unexpected but it was probably for the best. She could begin to work on the relationship between the brothers immediately.

Smiling, Priyamvada walked eagerly towards Prithvi and met him midway. "Prithvi, you've come at the right time."

"I think so too," Prithvi said mildly, looking at his mother searchingly. She had very little in common with the woman he had seen at the exhibition less than 24 hours ago. That had been the case at dinner last night too, but now, her face seemed to be blazing with strength and power.

Priyamvada clasped her son's arm and zealously prompted, "Come here with me, speak to your brother."

"I'll do that some other time, Maa," Prithvi muttered. "We should leave now."

The eagerness on Priyamvada's countenance disappeared and she dropped her hand. "I need to speak to Indrajit," she said decisively. "You can wait outside if you don't wish to honour my request."

If the harshness in his mother's voice affected him, Prithvi didn't let it show on his face.

He smiled faintly and said, "But that's precisely what I'm doing. Yesterday, you asked me to treat him as a brother. So, as his brother, I think he's not in a state to deal with anything more than his injuries right now. Isn't that how a good brother would think?" he asked humbly.

Priyamvada felt unusually muddled and wrong-footed. She was being manipulated. But if she argued further, she would come across as being heartless and insensitive...

"Well, yes – yes, that is how you should...Alright, we'll leave," she agreed reluctantly.

Priyamvada turned to Indrajit's convulsing face and caringly said, "I'll return tomorrow. I hope you feel better by then."

"He will," Prithvi said reassuringly, putting an arm around his mother and escorting her firmly to the door.

Prithvi walked back to the bed and used the lever to lower it back to its original position. Then he walked out swiftly. His visibly unhappy mother was about to speak to Sumer Singh but she halted on seeing him emerge from the room.

Taking his appearance as an indication that they could resume their duties, the doctors and nurses started to head back to the room.

Prithvi barred them with a subtle sign. He strode to stand beside his mother and casually told Sumer Singh, "Give him five minutes before allowing anyone to go inside. And Baba, you don't have to be stationed here for too long. Just tell whoever is taking your place that no one other than the medical staff should be allowed to meet Indrajit for the rest of the day. And that I should be informed if there is any problem."

"Yes, My Lord," Sumer Singh nodded.

There was a constriction in his chest as he watched the prince leave with his mother. He couldn't flout the queen's order and tell Prithvi about the early morning conversation with Priyamvada. Luckily, they'd hardly interacted since morning. The longest chat they'd had was when Prithvi had phoned him to let him that Rajeshwari had arrived earlier than expected.

There was one bright spot though. Priyamvada had reacted with great maturity and kindness on understanding Nandini's importance in Prithvi's life. So now he didn't have to warn the young couple of any brewing trouble.

And there also wasn't any need to ask Nandini to be cautious if Priyamvada asked about her family. Sakshi had obviously been wrong. While the queen had trouble accepting that her husband was no more, her mental state was entirely fine otherwise. The knowledge that Nandini belonged to a family and a town that she had known long ago was not going to damage her composure.

It was Prithvi whose wellbeing was topmost on his mind now.

Sumer Singh glanced unhappily at the door to Indrajit's room. The enormity - and number - of the huge events that had happened in less than two days could test the mental strength of the hardiest of men. How was Prithvi going to confront the staggering challenges that had hurtled down on his life like an avalanche...

***************************

Prithvi glanced at his mother and found her staring at him. The severe disappointment in her gaze nipped sharply at his heart. However, it did not trigger any guilt pangs. The expression on Indrajit's face had shaken him. He preferred his step-brother to appear murderous with rage than seem close to breaking down in tears...

Prithvi spent several minutes trying to get the ghastly picture of his head. Then giving up temporarily, he looked tentatively at his mother and asked, "Did you sleep well last night, Maa?"

"Yes, thank you," Priyamvada said absently.

Her son had given her strong proof of all the distressing qualities that she was concerned about. Despite her harsh verbal attack outside the palace yesterday, he had been unreservedly caring and sweet towards her. If he was upset, he was hiding it beautifully. And Nandini had rightly said that her son did not hate Indrajit even though the latter had apparently spared no effort to destroy him. Prithvi had proved it twice. Last evening, her son had been in a towering rage and had beaten up his step-brother mercilessly, but he'd not harmed any vital organs. And he'd clearly been upset by Indrajit's condition just now.

The incidences pointed to an abnormally kind and soft nature. And kindness was not a quality she admired. Her husband had been more compassionate than her, but once he lost his temper, his ruthlessness had known no limits. He had broken Yashvardhan's body merely because the latter had lunged to slap her for betraying the whole family. Aditya would want his son be as tough as him. So, she needed to destroy the weak portions of Prithvi's character. And she knew where to start.

"Had tea?" Prithvi enquired.

"Not yet."

"You wanted to get unpleasant business out of the way first?" he asked sympathetically.

The impudent question elicited a surprised laugh from Priyamvada, and she gave him a reproving pat on the arm. Deciding to relinquish her displeasure for the moment, she warmly asked, "Will you join me for a cup of tea? Or black sugarless coffee? Sumer Singh tells me you're quite fond of the beverage."

An innocent happiness flickered in Prithvi's eyes on apprehending that his mother had taken the effort to learn something about him. "It's a habit I picked up when I was studying abroad," he said sheepishly.

"No, it's a liking that you've inherited from your father," Priyamvada said lovingly. "And your practice of waking up early too. Irrespective of how late he slept, your father would wake up before sunrise."

Prithvi smiled uneasily at his mother. It was intensely odd to think that his likings echoed that of a person he had never met in his life.

"He was especially fond of watching the sun rise over the hills surrounding Aadyabhoomi," Priyamvada continued in a cheerful flow. "Your father and I had visited this palace after our marriage, you know. We had to do it in disguise, because your grandfather had forbidden him from entering this palace. Your father wore a guard's costume, and I dressed up as a maid," she chuckled. "There was a group of old guards here who loved your father. They helped us. We spent a whole week in the palace, staying in a different section every night."

Prithvi listened in wonder as his mother described the various near-misses that had made the adventure even more fun, unaware of the adorably childlike interest and delight on his handsome face.

He couldn't connect remotely to the stunningly different images of his parents that the story was painting. Yet, the tale was interesting and touching, and he wanted to keep listening to his mother's narration. He had to tell her about Rajeshwari, and that he had asked Sumer Singh to get in touch with Jiva and bring him back. But not yet. It would ruin her mood, and he felt a selfish longing to see his mother in this carefree frame of mind for a while longer.

After she'd finished describing the amusing events of that adventurous week, Priyamvada halted and turned to face her son with an abruptly sombre and tender gaze. "That week was a turning point in our lives."

"Why?" Prithvi asked, puzzled.

Priyamvada touched her son's face adoringly. "Why...because around nine months later, you were in my arms," she smiled.

Knocked for a six, Prithvi stared at his mother mutely, then sombrely said, "Maa, will you promise me something?"

"Of course, what is it?" Priyamvada asked bemusedly.

"Please don't share any more details of that week with me," Prithvi requested earnestly with an imperceptible shudder.

Priyamvada laughed again. Although he had a few traits and relationships that needed to be eliminated, her son was precious...so precious...

Prithvi glanced around to see Sumer Singh hurrying to them.

"What's wrong, Baba?" Prithvi asked tensely, thinking of Indrajit.

"Nothing at all," Sumer Singh said hastily. Then he diffidently said, "I apologise for the disturbance, My Lord...Your Highness. The team from Nebula 90 called me just now, My Lord. They had a top-level meeting yesterday and they want to prepone the launch. So they were wondering if you could complete the assignment by tomorrow evening. They know the original deadline is nine days away...and they're not making any demands. They asked me to specifically tell you that it's just a request," he added ruefully.

"Wise of them," Prithvi said irately. He could easily meet the new deadline but the change in the company's plans couldn't have come at a worse time for him. It was true that he hadn't allowed any personal issues or commitments to come in the way of work till date. Then again, he'd not had to tackle such a chaotic situation in his life so far...

Priyamvada noticed her son's conflict and firmly said, "Prithvi, you should focus on the assignment and complete it on time. Work should come first. Always."

Prithvi regarded his mother undecidedly. Her lack of surprise showed that she had taken the trouble to learn about the work aspect of his life too. And he was incredibly touched by that. But...for a variety of reasons...he wasn't comfortable with the idea of her being alone.

"I'll have to work for 3-4 hours before and after lunch," he alerted her guardedly. "Are you sure that would be okay with you, Maa?"

"Yes, I'm certain," Priyamvada insisted. Adityraj had given utmost importance to work and responsibilities. It was gratifying to see their son following in his footsteps. She naturally couldn't allow him to continue to work for a living for long. But till she'd wrenched control over her father's riches and given it to her son, she wouldn't interfere in his professional life.

Not convinced but aware that he wouldn't be comfortable till he'd completed the project, Prithvi reluctantly said, "Okay, I'll take you to your room first. But I don't want you to be alone when I'm working. Sumer Baba, please arrange for someone to be with her. Choti maa has a headache, so she'll resting in her room today. I don't want anyone to disturb her," he told Sumer Singh pointedly.

"Kadambari has a headache?" Priyamvada asked her son doubtfully.

Prithvi nodded seriously. "The same kind that Nandini had yesterday."

Hushed by the reply, Priyamvada smiled feebly.

**********************

Priyamvada strolled alone towards her destination, finalising her tactics carefully.

To begin repairing the flaws in her son, she had to first cut the links between him and Nandini and send the girl packing. Furthermore, she needed to get into the ordinary flow of life with her son and step-son....and eventually, her father. Nandini was a discordant element in the whole set-up...

She had gotten rid of the maids whom Sumer Singh had recruited for keeping her company. It was just a precautionary measure. She could make Nandini leave without any unpleasantness on either side. It would actually be an enjoyable challenge.

Priyamvada heard her husband's voice from the past, wryly saying, "You can convince a person that they ought to thank you for feeding them poison."

She chuckled quietly

***************************

As she strolled into the rustic garden, Priyamvada stared derisively at the slender figure standing in front of the tulsi enclosure. She wasn't surprised to find the girl praying to the inanimate plant. It had been clear from Nandini's demeanour that she came from an uneducated, superstitious class of society.

Priyamvada stopped at a distance and cleared her throat faintly. But the girl continued to pray with a ridiculous concentration, while the object of her devotion waved feebly in the breeze. Annoyed at the disrespect, Priyamvada sharply called out the pathetically common name.

Starting with shock, Nandini spun around and very nearly winced. She hadn't realised until then how earnestly she'd wanted to avoid meeting the woman standing a few feet away....

Attempting to smile, Nandini hastened towards Priyamvada.

"Good morning, aunty," she wished politely when she was closer, but her hopeful eyes searched for someone else.

"I'm afraid your search is futile," Priyamvada said with excessive pleasantness. "Prithvi had to deal with some work. I didn't want to stay in my room and thought of strolling through the palace for a while. Would you like to join me?"

Nandini couldn't conceal her dismay at the idea. She didn't want to spend time with Priyamvada alone, forget wander with her through the ginormous palace. But she couldn't let Priyamvada go on a walk by herself. Asking herself to be strong, Nandini unconsciously raised her head and straightened her back. She had to do this for Prithvi.

"I would be happy to," she lied.

Priyamvada smiled. "Wonderful. Come along."

Nandini unhappily fell into step with Priyamvada, and both the women began walking to the steps that led to the corridor.

What work had occupied Prithvi, Nandini wondered. What had happened in Indrajit's suite? Priyamvada seemed to be in a cheerful mood. Was it possible that maybe...just maybe...something good had happened...

"You're very important to my son, Nandini," Priyamvada smiled. "So, I wish to know a little more about you."

A reddish shade – caused by equal amounts of embarrassment and happiness and confusion - flooded Nandini's skin. She looked down at the floor and tried to concentrate on what information she ought to give regarding herself. Priyamvada did not know that she was the daughter of Siddharth Bharadwaj. What was the best way to bring that up smoothly and gracefully...

"Please tell me about your family," Priyamvada said civilly. "Where do they live? What does your father do?"

An icy knot materialised in Nandini's chest. "My father's not -

"Oh I am very sorry to hear that," Priyamvada said kindly. "Did it happen long ago or recently?"

"About eight years ago," Nandini muttered, silently begging the older woman to stop discussing the painful subject.

"You must have been a child then," Priyamvada sympathised, keenly observing the increasing pallor on the girl's face. "And he must have been quite young. How did he die? Illness? Or was it an accident?"

Nandini remained silent this time. She was not ready to discuss the worst chapter of her life. There were horrendous memories that were buried deep in her soul, and they would remain in that state for the rest of her life.

Priyamvada didn't feel offended by the lack of response. The girl had obviously not recovered from her father's demise. And how could she pass judgement on a person's mental strength when she had not recovered from a death that had happened 20 years ago, Priyamvada thought wearily. It would be easy to cause Nandini to melt down into a weeping mess with two more loaded questions, but an unanticipated stab of compassion dissuaded her.

Partly absorbed in troubling thoughts, Priyamvada absently asked, "So does your family have a business?"

Overcome with relief at the change in topic, Nandini unthinkingly said, "No, aunty. My grandfather takes care of our family temple in Shamli and my mother is a nursery school teacher."

She was instantly appalled at the blunder. How could she have divulged major nuggets of the truth so suddenly.

Her distress levels escalated when she saw Priyamvada's reaction.

The older woman had halted all of a sudden and was staring straight ahead with a frightening stillness.

The unexpected mention of Shamli, and her family must have triggered painful memories.

Furious with herself and petrified of the consequences of her slip-up, Nandini watched Priyamvada fearfully.

"Au - aunty, are you okay?" she asked worriedly.

"What is your full name?" Priyamvada asked calmly, focussing on the shadow of the pillars on the opposite wall.

Nandini swallowed hard. Concealing her name wouldn't serve any purpose now.

"Nandini Bharadwaj," she said feebly.

An image zoomed up in front of Priyamvada's eyes.

A tiny, chubby-cheeked girl in a cute yellow frock...neatly combed hair and a delightfully sunny smile...holding up a posey of small flowers and weeds with her small hands, chirpily calling out to her. "Piyamaa..."

That couldn't be right, Priyamvada thought uncomprehendingly. There would be millions of families with that cursed name in the country, and some of them could be residents of that wretched town. And among those, there could be two families that had their own temples. This wasn't a fictitious story after all. Fate couldn't be so twisted as to entwine threads that shouldn't even be placed alongside each other. One more question would put her doubts to rest.

She turned to face the girl fully.

Nandini retreated unconsciously. The barrenness in Priyamvada's gaze chilled her to the bone. Protective prayers that she'd been taught as child began playing in her ears. The extreme reaction would have made her laugh...if fear had not paralysed her face.

"Tell me your father's name," Priyamvada asked expressionlessly.

Nandini's voice quivered as she replied. "Siddharth Bharad -"

The brutal force of the backhanded slap knocked her down sideways and her body hit the ground with a thud. Her arms moved instinctively to break the force of the fall and a vicious pain streaked up her right hand for the second time in two days.

Priyamvada icily said, "Get up."

There was a loud ringing in Nandini's ears. She heard Priyamvada's voice but couldn't understand the words. She couldn't move either. The metallic taste of blood was in her mouth.

"Get up right now, you *****," Priyamvada hissed, and watched remorselessly as the quaking girl struggled gauchely to rise to her feet

Nandini felt something trickle down the side of her mouth. She touched the liquid dazedly and then looked at the blood on her fingers. Her stupefied gaze moved to Priyamvada. The vitriolic hatred in the middle-aged woman's eyes was nearly animalistic.

"You have half an hour to leave this palace," Priyamvada informed her ruthlessly. "Go back to Shamli. If you come near my son or me again, I will burn you alive....in front of your family. And then I'll do the same thing to each one of them."

It was the threat against her family that managed to shatter the tight hold of disbelief over Nandini. The realisation of what had happened finally started to penetrate her mind, and she knew without doubt that Priyamvada was not trying to frighten her. The woman wanted to destroy her family...

Physical pain dimmed into insignificance as a boundless terror erupted in her heart. Suddenly, she couldn't think of anything beyond going to Shamli and protecting her family.

"If you don't go to your room and start packing right now, I'll start with your family first," Priyamvada stated harshly.

Nandini's face turned white. She turned and ran up the two steps and rushed to her room.

Each step caused a small jolt of pain in many parts of her body but she didn't stop till she was in the bedroom.

Her hands wouldn't stop quaking as she gathered her few belongings. More maddeningly, she had to pause every few seconds because her mind kept going blank. But as she hadn't really unpacked since last night, it didn't take her more than five minutes to gather her belongings and put them into her bag.

Then she hurried back to the living room while trying to decide what to do next. Half an hour...she had half an hour to leave...

She had to tell –

Nandini halted abruptly.

She couldn't go to Prithvi. She couldn't go in front of him. She would have to leave without letting him know

The first source of help and comfort that had occurred instinctively to her was the one person whom she couldn't meet in this condition.....Or ever again...

Strength left her body. Vision blurring as tears formed and poured out of her eyes, Nandini reached blindly for the wall and leaned against it numbly. But her legs gave away and she sank to the floor.

Her brain was screaming at her to obey Priyamvada. But the shattering implications of the horrifying incident in the garden were tearing her into shreds.

The first cry of pain was torn from her throat by a searing anguish that refused to be contained. And it opened the gates for sobs that grew in intensity until she was crying with the helpless abandon of a child, her entire body convulsing pitiably.

***********************

Priyamvada remained unmoving in the same spot, her limbs shaking with fury.

Every big and small confusion she'd had about the girl had vanished. The coincidences were not unbelievable anymore...

She wanted to end Nandini's life. But the bitter fury had been unleashed inside her wouldn't abate till she had eliminated the entire Bharadwaj clan. They were responsible for everything that had gone wrong with her life. They and that damned shrine of theirs.

As minutes passed, however, the emotions on her face began to change slowly. Venomous musings were gradually supplanted by a single, stomach-turning realisation.

She had hit a member of the Bharadwaj family.

Her hands began shivering again...but this time, the cause was not anger.

*******************************

Nandini didn't hear the door open but the sound of her name made her look up with a shuddering gasp.

Horrified on seeing Priyamvada in the doorway, she cringed tearfully against the wall instinctively and folded trembling hands in a pleading gesture. "I'll go...I'm sorry - I'll go back – please don't hurt my family," she wept.

Priyamvada's dread increased as she gazed at Nandini. The girl's face was ashen, and it was disfigured by the bloodstained mouth and the large red mark on her left cheek.

She closed the door and hurried to the devastated figure on the floor.

Nandini froze with terror as Priyamvada approached her.

"I'm sorry, Nandini. Please forgive me," Priyamvada mumbled repentantly. "I shouldn't have raised my hand on you. You mustn't be angry with me. I didn't mean anything when – I just got upset when I heard those names and - " Priyamvada took a shivering breath, and then beseechingly said, "Please don't tell anyone that I hit you. And ...please...please don't hate me."

Disoriented to the extent of suspecting her own sanity, Nandini stared mutely at Priyamvada as the latter hastened to the side and knelt near her. She flinched as Priyamvada raised a hand, but the older woman simply used a handkerchief to wipe the tears and blood from her face.

Then she clasped Nandini's arm and gently prompted her to rise and sit on the closest chair.

"Did you get hurt when you fell?" Priyamvada asked distractedly. "I think a doctor should check you anyway. I'll return in a few minutes."

Nandini stared fearfully at Priyamvada till the door closed.

She wanted to call up her family and ask them to be careful. She wanted to run into the safety of Prithvi's arms and cry. But she didn't do either of things.

Nandini only sat stock-still till the tears couldn't be held back anymore...

**********************