On hearing murmurs, Prithvi absently glanced to his left. At some distance away, Sumer Singh was speaking to the two guards with whom he'd just conversed about the snake.

Prithvi looked at the glass in his hand.

It was empty now but his fingers were reluctant to put it down. Sighing, he placed it back in its original spot, and waited for Sumer Singh to come to the table.

He knew what the older man wanted to discuss, and he could predict the reaction to what he was about to tell him. No one in the family would be able to handle it easily. And among the lot, Indrajit would be the most upset...

Prithvi looked up at Sumer Singh as the latter approached him.

"You're back very soon," he commented casually.

"Disha had come to the door by the time we reached the front of the house," Sumer Singh explained. "I asked her to take Nandini to the princess and look after her well."

Prithvi nodded. He wanted to ask Sumer Singh if he was okay, but he wasn't feeling settled enough himself to ask that question.

Sumer Singh uneasily asked, "Prithvi, why did the queen change her mind? What do you think is the reason?" The experiences of the last few years had removed the need for any preamble before raising such topics.

"She didn't sound great when I spoke to her in the morning," Prithvi said evenly. "I have a feeling her....old problem is planning a comeback."

Sumer Singh looked at him in shock. He knew precisely which problem Prithvi was talking about, and he couldn't believe it. He had thought of some dreadful reasons for the queen's decision but this wasn't one of them. And yet, it made sense. Uncharacteristic behaviour had been a tell-tale sign of the approaching footsteps of the mysterious mental illness that had beset Priyamvada years ago.

But it had been cured...the doctors had said so...

Sumer Singh urgently asked, "Are you sure?"

"Not really, it is just a feeling," Prithvi lied, not wishing to frighten him further. "I could be completely wrong."

Sumer Singh continued to look at him worriedly. Although a battalion of doctors and nurses had been available to look after Priyamvada during difficult times, only Prithvi had been able to get through to her when she was in the grasp of that baffling mental illness, and he had always been able to sense when Priyamvada's mind was going to slide into those strange, disturbing phases, Sumer Singh recalled apprehensively. But he couldn't tolerate to think of the issue recurring. Prithvi had gone through - and was going through - more than enough emotional problems. This would be too much to handle for the poor lad...

"But...it hasn't happened for a long time," Sumer Singh said cautiously, trying to persuade himself more than Prithvi. "And the last doctor had said it wasn't going to happen again, hadn't he? I remember him saying that..."

Prithvi looked at Sumer Singh with concealed compassion as the latter spoke at length about the doctor who had bravely pretended that he had understood the illness.

He always preferred to listen to the truth than to a comfortable lie. But he knew that wasn't the case with most people, and over the years, he'd learned to understand and be more patient towards other people's need to look away from frightening realities to protect their equilibrium.

Everyone in the family, including Sumer Singh, knew that none of the doctors had been able to understand anything about this sickness. When it had started, the best doctors in the field of mental health had been consulted. Each one of them had arrived with complete confidence, and had left with bewildered and defeated faces. Medication and therapy had proved useless. None of them had been able to understand anything about this particular illness that tormented his mother. Not one of them had been able to decipher what factors triggered it or what factors determined how long it might last or how deeply it would impact his mother while it lasted or what could lessen its impact or what made it disappear on its own after a period of days or weeks.

So there wasn't anything anyone could do to help. And if his instinct was correct, everyone was going to be stressed out in some time anyway. He had to be more serious and insistent while speaking with Haimavati because she needed to be on her guard and keep a watch on his mother. But the others didn't have to be put under unnecessary tension for now.

When Sumer Singh paused and looked at him with traces of hope, Prithvi seriously said, "Yes, I remember him saying all that...and it's possible I'm overanalysing things."

However, Sumer Singh regarded him with a sudden resignation and unhappiness. "You don't overanalyse," he said heavily. Then he abruptly asked, "How long do you think we have until it becomes serious again?"

Prithvi hesitated, then said, "A few days maybe, but you know it's hard to predict."

Sumer Singh nodded glumly. There was no established pattern that they could depend on. Everything about the illness was wholly unpredictable. The only unchanging and most distressing part of it was how hard those days were on Prithvi...and this time there was the added horror of Priyamvada being in Devgarh.

"What should we do?" Sumer Singh asked agitatedly.

"Nothing. We can only wait and watch as of now" Prithvi replied steadily.

"But Prithvi...if she falls ill in Devgarh..." Sumer Singh said falteringly.

Prithvi's face tautened for a moment, then he flatly said, "Then I'll have to go there."

"But Prithvi -"

"I can't avoid it forever, Baba," Prithvi said calmingly. "If it has to be done, it has to be done. That's all there is to it."

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

Nandini opened her eyes briefly to scan the room and then shut them again. The room was very silent, but her senses were on high alert for any noises that could indicate that someone was coming to the room or approaching her. There were many people in the house who could walk into the living room at any time, and she didn't want to be seen lounging on the sofa like this.

But despite being very conscious of the time and space, she couldn't bring herself to snap out of this stupor caused by emotional exhaustion.

Her brief interaction with Sumer Singh had been overwhelming and short. She wouldn't feel comfortable until she had a real conversation with him, and she was ready to hear whatever he wanted to say.

There was no hope of getting back the beautiful bond they had shared long ago, but if only it would be possible to recover even a fraction of that wonderful relationship...

However, before talking about anything else, she needed to find out about Prithvi's accident.

With her fingers interlocked tightly in her lap, Nandini opened her eyes and sat up straighter, forehead crinkling in uneasiness.

She wanted to know what had happened back then. And she also wanted to know why he had looked concerned today. Even with all the changes that had happened in him, she didn't believe he had acquired the tendency to worry unnecessarily about trivial things. If he was worried, something was seriously wrong.

What was troubling him? Could she ask Sumer Singh about this too?

Nandini bit the inside of her lower lip. She could ask...but it was unlikely that he would give her any answers. He'd been protective and secretive about Prithvi's life even when things were fine. Why should he tell her anything now...

Distressed, she rose from the sofa and started to pace aimlessly in the room, but halted after some moments.

She couldn't do much but hope until she got a chance to speak to Sumer Singh again. And in the meantime, Disha was waiting somewhere for her to finish having this pointless internal chat with herself.

Nandini took her phone and typed out a message, saying they could go to Rajeshwari's room now.

She was just about to send the message when she heard the sounds of someone's footsteps. She glanced towards the stairway that was on the left side of the room and saw a girl descending the steps while staring at her phone.

The colour on Nandini's face faded. It was much warmer in the room than it was outside, but now it felt as though ice had entered her bloodstream.

She turned quickly and walked back to the spot that she had occupied until minutes ago and pretended to go through her bag to get a moment to calm herself. It was the more dignified alternative to picking it up and scooting out of the house. She had not seen the face properly yet but she knew it was the same person whom she had dreaded seeing since yesterday.

Why had she come to this wretched house knowing that this encounter was bound to happen....

She didn't want to find out the truth. She was not ready for it.

"Hello," a friendly voice.

Panic erupted in Nandini's chest and she felt very queasy. But then she found herself turning with an outward calm and she was now facing a girl who looked like the winner of a beauty pageant, very sophisticated and classy, clad in a beautiful dress of light pink and a grey stole wrapped around her.

"You must be Nandini," Grishma said with a smile.

She had felt an astonishment and a sharp discomfort when the girl had turned. Then she mentally laughed at her own arrogance. She was used to being the most beautiful face in the room, and it had clearly gone to her head. A blow to the ego was good every now and then.

Nandini nodded while hoping that her smile didn't look like a pained grimace, which was what it felt like on the inside

The other girl graciously held out a hand. "I'm Grishma. I'd come to the temple yesterday with Yamini to meet you and Mrs. Garewal, and I'd seen you there, but I had to go back to the car before meeting you. I recognised you by your hair actually," she said with a small laugh. "It's beautiful."

"Thank you," Nandini replied politely, shaking hands with the other girl while trying to keep down nausea.

"It's really nice to meet you," Grishma said amiably. "Come...let's sit down. I was sorry I couldn't meet you and Mrs Garewal yesterday. So, I was very glad to know all of you would be having lunch with us today. But why were you here all alone?"

"Sumer uncle had asked Disha to take me to Rajeshwari's room," Nandini answered, sitting down at some distance from Grishma. "But I asked Disha to give me a few minutes...to make a call," she added awkwardly.

Grishma hid her amusement at the die-hard Indian habit of adding 'uncle' or 'aunty' to the names of people considered to be elderly. But her curiosity that had sprouted while listening to Uday Singh had grown wildly now.

How was it that a girl from a poor, insignificant family in some obscure town had become close to Rajeshwari, Uday Singh and Sumer Singh. How had that happened? There was a mystery here for sure. And if Nandini knew these people, it was almost understood that she would know Prithvi as well...and Prithvi wouldn't have invited her if he wasn't well acquainted with her, Grishma mulled with a spike of uneasiness, but then she hurriedly tried to quash unpleasant thoughts.

The mystery about Nandini would be solved eventually. It was important for now that she be a gracious hostess towards Nandini, who was a guest of the Rathore family today...a kind of preparation for the future, Grishma thought with intense pleasure.

"Has anyone offered you anything to eat or drink after you've come here?" she asked Nandini solicitously.

"They did, but I only wanted water," Nandini muttered.

"That's not acceptable," Grishma said firmly. "You should be having something hot to drink, especially in this weather."

Striving not to sound frustrated, Nandini said, "I should be going to meet Rajeshwari now. I'll just send this message to Disha and -"

"You don't have a choice. You must at least have a cup of coffee before going to meet Rajeshwari," Grishma announced, "Or do you prefer tea?"

Nandini wavered momentarily, then tiredly said, "Tea,"

Grishma got up and walked a few steps to the corner of room where there was a small brass gong on a short table. She picked up the small metal stick on the table and struck the gong.

As if summoned by magic, a man hurried into the room. Taking her seat again, Grishma gave him some orders, and he left.

Then Grishma turned to Nandini and began to warmly ask about the Garewals and their journey from Shamli and their vacation plans.

Embroiled in a harrowing conflict in her heart, Nandini was only dimly conscious of her replies. She was responding like a machine that had been programmed to give courteous, intelligent replies.

She was a terrible human being. First, she had let the darkest jealousy burn her up for the flimsiest reasons, and now, even though Grishma was being so kind and nice towards her, she was unable to feel anything apart from a feral, violent anger. It wasn't only because her incensed mind was repeatedly reliving those horrible moments in the market, and making her remember that coy laugh that no woman would have found difficult to interpret.

No, it wasn't only that.

Somehow, the feeling of outrage was escalating with every word spoken by the other girl. Something about this whole scenario was hitting her too badly, and she wasn't able to analyse what it was. In fact, her ability to sit calmly and have a conversation right now was probably was an indication that she had the makings of a criminal psychopath.

"...It will be fun to see Rajeshwari's reaction on meeting you. She is such a sweet person," Grishma was prattling on gaily. "We became friends soon after meeting each other. After Prithvi, she's the one I'm closest to in the family. She's so naïve and looks so young.... When I initially met the family, I refused to believe she was older than Prithvi and me. I still find it difficult to believe it."

Nandini smiled vaguely and looked away. Her rage was surging to a point when it seemed possible that she would spontaneously combust right here and now. She needed to get away from Grishma for a few minutes at least to bring her temper under control again.

"I need to use the restroom," she told Grishma. "Could you tell me where it is?"

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

Nandini closed the door of the spacious and sparkling bathroom, and leaned against it. She stared at the sparkling white floor while her breaths started to become deeper and harsher.

She'd finally understood what was worsening her mood while Grishma was talking.

It was that Prithvi's precious friend was behaving like the woman of the house, Nandini thought with a stomach-turning clarity. The charming hostess who was fussing over the guest who had arrived in her abode.

And stray words and phrases that Grishma had used were shrieking in her ears...

As were words she'd heard from Prithvi some time ago.

Nandini's heart sank into the pit of her stomach.

Whatever he had said about the situation between them was true for him, but not for her. There was no hope that she was going to come to her senses and get back to her usual life. And there would never be anyone but him for her. But based on what he said, there could very well be someone in his 'real' life, the one in which he was not at the mercy of the same kind of emotions that she was.

Eyes squeezed shut, Nandini roughly pressed the back of her cold hand against her mouth. She didn't know if it was to stifle a cry of pain or a wrathful scream.

She had told herself some impressively mature things since yesterday about facing the likelihood of there being someone new in Prithvi's life. And now here she was. Utterly shaken by the insane strength of unbearable jealousy.

Five years ago, she'd often felt wretchedly insecure because he'd rarely shown what she meant to him. But what had seemed to be extreme jealousy back then appeared positively funny and silly compared to what she was feeling right now...

And that could be attributed to the fact that she hadn't ever doubted him seriously at that time or believed that he would allow another woman into his heart. Probably because of his general behaviour back then. He had barely tolerated other human beings, let alone be friendly with them. His blunt and insolent attitude had impartially been extended to women too, and moreover, she had hardly ever seen him talk to other girls unless he needed to.

Whatever the reason was...somewhere within her there had been a powerful security that there was no space for any other woman in his life.

However, the situation was very different now. In five years, he had apparently become the most kind, friendly and sociable person who not only formed very intimate friendships with women but was also perfectly fine with staying with them and roaming around with them and distributing his clothes to them.

Nandini glanced at the large, shiny mirror for the first time after stepping into the washroom. An enraged woman with a cold, ferocious gaze was staring at her.

Until she had stepped into this house, she might have said that only one thing could probably help her successfully fight against the forceful pull of emotions that repeatedly dragged her to him - the discovery that someone else had taken her place in his life.

But she couldn't say that anymore. She was afraid that the sole result of such a discovery would be that she would butcher him in cold blood...

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

As Grishma walked back to the living room after guiding Nandini to the restroom, her mind automatically began assessing the latter's looks.

Nandini was about an inch taller than her, so maybe around five feet four inches. Her skin looked immaculate even though she was clearly not wearing any makeup, and her hair was beautiful. Her eyes were her most prominent and nicest feature. Large eyes with very long lashes. The nose was also fine. The girl was certainly very pretty, and the first impression was that of a rare perfection, but that wasn't true.

The cheekbones weren't high and prominent, and the cheeks had a slight roundness that wasn't very fashionable. The shape of her lips was okay, but they seemed to be too proportionate. Her figure was average. Nothing sensational.

Grishma opened the camera on her phone in selfie mode and looked at herself thoughtfully.

Her nose was sharper. She had high and prominent cheekbones and her cheeks had a fashionable hollowness. Her jawline was more defined. Her eyes were of normal size, but she could make them look bigger with makeup. Her lower lip was much fuller than the upper lip, but she'd been told time and again that it was one of her sexiest attributes. And her figure was fabulous.

Satisfied, Grishma shut the camera. Then she frowned on seeing Inder walk towards her.

"Do you know where the prince is?" Inder asked her snootily.

Grishma seethed at the tone but she had to watch her manners since Inder was a favourite of the queen.

"No, I don't," she answered flatly.

Inder frowned at her and then at the phone in his hand that had begun ringing loudly. Muttering under his breath, he walked out of the house.

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

When Nandini returned to the living room, it was to find that a cup of tea and a plate of cookies had been placed on a table that was kept close to where she had been sitting.

She had not wanted tea, but now the sight of the steam rising up from the liquid appeared almost heavenly to her.

After pushing herself to give Grishma a fleeting, half-hearted smile, Nandini sat down and picked up the cup eagerly.

"If you don't mind, can I ask you a question?" Grishma asked tentatively.

Keeping her attention on the piping hot tea, Nandini muttered between sips, "Sure, please ask..."

"I'm sorry if I'm being too nosy, but I was wondering - how did you become friends with Rajeshwari? And with our thakur too. He is also very keen on meeting you again. And you seem to know Sumer Singh too," Grishma mused interestedly

Nandini fought to concentrate on the spurt of joy and warmth she felt on hearing about Uday Singh's eagerness to meet her, and not on the furious, spiteful voice in her head that wanted to ask Grishma with whom exactly she was clubbing herself with while referring to Uday Singh as "our" thakur.

"I'd met Rajeshwari some years ago in Shamli," Nandini replied civilly. "And she was kind enough to remember me when I ran into her again some weeks ago. And we kept in touch after that."

Grishma felt surprised. That didn't seem to be a strong enough friendship for Prithvi to expect that Nandini's visit would make Rajeshwari very happy. Or was Nandini was being modest about her importance to Rajeshwari?

She wanted to press on with questions about Nandini's connection with Uday Singh and Sumer Singh but Disha was walking towards them now.

Nandini felt greatly relieved in one moment, and very guilty in the next.

"Disha, I'm so sorry for making you wait," she apologised hastily, putting down the cup and standing up.

"It was not an issue at all," Disha assured, and then looked at both of them apologetically. "I'm sorry for intruding, but I just learned that the princess is coming downstairs, so I thought I should let you know." She had left her junior in charge of the princess, with the same instructions that Prithvi had given her, and the girl had informed her a minute ago that Rajeshwari had decided to spend some time in the lawns to soak in the sunlight.

"Wonderful," Nandini said weakly, trying to seem happy and excited. The one chance she had of escaping this room had been snatched away. But on the positive side, she could now concentrate on Rajeshwari and try to ignore the swirling anger and aggression within her...

"Where is Prithvi?" Grishma asked no one in particular while standing up and looking around. "He should be here to see Rajeshwari's reaction. I hope he hasn't left already for his trip," she said with a sudden alarm.

"He's not going," Nandini said unthinkingly while picking up the cup to drink the rest of the hot beverage.

As she was keeping down the beautiful cup, she realised both Grishma and Disha were looking at her, and the former's gaze was a little too sharp.

It should have given her a vicious delight. However, it only made her angrier, and she didn't want to give any explanation to remove the awkwardness in the air. But being obstinate seemed like a very energy-consuming thing to do at this moment, and she suddenly didn't have the strength for it. A numbness was increasing deep within her, as if to help her escape from the ugliness of her emotions right now.

Nandini casually said, "Sumer uncle told me".

Grishma's face cleared and she smiled happily. "That's great! I mean...that he'll be here for lunch with all of you." She looked at Disha and asked, "Any idea where Mr. Singh and Prithvi are right now?"

"I think they're sitting outside, Ma'am, but I'm not sure," Disha ventured uncertainly. Then she glanced towards the stairway and whispered, "She's here."

"I'll record Rajeshwari's reaction for Prithvi," Grishma whispered excitedly, whipping up her phone and moving to an angle from which she would be able to take a video.

Nandini looked towards the stairs and saw a diminutive figure coming down the steps, accompanied by a girl who was dressed like Disha.

She tried to fix the broadest smile on her face as Rajeshwari glanced towards the living room.

Rajeshwari froze in shock on seeing Nandini. Then a disbelieving joy spread on her face and she rushed ahead.

"Nandini!" she cried out in delight. "What are you doing here?"

The palpable joy on her face touched Nandini, and a genuine smile came to her lips as she walked forward and returned Rajeshwari's hug.

"Surprise!" Grishma laughed from the side-lines, drawing Rajeshwari's happy-plus-confused attention towards her. "This is your brother's surprise for you."

"Prithvi did this? Yes, of course he did," Rajeshwari laughed with great love in her voice. Then she looked at Nandini excitedly. "You've come to stay with us?"

Nandini shook her head, but it was Grishma who replied. "She's staying with the Garewals. They've come to a nearby place for a vacation, and Prithvi has invited them for lunch."

"Just for lunch?" Rajeshwari said with disappointment, but then her optimism returned. "You're here now. That's good enough for me," she told Nandini cheerfully, prompting her to the sofa.

As they sat down, Rajeshwari earnestly said, "I was missing you! I told Prithvi just today morning that I want to go to Shamli to meet you and he acted like he didn't know anything," she said with a chuckle.

Grishma keenly said, "We had met Nandini and the Garewals yesterday afternoon while returning to Taravan."

"You did? But why didn't anyone tell me about this," Rajeshwari protested.

"I didn't know she was your friend or I would have told you," Grishma said apologetically. "But then that would have spoilt this beautiful surprise for you." Rajeshwari was being unusually animated and talkative, Grishma noted. She normally behaved like this only when Prithvi was around. So, it did seem like Nandini was a good friend of Rajeshwari...

"That's true," Rajeshwari said, mollified. She looked at Nandini and warmly asked, "How is everyone at home? Your mother, grandfather, and Prakash? I miss them too."

Grishma looked from her to Nandini in astonishment. "You're friends with her family as well?"

"Yes, I had stayed with them for some days before coming here. They are the sweetest people ever," Rajeshwari gushed.

Grishma tried to look as though this was perfectly normal information. But her brain was scrambling to link the facts that she had learned so far. And far from becoming clearer, this particular mystery was becoming more convoluted by the minute ...

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