By evening Sanyukta's father and her relatives returned after finishing the day's business. The ladies spent the day going from one holy site to another before heading back to the mansion. As soon as they arrived Keshav was thoroughly questioned about Sanyukta's activities during the day and the  boy replied that he had hardly seen her about the rawala, he was told that she was resting in her private chamber to recover from her illness. Little did the boy know that she had been well enough to help cook a feast in the kitchen and had wisely avoided making an appearance because she knew her family would glean out the information from him in the evening. Sanyukta went over to spend some time with her aunts to reassure them that all was well with her. Based on what they observed and from Keshav's testimony a message was sent to Sanyukta's father that his daughter was safe and secure. 

Her father was busy planning his schedule for another business day to finish some important transactions in the town. Just then he received a visit from Samsher asking for his permission to let Sanyukta accompany his wife in her personal carriage for a visit to the shrine on the hill the next day.The Goddess was believed to be a benefactor for young brides-to-be and since Sanyukta was to be married soon she could benefit by keeping a Vrat the next day and offering a puja to the Goddess, under the guidance of Samsher's wife. The Baniya agreed to the unusual request under the condition that a security detail be assigned and that Keshav would accompany Sanyukta on the trip. The message was conveyed by Samsher to his wife and to Randhir, who set about planning for the trip. Sanyukta briskly helped prepare dinner for her family and made sure her aunts had a quick dinner. She could scarcely down a bite to eat, she was filled with excitement over the prospect of meeting Randhir in the night. 

She said goodnight to her aunts and headed off to the rawala, where Kaki sa was finishing her dinner alone as her husband and Randhir were being hosted by one of Samsher's Rajput wives. The two women got talking as they relaxed before calling it a day. Having grown comfortable with her Sanyukta decided to voice her curiosity about why Samsher and Randhir had accepted the responsibility of the security of the merchant caravan when both seemed well off, as it had become apparent to her from observing their lifestyle. She had seen the lavish manner in which Randhir had presented gifts to all the residents of the mansion. "My husband is comfortably well off but Randhir banna is the son of a very influential noble family which presides over a particularly important Thikana. Instead of following primogeniture wherein only the first-born son gets a lion's share of his father's inheritance, the Shekhawats divide their estate equally between all sons, which means the two brothers Parth and Randhir control a third each of their family fortune.

 Like all wealthy Rajputs both have sizable revenue from investments in land and property. This wealth needs to be protected from usurpers, because of which Rajputs became warriors. Each boy trains and apprentices in order to defend his property from aggressors. Randhir banna is an intern, after gaining experience and the goodwill of the rulers whose lands and revenue he worked hard to defend he can expect them to rally around him in future need. He will train vigorously to remain agile and fit to answer a battle call any time. This job is not his bread and butter, it is mere work experience to gain the goodwill of the Chandela Rajputs. Nor does my husband need this job, he has taken it up to mentor Randhir banna and also to monitor the security situation around the Chandela kingdom under orders from the ruler." She chatted on, giving Sanyukta more details about Randhir's life. 

Sanyukta tried to absorb the truth, whom she had thought to be a mere soldier in service of a king actually turned out to be an affluent scion of an important noble family. She wondered if she was playing the role of a mere distraction to him, a flavour of the season. Being able to guess her thoughts Kaki sa distracted her by ordering a hot perfumed bath for her to prepare her for bed, fully aware of the possibility of Randhir visiting the girl at night. Sanyukta changed into a simple comfortable outfit, looking as fresh as a daisy before she was led to her bed chamber. She stood at the window, lost in thought gazing at the moon in the sky when the door to her room opened noiselessly and was bolted shut by her visitor who had been eagerly looking forward to spending these moments with her. Noticing how distracted she was he approached her slowly so as not to startle her. 

"I am here to honour your request and to keep my word, so do not get any ideas." He told her, with a twinkle in his eye. She kept standing still instead of offering a brisk retort. "If you plan to meditate all night with the moon as your witness I better leave you alone." He turned to walk toward the door. "Is it true that  in a few months you will have to marry a chosen Rajput bride?" He halted, turning around just as she flung herself into his arms, warm tears streaming down her cheeks. "Just like in a few days you will marry a Vaishya boy chosen by your father." He told her softly, as he picked her up and put her down on the bed, lying down next to her. "Why are you doing this, you know that is inevitable. For some of us marriages are often strategic alliances between clans, they are political and obligatory in nature as per tradition. You know Samsher Singh had to marry Rajput wives apart from the woman he loved, besides he has a string of mistresses all over." He added. "So if I have to sleep with a string of men you would be okay with it?" She managed to mumble. Instead of answering he simply closed her mouth with his, deepening the kiss, it was the only way he knew to stop her from stressing over her own thoughts. 

She melted visibly and began responding eagerly. He continued his sweet assault till she no longer cared about her worries, he managed to distract her by adoring her delicate form without actually undressing her till she nodded off to sleep in his arms, even as he continued to contemplate over the short exchange of words between them. The mere thought of another man having access to her was revolting to him, he knew he could be accused of a double standard. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her and how it affected him when she mentioned having to sleep with other men. In his world a man had a right over every woman in his harem but the women could not dream of the same liberty, they would wait endlessly till the man decided to grace them with his company, sometimes merely to impregnate them, and then to continue to frolic with his chosen favourites, neglecting the others. He wondered how it would be to have just Sanyukta for his sole wife, and to bear his children. Unable to resolve the logjam in his head he simply drifted off to sleep, he had to rise early and return to his own room to keep his night rendezvous with her a secret.