Before she could touch the little pouch, there was a customary knock on the door and Madhumita burst in along with the midwife, nurse and her baby. The door was open? Oh! He must have left after she slept off and could only shut it from outside. “Oh Chanda. I have been dying to show him to you. Maharaj has already seen him and he is delighted. You must see him now before anyone else does.”

Oh Lord! What was she doing? She had forgotten all about her sister and the big day. How could she think of committing suicide on this day, which was so important to Madhu? And to him because he had gotten an heir? How could she have brought gloom on the family on such an auspicious day? Her penitence must wait for a few days, at least.

She thanked her stars that fate had intervened in just the right time. Tears formed in her eyes and she extended her arms to hold her nephew. The nurse obliged her. She planted several kisses on baby’s face. So much that it started crying. Everyone laughed at that. “Aunt is far too happy. She will smother him,” the midwife teased her. Embarrassed, Chandrika returned the baby to the nurse who tried to soothe it down. Chandrika turned to her sister to congratulate her and found her gaze fixed on the armchair on which she had been sitting. Chandrika was tongue-tied. Madhumita silently lifted her sister’s hands to check for rings and her suspicion was confirmed.  Without any hint of panic or anger in her voice, she told the nurse to take the baby to the nursery, where she would join them in a while. “You can start preparation for bathing him,” she said and dismissed both the nurse and midwife.

Under her sister’s penetrating gaze, Chandrika could not hide anything. “Maharaj was here last night, Madhu. I don’t know what to say in my defense…” she sobbed.

“Chanda. The first thing you must understand,” Madhu said as she fitted the stone back in the ring, “Is that this ring is for embracing a graceful death. If you die now, it won’t be graceful. It would be a death of shame.” She put the ring back on her finger.

“There can no longer be anything graceful about either my life, or my death now, Madhu. I have betrayed my own sister.”

“Oh sweetheart. I don’t deny that sometimes life may pose impossible questions before us. But this is as solvable a problem as there ever was. He will marry you, and everything will be all right.”

“No!!” she sobbed even harder.

“If he came here at night, Chanda, it was because he loves you. And don’t try to deny that you have feelings for him as well. Tell me, did he force you?”

“I wish I could say that, Madhu. But I am myself to blame…”

“Then stop blaming and start preparing for your wedding. I am going to talk to him right away.”

“Madhu…”

“My sister. I know what you are worried about. That you will become my rival. But listen to me very carefully.  I cannot avoid a rival all my life. I may give him ten heirs, but that will not guarantee me his unwavering affection. And if he has to have this affection for someone else, am I not better off when it is for my own sister, who is so devoted to me, rather than for some unknown woman who might actually wish me and my children evil?”

The logic was not satisfactory for Chandrika. But what did make an impression on her was the question of disgrace that her sister had brought up. If she didn’t marry him, she will live and die in disgrace. That cannot be acceptable for anyone. She had to resign to what Madhu wanted.

—

“Swami,” Madhumita addressed her husband when he came to her room, “The conversation I am about to have might seem inappropriate, but I hope you will excuse me. Given that it involves my sister, whom I have brought up like a daughter, I had to know.”

Bhumimitra stopped in her tracks and looked at her quizzically.

“I am given to understand that the reason for your delight today is not just your son, but also conquering your love,” she added.

He wondered if she was being sarcastic and searched her face for signs. But there was only good-natured smile on it. He nodded slightly in response.

“You must marry her at the earliest.”

“You don’t have to coerce me to do that, Madhu. I only need her consent, which I have been unable to get till now.”

“You have it now.”

“Really?”

“You can thank me for it.”

A barely perceptible smile formed on his lips.

“If I have your permission, I’d call the astrologer to fix the dates and inform my father.”

He just nodded and made to leave. He turned at the door and asked her, “Are you angry with me?”

“No. I am very happy for my sister. Nothing better could have happened to her.”

—

Bhumimitra didn’t find her in the courtyard at the appointed time of their sword-fighting practice.

“I will check for her,” Madhumita said and went to her room herself, instead of sending a maid. She came back grinning after a while. “She wouldn’t see you until the wedding.”

“What? Why?” he was annoyed.

“Well… Maharaj. Most brides don’t see their grooms until the wedding. You too have to grant her that privacy.”

He groaned and went back to his room looking surly. This woman just knew how to drive him mad. But he would also accept the challenge. He would meet her come what may.

He ignored bulk of court work over next two days to keep an eye on her routine. Finally he caught her in the garden in the afternoon.

—

To be continued