The royal courtyard of Junagadh Palace was bathed in the soft, golden morning sunlight. Stepping out from behind the silk curtains of the palanquin, Princess Prabhasa stood with a calm and refined grace. Beside her stood the newly appointed Prime Minister of Rupnagar, Rupanjan. Realizing the weight of the Prime Minister's solemn and wise words, King Aditya and Queen Arohi nodded in deep agreement.
Looking at Rupanjan with boundless maternal affection, Arohi said in a gentle voice, "You are right, Rupanjan. This sacred truth—that your marriage has been fixed with Prabhasa—must not reach the ears of Snigdha or Jishnu just yet. If they find out, they might burn with jealousy and scheme to cause some hideous catastrophe. However, a thought comes to my mind... listen, Rupanjan, we must first see through Snigdha's marriage with that wretched Jishnu! Let their wedding take place with great pomp first, and after that, we shall solemnize your wedding at an even grander, auspicious hour. Otherwise, seeing news of your wedding or your ceremony take place first, Snigdha might grow manic with envy and create absolute chaos to break your auspicious union! Once Snigdha is married to Jishnu, even if she wants to, she won't be able to cause you any harm or disruption."
Rupanjan offered a tranquil, subtle smile in appreciation of Queen Arohi's far-sighted wisdom. In a humble voice, he said, "Yes, Mother, you have spoken absolute truth! Your decision is immensely logical. Getting Snigdha and Jishnu married first is the safest course from every angle. They will remain occupied with their own preparations, and in that opportunity, we can also ensure Prabha's safety. I hold your foresight in the highest regard."
After finishing their conversation, Prime Minister Rupanjan touched the feet of King Aditya and Queen Arohi to seek their blessings with profound devotion. Aditya placed a hand on his head with deep affection, offering his best wishes. Rupanjan then took the reins of his royal steed and moved toward the grand gate to set off for Rupnagar.
After Rupanjan took his leave and passed through the gate, Prabhasa walked with shy steps toward her mother, father, and brother Prafulla. Her sweet, innocent face was now glowing with an extraordinarily divine and bashful radiance.
In a voice filled with wonder and charming reproach, Prabhasa said, "Mother... Father... did you all know about this beforehand? Even you, Dada! You knew everything in advance too? Why, not a single soul told me a word! Ah... now I understand! That's why, Dada, you abandoned me alone in that grand royal palanquin this morning and rushed ahead to the palace so early, wasn't it?"
Hearing Prabha's utter simplicity and sweet complaint, Aditya, Arohi, and Prafulla—all three broke into a deeply contented laugh together.
Teasing his sister affectionately, Prafulla said, "Would I not know, you silly girl? What goes on in your heart, whom you have given a place in the deepest corners of your soul—can your brother not understand that? The silent language of your eyes told us everything!"
Queen Arohi touched Prabha's cheeks with immense affection and said, "Yes, Prabha, bringing fulfillment to the secret love of your innocent heart was our utmost responsibility. You would never ask for anything yourself, but God has heard the yearning of your heart. Now compose yourself and come inside."
As Prafulla, Arohi, and Aditya entered through the main gate of the royal palace with Prabhasa, an unwanted sight caught their eyes. Standing with great arrogance on the decorated balcony inside the palace was the cunning zamindar's son, Jishnu, and beside him stood Snigdha! Seeing Jishnu wandering around there needlessly, Prafulla flew into a rage. His eyes widened as he charged toward Snigdha.
Prafulla roared, "Hey, Snigdha! When did this devil Jishnu enter the royal palace? We didn't get the slightest wind of it! You must have secretly left some back door of the palace unlocked so this brat of a devil can slide in and out whenever he pleases! Tell me, when did he arrive? We didn't notice a thing!"
Not shrinking back in the least at Prafulla's words, Snigdha flicked the pallu of her silk saree and shouted with sheer insolence, "Mind your tongue, Prafulla! Whatever right you hold in this royal palace, my future husband and I hold just as much! If need be, I will stay right here in this Junagadh Palace with my husband after the wedding! Who are you to stop us?"
Hearing Snigdha's audacity and her mindset of keeping a 'gharjamai' (resident son-in-law), Queen Arohi took a step forward and struck down with a voice like thunder.
Looking at her with sharp eyes, Arohi said, "Shut your mouth this instant, Snigdha! This royal palace may belong to you, but I will never allow a resident son-in-law in my well-ordered palace! If you display such whims of keeping a gharjamai, remember this—if necessary, I will not let this wedding happen at all! I will call off your marriage in a single heartbeat!"
Hearing Mother Arohi's fierce stance and the threat of canceling the wedding, the balloon of Snigdha's arrogance deflated in an instant. She grew terribly frightened in her heart, because if she didn't marry Jishnu, her dreams of attaining power and a kingdom would fall apart!
Snigdha quickly softened her tone and stammered, "No... no, Mother! I was just saying that in passing... truly, I will marry Jishnu! I am not talking about keeping any resident son-in-law, please don't call off the wedding!"
Amidst this ugly quarrel, Snigdha's gaze fell upon Prabhasa, who was standing nearby. On Prabha's face, that same shy and deeply contented, subtle smile was still lingering.
Seeing this unprecedented divine radiance on Prabha's face, Snigdha burned with envy. Looking at Prabha with venomous eyes, she snapped, "Hey Prabha! Why do you have such a coy smile on your face? Have your wedding flowers suddenly bloomed or what? What's with all this drama? I'll slap you so hard your cheeks will turn red! It's my wedding that's about to happen, so why are you blushing so much? What's with all this pretense?"
Little did Snigdha suspect that Prabha's marriage to Prime Minister Rupanjan of Rupnagar himself had already been settled!
Prabhasa was no longer fearful or quiet as before. Standing firm in her self-respect, she said in a calm yet resolute voice, "Didima, don't act overly smart! You are nobody to decide when I should smile or when I should feel shy! Don't come preaching to me!"
Saying this in a single breath, Prabhasa ignored Snigdha completely and walked proudly toward her room. Seeing Prabha's unthinkable transformation and her direct, sharp response, Snigdha stood there completely wide-mouthed! After the incident in Rupnagar, her eyes once again widened in utter shock.
Furrowing her brows, Snigdha began to mutter under her breath, "Oh no! What happened to this girl? I need to look into this matter deeply! Whatever the case, she used to lie quietly in a corner like a wet chicken! And today she's smiling all bashfully, and even argued back to my face before leaving? What's going on here? I have to find out the real secret behind this!"
Amidst Snigdha's strange confusion, King Aditya stepped forward. In an extremely grave tone, he addressed Snigdha and Jishnu, saying, "Listen, Snigdha and Jishnu! Stop this useless squabbling now. Tell me, when should the date and time for your wedding be fixed? Last week we discussed that your auspicious wedding would take place within this coming week. Are you agreed? The day after tomorrow is the most auspicious moment for your wedding. The wedding will be arranged for the day after tomorrow—do you have any objections to this?"
The moment they heard about the wedding being the day after tomorrow, Jishnu and Snigdha forgot all their internal doubts and burned once again with the fire of greed. Snigdha thought to herself that once the wedding took place the day after tomorrow, she would gain half the kingdom of Junagadh Palace and become the mistress of Jishnu's vast wealth!
Nodding in unison, Snigdha and Jishnu voiced their consent, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty! We are completely ready to marry at the auspicious hour the day after tomorrow!"