The President, feeble with age, could not travel widely over the country’s rough roads. He could be seen, however, in his palanquin at all hours of the day in parts of the capital or its suburbs, engaged in inspection work. Prithusen was often seen riding by the side of his palanquin, on his agile white horse, its neck bent almost double by the tightly pulled reins, or he would be seen galloping, swift as an arrow, through the streets and lanes, followed by a detachment of cavalry. From dawn to dusk he was busy training the infantry and the cavalry in tactics of attack and defence. He spent days in the forests and in the lowlands of the Apaga river training his men in jungle warfare.

Prithusen was well liked by the Chief Justice, and also by Prabuddha Sharma and Dhriti Sharma, yet he never went to the palace of the Chief Justice, conscious as he was of the silent hostility of Vishnu Sharma and Vinay Sharma towards him. With his father’s permission, he made one visit to the Chief Justice to ask him for the hand of his great-granddaughter. The old man’s reply was, ‘My son, at this time you have taken upon yourself a very heavy responsibility. You should attend to that, heart and soul. There is a time for everything.’

Divya’s heart, already laden with worry, had now, like a flower, begun to wilt under the heavy weight of another anxiety. She would have to wait for days on end for a mere glimpse of Prithusen. She went to the palaces of Mallika and Vasumitra looking for him, but would come back disappointed. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she went to the palace of Prestha, the magnate. Prithusen’s father and mother greeted her warmly, took her into their arms and smelt her hair according to the custom, but there was no sign of Prithusen. Sick at heart but with a smile on her lips, she went home and in utter despair shut herself up in her room. Mahadevi would scold her for her listlessness and apathy, but Divya could give no reply except to shed tears. Now and then, when he had some free moments from his work, Prithusen would send a message to Divya through Vapa, the old maidservant, and they would meet for a little while, either in the seclusion of a grove by the side of the lake, or in the palaces of Mallika, Vasumitra and Prestha. Overwhelmed by emotion, Divya would throw herself into his arms, with tears streaming from her eyes. Prithusen would himself grow extremely restless and, in turn, seek comfort in Divya. Divya would be obliged to resist his advances by holding his hands in hers and this would make him languid and absent-minded. It caused Divya much suffering to see him in this state.

Prithusen said one day, ‘I shall soon be leaving for the battle front by the Tavisha river. You have accepted my love, yet you continue to spurn me. I shall carry with me only the painful memory of your rejection. What if I don’t come back and it is my dead body that is brought back to Sagal!’ He clasped his arms tightly, in an attempt to restrain himself. Divya put her hand on his mouth and burst out crying.