Chhaya went out of the room, but came back after a few seconds and again stood looking at her mistress’s face. She sat down, holding her head between her hands, leaning against the bed. Unable to control her agitation she again left the room reentering it after a few seconds. She brought with her a jug of water, with basin and towel, and put them near her mistress’s bed. Divya was still fast asleep. Every fibre in Chhaya’s body was trembling with anxiety and foreboding.

At last Divya opened her eyes. Chhaya wanted to tell her about the disaster, but words failed her. What should she say? How should she say it? Instead of pouring out water for her to wash her face, Chhaya handed her the towel. As she stood silently, tears streamed down her cheeks.

When Divya asked why she was crying, Chhaya almost broke down. Fearing that the water jug might fall from her hands, she put it on the floor, and covering her tear-stained face with her shawl, sat down beside the bed. Divya had to ask her several times before Chhaya could answer in a voice choked with tears.

‘In Lady Moksha’s apartment, Lady Amita said in front of Mahadevi and for all the other ladies to hear, “What have you to say about Divya’s indisposition? All the signs point to pregnancy.”’

Divya’s eyes remained wide open and motionless as though carved in wood. Her face became extremely pale and expressionless. Suddenly, there was a sound of something falling. Chhaya looked up to find that Divya had fallen back on the bed in a dead faint. Greatly alarmed, she tried to lift up her mistress.

In her distress, Chhaya had stopped crying. She sprinkled water on Divya’s face to bring her round, fanning her with a piece of cloth and rubbing the soles of her feet. It was some time before Divya opened her eyes. Moistening her dry lips with her tongue, she asked for water.

Keeping herself well under control Chhaya tried to divert Divya’s attention, lest she should faint again. For the rest of the morning her mistress lay inert, her eyes gazing unseeingly at the ceiling, the walls and the garden outside the window.

At about midday, Assa, the maidservant, appeared with food. After intense pleadings from Chhaya, Divya swallowed a morsel or two. When Assa was about to return, Chhaya told her that Divya wanted Dhata to be sent to her immediately.

In the afternoon the whole palace began to ring with the sound of music, played upon the shehnai and the mridang. Trying to smile, Chhaya said, ‘A child has been born to Lady Moksha.’

Divya merely heaved a deep sigh. She thought to herself, ‘Moksha’s child is an occasion for rejoicing for the whole family, whereas my pregnancy is an occasion for ignominy. This is because my child has no father. I shall take my child to his father. Had I been in the palace of Prestha, would my pregnancy have been regarded as a source of disgrace? I belong there, with the father of my child.’