‘Indeed, if the Highmaster in question lived in his Protectorate,’ Krishna replied. ‘From what I know, Karna still lives in Hastinapur, in his old house, in a ghetto reserved for Reshts. Revolutionaries have to keep up such pretences. I do not blame him. A lifetime of habits does not change in a moment, even if fate does. He is, after all, the confidante of Prince Duryodhan, the rumoured murderer of Prince Arjun. Some say the Resht too, had a hand in it. And then there is his nephew, whom he looks after as his own son. You will have the blessings of being a mother before ever carrying your own child. And the adventure of living in squalor, cooking meals on open fires, bathing in rivers and waterfalls, oh the countryside is full of romance,’ Krishna sighed. ‘I almost feel envious.’

‘It will not be that difficult.’ But Draupadi’s face had by now lost its colour. True love was a nasty business.

‘Oh no. Like a vacation for the most part. You would have to be careful of the Namins and Ksharjas though. A revolutionary’s life is a short one. Assassins, poisoning and lynching… These days Reshts are tied up to chariots and dragged through villages on the slightest provocation.’

Before she could respond, her nose wrinkled. ‘Oh, that rotten smell!’ she cried. ‘Aila!’ Her maid came running in, head bowed. ‘Get the entire lavender oil crucible from the stillroom. Now!’ Aila left to comply without a word.

Soon, oil lamps carrying myrrh, frankincense, and cypress were hanging from different places in the chamber. Yet the smell never left. Krishna could see Draupadi struggle with it. Good.

‘What about love, Krishna?’ she asked plaintively, leaving all pretensions behind. She was just a young girl inside, scarred and scared. ‘You said it can conquer all.’

Krishna wanted to laugh but kept his expression grim. ‘Love is a fire,’ he answered, ‘which may warm your soul but might also burn down your house. Love feels overwhelming for a moment, but once wed, the excesses dissipate in the air, and what is left behind is torment. Women have to make peace with the insufficiencies in their husbands all the time, but having to contend with insufficiencies in his house, his coffers, his rank, is no ordinary task.’ Krishna smiled patronizingly. ‘But you are no ordinary woman, Draupadi. You are the Fire Princess of Panchal. You will not let the idea of a lifetime of poverty dissuade you. Just remember how handsome Karna is.’

Krishna could almost feel the sobs rising in her chest. She tried to suppress them, but he knew. Time to change tack.

‘Draupadi, do you know anything about this Aila whom you order about in so sharp a fashion?’

She looked up. ‘I did not mean to be rude. It is just this smell…’