Sambhara walked towards the pakshala and waited for the sevikas to walk out. The sun was rising up at top of the head and it's almost time for the lunch. Samrat's meal was specially made different from others. And those who brings the food to Samrat mahal was different sevikas who were engaged in handling the matters of Samrat mahal. But still their duty was only to serve the food on table and clean after the meal. Other than that they aren't allowed to entered the main hall of Samrat mahal. Sambhara knows this well and this time she thought to sneak in the pakshala secretly. She have to do her work before the sevikas bring the dishes out of the pakshala.

She waited quietly observing the situation. Few of the sevikas walked out while whispering to themselves. Sambhara took the chance and quickly went inside the Pakshala. There were only two babarchees inside who were serving food on the plate. One of the babarchee saw her and frowned.

"Kunwari why are you here? Is there something you need?"

"Umm...yes, I was desiring to eat some sour flavour today so I wanted to ask for some pickle with my meal" Sambhara suddenly found a reason to reply.

"Pickle? Oh yes, of course. But you really don't have to come personally for that. You could have just sent the message"

Sambhara smiled, "it's that I don't want only one type of pickle but mixed one so I thought to choose it myself. Can you show me some verity of it?"

"Yes, please come this way kunwari" The babarchee nodded and looked at the another babarchee who was younger than him, "here, take this plate on that special table. Samrat's food will be served from here, you better not make a mistake"

Sambhara's eyes glued on the young babarchee who nodded and went to the side where a big table was arranged.

"Kunwari?" Not getting any response from her the babarchee called little louder snapping Sambhara out of her trance.

"Uh? Yes" Sambhara nodded and followed him but her eyes snapped towards the table again. A sudden idea filled her mind then she smiled a little.

"These are the storage of different types of pickle in the shelf. There is many fruits, freshly picked from the garden itself by the sevikas" babarchee stated to explain showing the pickle jar to her.

"I want that lime one but is there any veggies too?"

"Yes, there is also mixed vegetable pickles. Ah there it is, that small shelf holds all the verities here" the babarchee pointed towards the small shelf attached to the bigger one.

"Please bring some of them too. I really want to taste it" Sambhara said.

"Yes, please wait for a moment" the babarchee nodded and went to get a bowl.

Sambhara swiftly turned around to see the young babarchee was already done setting the plate for Samrat's meal. He was searching for something then he went towards the small door and disappeared inside. She thought it was the best time and quickly moved towards the table. Her eyes glowered looking at the huge plate. She looked around then pulled out the bottle and opened the lid. She was about to add the drop in food when someone grabbed her wrist. Sambhara was startled and turned her head only to meet with Shanti's angry eyes.

"Bua.." before she could utter Shanti dragged her out of the pakshala.

"Kunwari I have—" the babarchee stopped when he couldn't see Sambhara at all. It was like there wasn't anyone. He frowned in confusion.

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

"What were you planning to do? Didn't I tell you to keep quiet for the time being? Why didn't you listen to me?" Shanti was in rage. She really couldn't believe that Sambhara was about to commit a punishable act. 

"I just...." Sambhara wanted to explain but she couldn't find any valuable reason. She wants to accuse Shanti for interrupting but after thinking that she will need her in the future she couldn't bring out her frustration at all.

"Do you even understand if you really had done whatever you were planning it would have brought you countless troubles. What you were planning to do by seducing Samrat? Do you think you can sleep with him effortlessly using some medicine in his food? Sambhara where did you left all your brain? After living in the ShtriMahal you should be more aware of your situation and cultivate yourself but it seems like all these years you did nothing but eat and sleep then hope that a person like Samrat would run to you because you have a good face to look at? Don't forget that Samrat is not a child, he has seen more beautiful women ij his life"

Sambhara bite her lips, "I just wanted to be favoured by Samrat like he does to Samragyi. I have been living here for years but he hasn't given a good look towards me. But Samragyi entered the palace not a long ago and Samrat visits her frequently, even brings her out for travel. Bua how long I can endure all these? Now that I'm the only one left as kunwari how couldn't I become anxious about it. Even if it's unofficial but I am still considered his wife isn't it? This is so unfair to my side. I was too restless and couldn't hide it anymore"

"So you went on planning this ridiculous scheme on your own?" Shanti almost rolled her eyes, "you are too impatient. Samragyi is someone Samrat brought himself. She wasn't sent by any minister or related to ministry house nor did she entered the Mahal as kunwari. Samrat married her directly and made her Samragyi in instant. Why couldn't you see this differences? Are you blind? Besides couldn't you see what's happening around in the ShtriMahal after her arrival? Do you think you are comparable to her? With such mind of yours how can you even fight with her? She will crush you with her power without you knowing"

Hearing her being compared Sambhara felt insulted. She got angry and looked at Shanti with resentful eyes, "Bua why are you taking her side? Now that she has powers in her hand you are even praising her? Am I that bad? Was I the one who asked to become a kunwari? I was asked to dream big and dream for Samrat and become his wife. I was sent in the mahal to live, was that my fault? What wrong did I do to endure the loneliness of years and live with other sisters in ShtriMahal? And then Samrat married someone instead and made her Samragyi? I just wanted to win his affection too. Is it a crime to expect some affection from the man for whom I have to live in the ShtriMahal?"

Shanti was somehow speechless. She knew her family forced Sambhara to become a kunwari with giving words for future enjoyment. But how long that dream could remain unbreakable? But even if so she couldn't agree to Sambhara's current scheme. Because she was related to her by blood, she does not want anything bad to happen to her.

"I am not taking her side and you know it better. I understand you have endured a hard life. But that experiences should make you better not dumber. Today your action is considered too idiotic. You have been seeing and hearing about Samrat yet couldn't understand his personally slightly? Do you think a little amount of trick would be able to lure him? Unless he wants to be lured himself in the game. You are only risking your life with your plan. I told you I will help you if you just behave a little and keep your calmness for the time being" Shanti said with softer voice. 

But to Sambhara to was more like provocation, "how long do you want me to wait? Till I get old? Bua why can't you understand that I couldn't wait anymore. I don't want to die all my life waiting for him in the corner of ShtriMahal. That place started to suffocate me. I couldn't breath anymore. You have been promising me you would help from a long time but I could see you doing anything.  For exactly how long you want me to rott in the same place"  Sambhara yelled.

"How dare you speak to me like that? Now you even lost your manners to talk with others?" Shanti angrily slapped her. "I was right, Samragyi is better than you, at least she knows how to deal with the situation. If you have gotten a small portion of her smartness then I wouldn't have to this worried for you" Shanti felt headache.

"Don't compare me with her, I am not her. She got everything even before asking but I have to suffer here like this" Sambhara raged. "Humph, I was so wrong to wait for your help. I should have understand that you can't do anything at all. You aren't even capable handling your relationship with Rajkunwar how can you fix my problem? I was an idiot to think you could help me" she yelled.

Shanti was speechless. Did she just brought Chandrakant in the middle? Sambhara's sudden yelled her her shocked for a while.

"What did you say?" Shanti was so angry that she wanted to beat Sambhara to death at this moment. "How dare you bring Chandrakant in the middle? How dare you talk to me like that?" She pointed at her.

"Is it hard to endure? You can talk anything about me yet I couldn't. I gave up any expectations from you.  Please fix your problem first then come to help me" Sambhara turned away and left angrily.

Shanti who was in rage suddenly felt her heart aching and collapsed on the floor unconscious making her sevikas to call her in horror.

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

As soon as Sambhara returned to her room she slapped Karali hard on the face. The poor sevika fell on the ground and cried in pain. Sambhara was already angry so she kicked her twice, "it's all your fault. Who is feeding you here? How dare you leak my plan to Rajrani? You bitch because of you I couldn't execute my plan. It's all because of you"

"Kunwari please forgive me" Karali cried in pain, "I was just worried about you. Please have mercy on me"

"Mercy? You ruined such a perfect opportunity of me, how are you going to compassionate me?" Sambhara kicked her again.

"Ah....Kunwari please forgive this sevika, it was my mistake" Karali cried in pain pleasing rapidly.

Sambhara glared at her then left her and walked towards the bed, "since you like Rajrani that much, from today onwards go and serve her dearly. I don't need a sevika like you"

Karali's eyes widened, "Kunwari please forgive me. Please do not say anything like that" she crawled towards Sambhara's feet while pleading.

"Humph, aren't you her spy? You better serve her from today onwards. Don't let me hear any complaints" Sambhara smiled at her. I will never include you in my plan. If you stay here, you will ruin it again. I better chase you out today.

Hearing her Karali was shocked. She couldn't believe Sambhara was determined to sent her to Rajrani. She really did a mistake.

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

Nandini felt tired. Now that ShtriMahal is quite peaceful after the incidents she could relax a bit without stressing much. Kashmira was also busy after getting married but Nandini couldn't blame her too. She has been longing for that. Nandini played with Lynx, feed him and sometimes irritate him. These days Purna was also making new dishes and she ate a lot.

"Medha do you think I'm getting fat?" Nandini asked.

"I don't think so Prizzi, but you do look tired most of the time" Medha replied.

Nandini frowned, "this has never happened before. I used to practice a lot, trained myself to the point of exhaustion but I never felt this tired. It felt like I couldn't do anything other than sleeping and eating"

"It must be because the recent incidents happened one after another which tired you dealing with it" Medha tried to find a reason.

Nandini nodded, "it could be" then sighed.

Just turn Purna entered the hall with a plate in her hand, "Prizzi, I have tired a new dish, it could a little spicy"

"Oh, I was thinking about eating something spicy. But there you are" Nandini nodded.

"It's a new dish I learnt from pakshala. But I have added few more things to perfect the taste" Purna smiled and placed the plate on table.

"Ah, it looked delicious" Nandini looked excited but as soon as she took the first bite she felt weird. The taste didn't suit her mouth. Her expression suddenly changed.

"Prizzi, what happened? You don't like the taste?" Purna was worried suddenly.

"This feels weird" Nandini's expression twisted.

But before anyone could ask more Nandini did something that startled them.

She puked everything out.

️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️