"Falling in love with Nayantara was not part of being loyal," he felt a protectiveness towards his cousin but then regrated his accusive statement when a thought that history was repeating itself came up in his mind.

"Yes...yes, you are right and we did try very hard to suppress our feelings for years, but at last, she took a stand and made me do the same,"

"You know how Raja Saheb will be affected by this, don't you?" he fumed, "You are a doctor for god's sake, how much will his old heart take?"

"Mr. Bandu, up until a month back no one knew his sister's existence. The topic was forbidden to be discussed in the palace. Now everything suddenly changed concerning both of us, and there is no going back, I want to marry Nayantara,"

"You should be expressing your desire to the Raja, why did you tell me instead?"

"I thought that you should know first so that you don't change your mind about not marrying Nayantara,"

"What made you think I have not already made that decision?"

"Seeing you and miss Sakhi together gave me that confidence, pardon me for saying it so bluntly. But anyone can say that you both have feelings for each other,"

Bandu was thrown off track with embarrassment and turned his face. Even Mr. Rajput had said that once. He did not want to deny the fact merely to hide his embarrassment and also there was nothing he could think of at the spur of the moment.

"So, now what do you plan to do?"

"As soon as she is well we are going to talk with Raja Saheb, but before that, I wanted to inform you so that you would be kind enough to not stand in our way by accepting his demand to marry her,"

"Ok, doctor, I will talk with mother and know her opinion also," Bandu said

"Thank you, Mr. Bandu, and I need to tell you that the lawyers are due to arrive at 10 am today to read the final draft of the will to Raja Saheb. You too need to be present there as a witness,"

"Yes, I will be there," he confirmed and with that saw the doctor make his way to the clubhouse after shaking hands. Staring at the back of the man, he had a feeling that something was wrong in their conversation, but as always he couldn't point it out. He walked back to the palace and preferred the broad spiral stairs admiring the artifacts and painting along the walls. He wondered where Nayantara's room was as he had plans to visit her with his mother.

"Walking alone in the corridors can be dangerous," he was startled by a voice and turned around, ready to tackle the intruder, but was pleasantly surprised.

"Samar!...what are you doing here?" Bandu burst out.

"Shh...shh...not so loud," Samar whispered, "And I am not Samar here, call me Masan Lal, the new attendant here, courtesy commissioner Seth, planted here,"

"So what did you find out?"

"Nothing as yet, but will soon nab the masterminds. I have to go, see you," he sped away leaving Bandu with still many questions.

"Where have you been? We have been worried," the expected question popped out as soon as he stepped in through the door of his mother's room.

"I had gone with the doctor for a walk in the gardens," he replied, "Sorry for worrying all of you. I had risen early and did not want to disturb anyone here,"

"Breakfast will be here soon, come and sit," mother beckoned him near her. As soon as he was seated, the bedroom door opened and the children rushed out followed by Sukhi. Nand was instantly by his side wanting to know where he was early morning and when he came to know that Bandu had gone out he began to pester him to take him out and was promised an outing after breakfast.

"I have to tell everyone something important," he announced, "especially to you, Nand," now he had everybody's attention, "As part of the investigations there are undercover police personnel here at the palace, disguised as the palace employees and we happen to know one of them closely,"

"Who's that brother?"

"Samar"

Nand began to clap his hands excitedly.

"Just as I thought, this boy will reveal his secret, come here!" Bandu called Nand beside him.

"Nand, Samar is here to catch the bad people hiding in the palace. The bad people should not know that he is the police otherwise they will escape," to this he received a nod from the boy, "Now if you see him anywhere you should behave as if you don't know him. did you understand?" he received another slow pitful nod from the boy and began to gesture with another set of questions, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Sukhi opened it and allowed two attendants to enter with a tray laden with breakfast. Everyone stopped to stare at the one recognizable face from both. Nand who lay aside the lecture given to him waved at him and received a hurried smile in return. He kept the tray on the table and beat a quick retreat.

"You were not listening to what I said and I am really disappointed in you, Nand," Bandu said in an angry tone.

Nand gestured a sorry and hung his head on his slumped shoulders.

"He won't do it again," Sukhi intervened, "Agreed Nand?" he asked pointing to her son.

Nand agreed with a nod, but still wouldn't look up at anyone and went to the nearest chair and plopped on it with his hands folded across his chest. Others now gave an accusing glance at Bandu.

Everyone got distracted when mother called out to eat breakfast and that ended the feudal air in the room. The breakfast platter seemed to have ended his depressed state and the children trotted off to the inner room after having their fill.

"Mother, doctor Mathur today surprised me with his revelation that he and my cousin are in a relationship and wants to get married. Not only they have kept this information from Raja Saheb, but now he feels threatened by me,"

"What?!" both mother and Sukhi expressed their shock.

"But why keep it a secret?"

"They were waiting until she returned from overseas,"

"By why are you a threat, brother?"

"Because Raja Saheb wants me to marry her and the doctor doesn't approve of it and has requested me to deny the marriage proposal,"

"Doctor Mathur is an amiable person and I do not dislike him, but here I doubt his intentions,"

"Doubt him, mother, why?"

"I just want to tell both of you not to believe in just what you hear, try and understand the hidden meaning and intentions of the speaker," mother said, "This place is like a chess board now and you have to move and not be used by anyone for their purpose,"

"How is doctor Mathur involved in all this?" Sukhi expressed her doubts.

"I don't know that, but until Nayantara, herself proclaims the truth I will not believe it. I want to make sure that she was not coerced in any way to admitting it"

"Maa, aren't you overthinking?" Bandu hadn't seen the other side of the coin that mother just describe and it was hard to accept.

"We will wait and see. By that time don't make any promises to him in haste,"

"But mother if Raja Saheb put forth a proposal to me, what do I say?"

"Accept it,"

"Accept it! But mother...what about Nayantara's wishes?"

"Let her wake up and tell her father about it, but you should not be the one to do it. Her life may be at stake and I have a bad feeling about all this son,"

"That's why I want to leave from here as soon as possible,"

"But let her get well first,"

"I will visit her today and see her progress," Bandu said with determination and it was there their conversation came to an end when a knock bought doctor Mathur at the door.