As evening deepened and Snigdha tiptoed back into the royal palace, the entire house was shrouded in silence. Prafulla sat in a corner of the courtroom, lost in deep thought—he couldn't find the head or tail of this mystery: why rotting tigers were appearing one after another at the houses of common people. Meanwhile, Prabhasha was sitting on a high seat in the palace garden, waiting like a hawk. Seeing her sister enter like a thief from a distance, her blood began to boil.
Prabhasha stood up from her seat and blocked her sister's path, saying, "So, Didi? You left at noon, and now you're finally gracing the palace with your presence like a Queen in the evening? Do you have no concern for this kingdom? You are a Princess—or are you just one in name?"
Snigdha was exhausted; she was about to say something, but Prabhasha stopped her and said in an even harsher tone, "A villager came seeking justice after you left! A rotting tiger was found at his house, even at his neighbor's. Do you know what's happening in this kingdom? If you don't rule, if you don't look after royal affairs, then what will I learn from you? It's shameful that even as your younger sister, I have to lecture you! How much can Brother and I handle alone? I have no idea what you're up to under the scorching sun!"
Snigdha felt terrible. On one hand, Prabhasha was speaking the truth, but on the other, it bruised her ego. She thought to herself, "This girl has Sushila's blood in her; that's why she dares to lecture me despite being so young! The blood of that wicked mother would be just like this—always taunting others. I raised her with so much affection, and today she insults me?" But a moment later, Snigdha caught herself, thinking, "Fie! What am I thinking? She is my sister! Have I become so blinded by love that I'm thinking so cruelly about my own sister?"
Seeing her silent, Prabhasha taunted her again, "What? Lost in thought? Come on, wash up and come to your room. You've done so much 'royal work' today, now eat and take some rest!"
At the dinner table, no one spoke to each other. After eating, everyone went to their respective rooms. Prabhasha and Snigdha had just lain down when Prafulla entered their room. He was dressed in his guard's attire. Prafulla said, "Are you two asleep? I'm going out to keep watch. Stay safe. I want to see if any new trouble is entering the kingdom."
Prabhasha sat up and said sarcastically, "Go safely, Brother. Should I come with you? There's no use relying on this Didi. She has no mind for royal affairs; who knows who she meets or who she romances every afternoon! Even if the kingdom goes to ruin, it won't affect her. She's busy in her own world!"
Hearing this sharp, piercing jibe, Snigdha's patience finally snapped. She sprang up with lightning speed and delivered a sharp slap across Prabhasha's cheek!
'Thwack!'
The entire room fell into a deathly silence. Prabhasha held her cheek and looked at her sister with eyes full of disbelief. Snigdha, trembling with rage, screamed, "I've tolerated enough, Prabhasha! When I entered in the evening, you said the same things, and now when I come to sleep, you're still lecturing me? Do you think you're the Queen Mother? Have you become such a great leader? When Ma returns, I'll tell her to put you on the throne; I have no greed for this seat. But mark my words! If you ever taunt me again, you'll get a slap on the other cheek too! You are crossing the limit!"
Tears rolled down Prabhasha's eyes. She said in a trembling voice, "Didi... you raised your hand on me? You never even said a harsh word to me, and today you hit me just for speaking the simple truth? I will never speak to you again!" She covered herself with the shawl, turned away, and burst into muffled sobs.
Prafulla stood in the middle, feeling utterly restless. He couldn't decide whether to stop the quarrel between his sisters or go out to uncover the mystery of the rotting tigers. Between an unknown enemy and this rift between the two sisters, the lamp of peace in Junagarh Palace seemed to be flickering on the verge of being extinguished.