The next morning, the dining table of Junagarh Palace turned into a virtual battlefield. Though the golden sunlight spread outside, a deathly silence reigned inside the palace. Prabhasha hadn't slept all night; her eyes were as red as hibiscus flowers. She thought that no matter what happened, Didi was older, and she would melt her heart today. She personally cooked Didi's favorite Luchi and Alur Dom. She believed that the aroma of the food would wash away Didi's anger.
But when Snigdha arrived at the table, her face was like a cold, stone statue. With trembling hands, Prabhasha pushed the plate forward and said, "Didi, I've made your favorite food. You haven't eaten properly since yesterday; please try some..."
Snigdha looked at the plate with such disgust as if it contained sewage waste rather than delicious food. She jerked her chair back and stood up. In a harsh voice, she said, "Putting your food in my mouth is the same as drinking poison. Food cooked by a venomous snake who exposes her own sister in front of brothers will never enter my stomach. What do you think? That you can buy the ground beneath my feet by feeding me some Luchi? I'm not that cheap."
Prabhasha burst into tears and said, "Didi, why are you talking to me like this? I did this out of love for you..."
"Love doesn't suit your mouth, you daughter of a rival!" Snigdha screamed. "The blood of that wicked Sushila flows in your body. You are secretly trying to ruin me. Keep this food for your own funeral!" Saying this, Snigdha overturned a glass of water on the table and marched away.
Prabhasha stood there like a statue. But the humiliation didn't end there. In the afternoon, while Prabhasha was cooking a royal mutton curry for Prafulla, she stepped out for a moment to get some spices. Taking that chance, Snigdha entered the kitchen like a thief. Her eyes were burning with a thirst for revenge. She mixed a handful of raw salt and a bowl of bitter chili powder into the curry. She smirked to herself, "So you're trying to act all saintly in front of Prafulla? Now when Brother tastes this poison, he'll know the quality of your cooking!"
A while later, when Prafulla sat down to eat, he spat out the very first morsel. He roared, "Prabhasha! Do you want to drive me mad? Did you pour salt or stones into this food? The curry is bitter! Can you not focus on royal duties instead of being obsessed with quarrels?"
Shocked, Prabhasha tasted a spoonful, and her tongue immediately felt like it was on fire. She realized whose work this was. She rushed toward Snigdha's room. Banging on the door, she cried, "Didi! Why did you mix salt in the food? Does it suit you to keep Brother hungry like this?"
Snigdha opened the door with a chilling, demonic smile. She gripped Prabhasha's chin tightly and said, "Why? How does the taste of the hell you created feel, you devil? If you can tarnish my character, why can't I ruin your work? I won't let you swallow a single morsel of food in peace in this palace. Don't forget that you are living here on charity."
She gave Prabhasha a shove and added, "Your 'damsel in distress' act won't melt my heart. Every time you try to act good, I will turn you into trash from a dustbin. Remember, since the bond of blood isn't strong, you are nothing more than a common stray dog to me!"
Prabhasha crumbled in pain and insult. It felt as if every wall of the palace was mocking her. Snigdha's ego and hatred had reached a point of no return. Love was now just a word, which had become as foul-smelling as the rotting tigers of Junagarh.