Raising her eyebrows, Snigdha fabricated an excuse and said, "I'm saying no because I don't feel like it at all! My body feels listless, I'm not feeling well... my head is spinning!"
Saying this, Snigdha cleverly closed her eyes and dramatically threw herself onto the floor!
Seeing Snigdha collapse onto the floor to stage a sudden 'fainting' drama, a commotion broke out among the attendants around. Within a moment, King Rupanjan, Princess Prabhasa, King Aditya, and Queen Arohi rushed to the spot in concern.
Arohi sat beside Snigdha in distress and shouted to the attendants, "What happened to you, Snigdha? What happened to this girl again? Guard, fetch some water! Splash some water on her face!"
However, Snigdha intentionally kept her eyes shut and lay completely motionless in a calculated manner, as if she had fallen deeply unconscious!
Prince Prafulla was witnessing all this hypocrisy from a distance. In a single moment, Prafulla caught on that this was nothing but another filthy and cheap conspiracy by Snigdha!
Stepping forward, Prafulla raised his voice in a humorous tone and said, "You know, Mother... God has said that one who is asleep can perhaps be awakened, but one who pretends to sleep while fully awake can never be awakened by any force on earth! She is staging a drama of losing consciousness while fully alive! Hold on, I know very well how to wake her up!"
Prafulla immediately called over an ordinary maidservant of the royal palace. He took off the old, dirt-covered shoe from that maid's foot. Then, bringing that filthy shoe, he held it right under Snigdha's nose!
The moment the rotten and terrible stench entered Snigdha's nose, she could not tolerate it for another second! Thrashing her limbs, she sat straight up with a jerk and grabbed Prafulla's sleeve, pulling it frantically!
Snigdha screamed through gritted teeth, "How dare you, Prafulla? You bring the shoe of a low-caste maid and hold it under my nose to make me smell it? What sheer audacity! Have you forgotten that I am a princess of high noble lineage from this Junagadh?"
Yanking his hand free with a jerk, Prafulla laughed and said to Queen Arohi, "Did you see, Mother? How that poisonous viper regained consciousness and sat right up in an instant? Did you see what a wonderful drama she was putting on?"
Queen Arohi scolded Prafulla mildly, saying, "Be quiet, Prafulla! Isn't she your sister after all? Why do you always have to pick a fight with her like this? Don't you have any sense?"
Looking at Arohi, Snigdha now roared in humiliation and envy, "Enough, Mother! Enough! You let Prafulla off with just that slight scolding? Is he the apple of your eye, while I am just trash thrown on the road to you? Even after he committed such an uncouth act against me, you won't say anything to him? Today it's crystal clear who is truly your own in this palace and who is an outsider!"
Saying this, Snigdha stood up from the floor with a sharp jerk and set off alone with swift strides toward the Junagadh Royal Palace. Behind her, King Aditya and Queen Arohi also left the royal palace with their heads bowed in deep humiliation.
Standing on the palace balcony, Prafulla asked Prabhasa, "Hey Prabha! Will you stay here in Rupnagar or come back with us to Junagadh?"
Prabhasa offered a gentle smile and said, "No, no, Dada! I will return to Junagadh with you all, let's go."
Casting a deeply loving and shy glance toward the newly crowned King Rupanjan, Prabhasa said in an amiable voice, "I take my leave today, Your Majesty... we shall meet again later." Rupanjan also nodded in agreement, wishing her a safe and auspicious journey.
Eventually, as all the invited guests took their leave, the cunning Jishnu was left alone. Seeing no other way, Jishnu also set off for the Junagadh Royal Palace to cover up his humiliation.
King Aditya, Queen Arohi, Prince Prafulla, Princess Prabhasa, Snigdha, and that evil Jishnu gathered in the court of the Junagadh Royal Palace.
Taking his seat, King Aditya said in a very grave tone, "Listen, Snigdha and Jishnu! Are you two fully ready for your auspicious wedding? If you agree, we can finish inviting all the subjects and distinguished guests tonight itself, and solemnize your wedding during tomorrow's auspicious hour!"
The moment King Aditya spoke these words, Snigdha joined her palms together, putting on a pitiful and desperate drama!
Folding her hands, she said, "Look, Father! Have mercy on me! My health is extremely bad, I am completely overwhelmed by a headache! I won't be able to get married tomorrow under any circumstances! Please postpone my wedding by a few days, Father! Once my health improves a bit, then arrange the wedding! Please have mercy, Father!"
Hearing her plead desperately and use poor health as an excuse, Aditya let out a deep sigh and said, "Alright, Snigdha! Since you say your health isn't good, let tomorrow's wedding be called off. Your auspicious wedding will be solemnized next week!"
Upon hearing Aditya's announcement, the cunning Jishnu standing nearby exploded in anger!
Jishnu roared, "No, Your Majesty! Absolutely not! She is putting on a complete drama by making excuses of poor health! No matter how unwell she feels, I want to marry her tomorrow itself! Our auspicious wedding must take place tomorrow!"
Seeing Jishnu's insane rush and desperate eagerness to marry, Queen Arohi looked at him with suspicious eyes.
Arohi roared in a stern voice, "What has gotten into you, Jishnu? Why are you growing so crazy for the wedding? What is the real reason? Speak up and tell us what purpose you have behind such a rush!"
Facing Arohi's tough question and sharp gaze, the evil Jishnu began stammering in an instant! His hands and feet turned cold.
Growing utterly panicked in his mind, Jishnu thought, "Disaster! I rushed far too much! If everyone suspects me seeing this over-enthusiasm and realizes that I'm not crazy for Snigdha, but rather to seize the grand royal palace and vast wealth of Junagadh—then all my conspiracies will be exposed! There's no need for such a rush! Whenever they fix the wedding, I will attain this kingdom!"
To hide his true evil motive, Jishnu immediately put on an artificially sweet and calm expression, saying, "No... no, Queen Mother! Don't misunderstand me. Actually, I was just a bit anxious worrying about Snigdha's health. Fine, if her health is poor, let our wedding happen next week! Snigdha, rest in peace now, I shall take my leave!"—Saying this, Jishnu walked straight out of the court.
Meanwhile, returning to her bedroom, Snigdha reclined on her luxurious bed. A venomous, highly manipulative smile of victory bloomed on her face!
Gazing at the ceiling of the room, she began to mutter under her breath, "Ha! Do I have nothing better to do than to marry that ugly, worthless zamindar's son Jishnu! Snigdha wasn't born to marry Jishnu! I will make King Rupanjan himself, the new supreme ruler of this massive Rupnagar Empire, my husband! I will become the Queen of Rupnagar! Let's see which devil can stop me from becoming the Queen of Rupnagar now!"
A new palace of pride and the black snake of conspiracy began to hiss inside Snigdha's mind!