Among the Odia merchants, he was renowned; seven ships sailed the seas. There was no one as rich and respected as Tanayabanta. His wife's name was Shakuntala. They had seven sons, and seven daughters-in-law for the seven sons. Among the seven sons, there was one daughter, named Taapoi. Her father, mother, and all her brothers adored her. Her words were never disregarded. She was spoiled to the core; if she pouted, the house would shake. She ate cream and butter, and adorned herself in gold and silver.
The minister's daughter was her best friend. Among the merchant's daughters, some were Baula, Makara, some Gajamuga, some Kasi Kakudi (types of friends/games). With her friends, she sometimes played cowries, sometimes sat on the swing. Sometimes she got engrossed in Puchi (a game), but playing with sand was her favourite. She set up a makeshift stove and cooked pretend food, and ate it on taro leaves. She sometimes played with bhogei and kulei (traditional items). One day she was playing, an old woman arrived, looked at Taapoi and frowned, and said, "Oh my, being the daughter of such a big house, you are playing with a bamboo kulei? If I were like you, I would play with a gold kulei, and demand a gold moon from my father and brothers. Hey, don't you have anything? Why are you playing like an orphan who came from nowhere?"
Hearing this, Taapoi felt sad. She neither bathed nor ate. She went and lay face down on her ornate bed. Her father came and called, "Why are you cross, my dear? Come, take a bath. What did you lack? Who hit you? Who scolded you?" Taapoi did not listen to anything.
Her mother came and called, "If something is lost, I will find it; if something is broken, I will fix it. Tell me what's wrong, my doll." Taapoi did not listen.