Carrying Tantrik Boudi's miraculous blessings and secret counsel from the subterranean dungeon back to her own chamber, Prabhasa had felt a profound sense of peace and unshakeable self-confidence settle deep within her heart. On the other hand, the raging anger, impatience, and intense curiosity festering inside Snigdha's mind would not allow her to sit still for a single second.
Snigdha was pacing back and forth restlessly inside her room. She knew very well that Prabha had completely consumed that herbal-powder-laced milk sent by Tantrik Boudi that very morning. But how deeply had the effect of that magical potion truly penetrated Prabha? Had Prabha actually lost her memory and forgotten Rupanjan, or was everything as normal as before?—To test this and witness it with her own eyes, Snigdha was consumed by a burning restlessness! Without wasting another second, she hurried frantically toward Prabha's room.
Reaching the wooden door of Prabha's chamber, Snigdha came to a sudden halt. Pressing her ear right against the door, she stood there in silence, trying to catch any sound coming from within.
Meanwhile, sweet princess Prabhasa, who was inside the room, had already clearly heard the familiar, heavy sound of footsteps echoing just beyond the door. She instantly grew alert. Moving with utmost caution and on soft, silent feet, Prabhasa stepped over to the window and peered slightly toward the corridor. Glancing through the gaps in the window, she saw her older sister Snigdha standing stealthily behind the wall, pressing her ear to the room's door in a bizarre, thief-like manner!
The moment she spotted Snigdha eavesdropping at the door, Tantrik Boudi's secret instructions flashed instantly across Prabha's mind—"Whenever you are in front of Snigdha, put on an act of losing your memory, sweet girl! As though you recognize no one, especially that you have completely forgotten Rupanjan!"
The moment those playful yet intensely crucial words of Tantrik Boudi echoed in her memory, a clever, knowing smile played at the corners of Prabhasa's lips. She readied herself within. Suppressing the fierce blaze and fury burning inside her heart, she cast a bewildered, blank, and memory-deprived expression across her face. Then, with a sudden jerk, she swung the heavy wooden door wide open and stepped out.
Taken completely aback by the sudden opening of the door while her ear was pressed against it, Snigdha stumbled backward in utter confusion! Quickly recovering herself, she stepped forward toward Prabha and chimed in with a tone of artificial affection, "Why, sister Prabha? Where on earth were you rushing off to in such a hurried, storm-like fashion the moment you opened the door? Believe me, sister, I certainly didn't come here to eavesdrop on your room at all! I merely came out of deep, loving affection to see if my sweet little sister was doing alright!"
Prabhasa knew all too well what a grand liar and villain Snigdha truly was! She had not an iota of doubt that Snigdha had come specifically to verify how successful her conspiratorial trap in the dungeon had been and whether Prabha's memory had indeed vanished.
Yet, Prabhasa did not display a shred of anger or fury on her face. Instead, she gazed at Snigdha with a strange, chilling, and utterly indifferent expression—as though this flesh-and-blood human named Snigdha was a complete stranger to her, holding no existence whatsoever in Prabha's eyes! Prabhasa did not offer a single word of reply to Snigdha's feigned affection. Without letting out a single sound, Prabhasa slammed her shoulder firmly against Snigdha's body, shoving her rudely to one side, and marched briskly down the corridor!
Suffering such a direct, utterly humiliating shove from her younger sister right out in the open palace corridor sent the blood in Snigdha's head shooting straight to the skies! Consumed by rage, humiliation, and jealousy, Snigdha's eyes flared up like volcanic craters. That a mere younger sister—a junior sibling—should dare lay hands on a grand princess like her, shoving her aside without uttering a single word and walking away—Snigdha simply could not stomach such audacity!
Gnashing her teeth like a lunatic, Snigdha sprinted furiously after Prabha, shouting vile curses and abuses at her back!