Ever since the Queen’s death, King Adirath did not come to meet his daughter even once for he always preferred to keep a distance from her. 

However he frequently inquired about her with the full-time maid servant, Gautami, whom he appointed to look after her. 

After all, he was Padmini’s father and his conscience did not permit him to leave her completely to her fate.  Both the father and daughter only met  while having food at the dining hall but even there, the King was silent and did not even look at her, all of which hurt Padmini’s tender heart. 

When she told her feelings to Maanavendra who came to meet her frequently, all he could say was, “Have trust on God, O Princess!  He will ensure that justice is done someday!”

Two months passed by after the demise of Queen Sumalatha.  During this period, Gautami got in excellent rapport with the Princess for she liked her noble character.  Gautami was very incensed at the King’s attitude towards his daughter and prayed to God that Padmini should not be forever deprived of her father’s love. 

Although, she was taken good care by Gautami, Padmini dearly missed her mother.  After all, no one could fill the void left by her mother in her life.  She wept silent tears remembering her and Gautami had a hard time consoling the grieving Princess. 

One day, in the evening the King came to Padmini’s chambers and asked Gautami, “Where’s the Princess?” 

“She’s asleep, Maharaj!”  Gautami informed Adirath.

“Alright!  I am expecting some very important guests today who will be here for some time.  Make sure that Padmini does not move out of her chambers today.  I do not want my guests to see her even by chance.  Is that clear?”   the King said in an imperative gesture. 

“Yes, Maharaj!”  consented the maid.

The King went away leaving Gautami fuming with rage.  She knew as to why the King wanted Padmini to stay inside her apartments while his guests were around.  It was because he did not want the visitors to know that his daughter was so ugly! 

“What a heartless father is our king!” Gautami wondered.  After a long time since the King departed, Padmini woke up from her sleep.  It was Padmini’s daily routine to take a stroll in the terrace alongwith Gautami in the evenings.  Gautami was, now, in a dilemma when Padmini wanted to go to the terrace that evening.  The King had given her specific instructions that Padmini should not leave her chambers till his guests left the palace. 

Gautami was certain that Padmini would be hurt if she told her about the King’s orders.  Finally, she decided to take the Princess to the terrace, come what may.  After Padmini had refreshed herself, both of them made their way to the terrace.  As fate would have it, they happened to meet the King on the way who was with his two royal guests! 

Adirath glared at Gautami for defying his orders and then introduced his daughter to his guests who promptly responded by greeting her.  Thereby, the King politely asked his guests to come with him and went away. 

These two visitors were powerful rulers of nearby kingdoms with whom Adirath had extended his hand of friendship. Both of them were going to another kingdom to meet a renowned sage.  Since Adirath’s kingdom fell on the way, they had just come over to spend some time with him.  The King was now showing them his palace when he had come across his daughter and her maid.  He had actually planned to skip showing  Padmini’s chambers to his guests, under the pretext that she was asleep so that they would not see or meet her.  His plans were now foiled.

As Padmini and Gautami went to the terrace, the Princess queried, “I observed my father looking at you with very angry eyes.  Why?” 

“Why should he look at me like that?  May be you felt like it!”  said Gautami shrugging her shoulders.

But the little Princess persisted, “No!  That is not possible!  I am certain that he looked at you very angrily!” 

“I do not know, O Princess!  I have not done anything which would make the King angry at me!”  reasoned Gautami.

Padmini did not press the matter any further and took a walk in the terrace accompanied by Gautami.  From there, she could have a very picturesque view of the entire kingdom.

“How I enjoy this moment, Gautami!  This is the time when I forget the world around me and admire nature.”

Gautami was contended to see her Princess so happy. 

Indeed, nature was at it’s best during that time!   The silent atmosphere, the pleasant evening breeze, the beautiful scene of the setting sun that sent a red glow in the sky, the birds gleefully flying back to their homes before dusk fell and the trees swaying from one end to the other as if dancing cheerfully in the brazing breeze blowing over, were all so very pleasing to the eyes and the mind!

After they had returned back to the apartments, a guard informed Gautami that the King immediately wanted to see her.   Gautami excused herself and went to see Adirath leaving Padmini perplexed.  She had felt that her father had looked at Gautimi angrily and now he had asked the maid to meet her. She suspected that there was something going on of which she was not aware.  She decided to learn the truth once Gautami returned.

Meanwhile, Gautami came to the King’s apartments and bowed before him who appeared quite perturbed.  “Why did you disobey my command, Gautami?” 

“I am sorry, Maharaj!  I felt that if I told the Princess about what you said, she might feel hurt.  Therefore, when she asked me to take her to the terrace, I simply obliged.”  expounded the maid with a tense face. 

“Why would Padmini feel hurt?” said the King sternly,  “She would have certainly obeyed me.  Gautami, I do not like people who go against my orders.  I knew that you would have taken Padmini to the terrace today like you do daily. 

Luckily, my guests were not much inclined to come to the terrace for they were in a hurry to leave or else they would have again come in contact with my daughter which I did not want.”  Gautami realised that the King would never understand the feelings of Padmini for he never thought from her perspective. 

“I am your culprit, Maharaj!  Please punish me!” she surrendered before the King.

                   (To Continue)