Roopchand welcomed King Raghunathan and made Vijaya lie on a bed in the inner room.  He also asked his servant to make some delicacies and then sat with the King in the main hall. 

After both of them were comfortable, the King informed him of all that had happened.   Roopchand looked up, closed his eyes and thanked the Lord for ensuring the safety of the King and his son from this sordid incident. 

“Thank God you are safe, Maharaj!  Do you take your son alongwith you daily for a ride?” 

“I am taking him for the past few days, Roopchandji.  I always go out for a ride on Chandrika every evening.  Seeing me do so, my child also developed the desire to join me to which both the Queen and I had no objection.  And today this happened!  I hope that Chandrika is safe and does not cause harm to anyone.”  

Just then, the servant brought something to eat for the King which he only tasted and thanked Roopchand for his hospitality. 

Thereby, the mode of discussion became general.  Roopchand informed the King that he grew fruits in his farm and so far everything was working out well for him. 

After a short while, when the King felt that it was high time that he took his leave, Roopchand offered to arrange for a cart to take him to the palace.  At that moment, there was a knock on the door. 

A servant opened the door and Raghunathan’s face lit up to see his most favourite minister, Biksham, standing before him alongwith his men and some farm workers.  The King rose from his seat and embraced Biksham. 

“Oh Maharaj!  I am so happy to see you safe!  Where’s Vijaya?”  Biksham queried with moist eyes. 

“He’s sleeping inside, Biksham!  Both of us are safe but I do not know about Chandrika.  She just took off!  How did you come here?”  asked the King who still could not believe that Biksham had come there in search of him and his son.

“News reached the palace that your horse had gone out of control!  The Queen immediately asked me and some other ministers to go in search for you. 

From the directions which the people gave us, we were passing by this farm when these men called out to us and told us that you were here!”  informed the minister.

Looking at the farm workers, the King expressed his gratitude,  “Thank you!  Good that you recognised my men!” 

“That was not at all difficult, O King!  We know Bikshamji!”  one of the farm workers told the King.

Raghunathan smiled and then looked at Biksham, “Let us leave immediately!  Padmavati would be so tense!”  He gave a golden ring to Roopchand and gifted a chain to all of the farm workers.  He once again thanked the person who had saved his life, took Vijaya in his arms and left for the palace in Biksham’s chariot. 

Biksham also sent some of his men in the direction where Chandrika had gone, to seek her.  Once inside the chariot, the King made the child rest on his lap and looked at him lovingly,

“Poor one!  He must have been terrified at all that had happened!  Good that he is sleeping now!  Or else he may start crying seeing that we are going in a chariot pulled by horses!” 

“You are right, O King!  Now pray tell me all that happened!”  Biksham implored.  The King looked at the minister and had a mischievous smile on his face.  

“You know something, Biksham!  I am tired of narrating this event again and again!” 

Biksham smiled and then Raghunathan filled him in with all the happenings.  The minister was perturbed to hear all this.  “I must appreciate your presence of mind, Maharaj!  What you say about Chandrika losing her cool due to Vijaya’s behaviour may be right but I am not sure. 

Why not have a word with her keeper, Vedant, once we get to the palace?  May be he may come out with a reasonable explanation.” 

“Alright, Biksham!  That will be done!”  the King assured him.

Soon, the chariot reached the palace gates.  “Biksham!  I will be with the Queen for some time.  Then, I shall call you and we can talk to Vedant!”   Biksham readily agreed.

Taking Vijaya in his arms, Raghunathan scurried inside the palace.  On enquiry, he learnt that Queen Padmavati was in her chambers and hurried to see her. 

Padmavati was elated to see Raghunathan but was alarmed when she saw Vijaya lying in his arms.  “What happened to him?” 

The King gestured her to calm down, “Do not get tensed up, O Padmavati!  He is only sleeping!”  Raghunathan made Vijaya lie down in a nearby bed and then held the Queen close to his heart. 

“I thought I would never see you, dear!  I had lost all hope!  I must thank God for this moment!” the King said in an emotional voice.  Padmavati wept silent tears and only managed to say,

“Yes!  The Lord must be thanked!”  Thereby, the Queen learnt all that had happened from the King and was lost in deep thought for some time. 

Then she looked at the King, “Let’s call Vedant and talk to him, Maharaj!” 

The King called over Biksham and then ordered his guards to bring along Vedant.  The horse-keeper came and bowed low before the King.  “I am glad to see you, Maharaj!  I heard that Chandrika went out of control and was just making a mad rush!”  said Vedant with concern in his eyes. 

“You heard it right, Vedant!  Did you find anything wrong with her today?”  asked Raghunathan . 

“Absolutely no, Maharaj!  She was normal throughout and this is what puzzles me!” 

The King told Vedant about what Vijaya did and then queried, “Do you feel that this could have made the horse ferocious?” 

“Could be, Maharaj!  But the fact remains that Chandrika is such a tame and loving animal!  Vijaya’s behaviour should not make her act like that under normal circumstances. 

I am really clueless as to why she behaved in such an intemperate manner so as to endanger your lives.”  reasoned the horse-keeper.  Raghunathan looked at Biksham.

                (To Continue)