prayed that Shaibalini's boat might sink with her; but now, none felt more than Sundari for Shaibalini.
After a while, Sundari wiped away her tears and again took her seat by Shaibalini. Slowly and gradually she drew Shaibalini into a conversation—slowly and gradually she began to remind her of the things of the past—but poor Shaibalini could not recollect anything. Shaibalini had not lost her memory altogether, or how could she recollect the name of Parbati? But her brain was so deranged, that everything got confused within her. She remembered Sundari, but she could not recognise her.
First of all, Sundari sent Chandra Shekhar to her own place, for a bath and breakfast. She then set herself to make that almost dilapidated house fit for Shaibalini's habitation—one by one, all her neighbours came to assist her; necessary articles were forthcoming from all sides.
On the other hand, Pratap returned home from Monghyr, after he had stationed his armed men at the right places. On his return there, he heard that Chandra Shekhar had come back—he, therefore, immediately left for Bedagram to meet him.
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