"How much money have you embezzled last month from the household accounts, Nanny?" Dharitri's calm voice pierced through the old woman's greed-filled bubble.
"What?" Nanny Sumana thought that she hadn't heard the girl properly.
"I asked you the amount of earnings that you made last month after siphoning off from the fund allocated towards the household expenditure," Dharitri sounded extremely patient when she repeated the question.
The nanny's face turned white as paper but she recovered quickly and scrambled to explain herself. "Eldest Missy, how can you believe something like this? Who is the evil person that filled your ears with vicious untruths like these? Don't you know this servant's true nature who has served you through the years?"
Dharitri sat down on a mahogany carved chair and tapped her slender finger against her knee. "It seems that I will have to remind Nanny since you have forgotten the details. You stole 340 silver coins and six bolts* of silk fabric last year from the household treasury. The year before that was 297 coins and seven silk rolls of dress material. Would you like me to go on?"
Nanny Sumana fell on the ground with a thump. Her body was trembling. How did this girl get to know about her secret deeds? Since when had her actions been under scrutiny? The old woman's head was buzzing and she didn't know what to say.
"Four years ago when you volunteered to help mother with the management of the accounts, I was already undergoing training to learn household management. However, my mother trusted you, and hence, I closed one eye and let your greedy paws dip into the Bali family wealth. But it seems that your appetite is growing by leaps and bounds with time. This year, you dared to pick clothes even before your masters and smuggled them out. Become quite bold, huh, Nanny!" Dharitri's claim had the woman nearly foaming at her mouth.
Ekakshi, standing on the side, was looking at the whole tableau with her mouth hanging open. How did she not know any of this? Her mistress had known about the matter for so long but didn't do anything till now. The eldest miss sure hid herself deep.
Suddenly, she had a faint premonition about why the eldest miss had summoned the woman today.
And she was proven right in the next few minutes.
"I don't dare, I don't dare, Eldest Missy! Please forgive this lowly one, I became muddled due to old age. I am ready to bear any punishment for it. Just don't tell Eldest Madam about it. She has always trusted me and she will be very hurt by this," even after being exposed, Nanny Sumana didn't lose her bearing completely and brought out the emotional card.
Alluding to the long-standing relation between her and the eldest miss's mother, she hoped that on account of Madam Lilavati's fragile mind state, she stood a chance at going scot-free.
Dharitri stood up and towered over the terrified woman. "Well, I am wondering if your daughter's prospective in-laws would be happy to know that the sizable dowry which you are going to send along her wedding sedan is filled with stolen goods from your masters!"
By now Nanny Sumana's whole body was perspiring despite it being winter. "This servant seeks your forgiveness… you are the benevolent master… this dog will die serving you but please, please do not mention the greedy, shameful deeds of this lowly person to others. My daughter… it has taken a great effort to find this groom for her. The girl… I… please..."
Seeing her babbling incoherently and almost lying prostrate on the floor, Ekakshi gave her a swift kick. "Old woman, get up and stop talking nonsense. Eldest Miss is not interested in your false promises. Keeping you here till you die is nothing less than rearing a snake in the armpit! Why would our mistress do that? Haven't you harmed her enough? If this was to be known to Third Madam or Old Master, my mistress and Eldest Madam will not be able to lift up their heads. You deserve being flogged to death for trying to cheat your masters, who trusted you blindly over the years."
"No, no… I beg you. I will do anything. Just please overlook this matter this last time. I will serve you with all my heart and body and repay all the debts…"
"Stop talking," Dharitri's soft but cold command interrupted the woman's blubbering words.
Dharitri gestured towards Ekakshi who helped the woman stand up.
"I have a task which needs to be done with utmost precision. If you are able to carry it out, I will forgive your past deeds and even add to your daughter's dowry as a reward," Dharitri finally threw the bait after giving her the stick.
Nanny Sumana wiped her overflowing nose and tears with her sleeve and looked at Dharitri with disbelieving hope. "I will do it, I will do anything you say. I am ready to dedicate my entire remaining life to you."
Dharitri snorted slightly and replied. "You don't have to dedicate your life but take one for me, instead. Are you upto it?"
Same time, at the Lotus Pond
"Young Miss, why did you suddenly decide to come here?" Trini was the one trailing behind a pale looking Katyayani.
"Trini, let's change our exercise regime tonight. If I am not mistaken, tonight is Pooranmashi*. You, Chatvari and I will take a stroll around midnight around this lake. Tell her to bring some of her newly concocted herbs potion alongwith. It is always better to test a medicine on different subjects to know its efficacy," Katyayani said cryptically.
Trini smiled suddenly and said, "Tut-tut, Young Miss. You want to disturb a lovers' tryst?"
Katyayani had a strange grin on her lips. "Lovers' tryst! That sounds apt. On second thoughts, have a couple of our people, who are working in the Bali Mansion, join us for the night walk, as well. I have a feeling that tonight's moon would be especially enchanting!"
Trini didn't question her mistress's command or its strangeness. She had full faith in Katyayani's actions.
*Bolt - about a 100 yard strip
*Pooranmashi - full moon night