In the course of a few days of Nivid's stay in Veerapalli, Prabhupada invited him to his house for dinner. Quite a good friendship was established between the two as Nivida has planned.
Immersed in talking with Prabhupada, he didn't notice the outside of the house. They entered the house where Mala welcomed them. After a little talk over some village matters and enjoying the wine made with fermented juice of Mahua flowers Prabhupada sat up straight and adjusted himself.
"Let's start our dinner Sir Nivid, shall we?" He said.
Nivid nodded. Mala served the food to them. Dhani came into the dining area with plates in her hand. Nivid's eyes catched her presence.
"She is the same maiden from that day."
"Oh! This is my daughter Dhani, Sir Nivid, who did penance for twelve years in the Shiva Temple of Nillgiri Hills. Dhani, dear, this is His Highness Aatreya's companion."
"Oh!" With surprise she said. "Greetings, Sir. We met that day."
"Her name is Dhani, not Chandi. I knew it." That was the first thought that came in him mind followed by; "So, this is His Highness' choice. What a coincidence. I am happy for Bali. I will tell His Highness to get her married to Bali."
"Haha. What a nice name, Dhani. It means prosperity and abundance, right?" He gleefully asked.
Those conversations attracted Vani's curiosity. She was sitting in her room which was next to the dining area. She came out to look who the guest was and made an awful face thinking "this man again" with lip corners pointing downwards.
"Chandi is an elegant name too, Sir. And its meaning is destructor of evil. My heartfelt greetings to you, Sir," she said as she walked towards them.
Nivid was taken aback for a moment but then he made an awful face thinking "this girl again" with lip corners facing downwards.
"This is my second daughter, Vani," Prabhupada introduced her.
"Hahaha," Nivid forced a laugh. "Maiden, you always make an amazing introduction."
"Haha," Vani laughed and stopped suddenly. "Yes!" She said and glared at him. "I don't like an inch of this man."
"Oh! They told me that they have met you and Prince Bali before. Haha." Prabhupada said.
As the conversation proceeded, Nivid asked about Dhani indirectly. The mood was happy and everyone was having a good time except for Vani, who was suspicious of Nivid. The man was asking about her sister too much, but none of her parents seemed troubled by it and Dhani was so innocent for all this from her point of view.
Dhani told him about her boons. As she counted her boons, Nivid was shocked to learn that she had received these many blessings from the Lord.
The dinner had ended but Nivid's mind was more in termoil than before finding out about her boons.
"Are they making things up just so their daughter can get into a wealthy and powerful family? I need to check further. I am going to Nilgiri Hills tomorrow."
With these thoughts, Nivid bade farewell to the family.
●●●
Weeks later, in a meeting among the court people of Veerapalli, Surender informed Prabhupada that they would need to go to Ambipur, a nearby village surrounded in dense wood where Keechak, his nephew, would be coming. He advised him to meet Keechak there.
"Accompany me to Ambipur. You will be able to get to know him better."
Prabhupada agreed. The journey was to start in a day thus the preparation started.
"I am going to Ambipur tomorrow with Chief. I will return in three days."
"Suddenly?" Mala asked.
"I am going to see a prospective groom for Dhani," he murmured so Dhani or Vani could not hear him.
Mala smiled and nodded her head. Vani lifted the curtain at the door and came in. She put her hands on her waist.
Pa, are you going to Ambipur? I also want to go."
Both Mala and Prabhupada were surprised to see she knew it, and then showed a poker face to her.
"No, you can't go there. Your pa is going for work not for a vacation."
"I know. But, I want to go. You know Ambipur is known for its rainforests and beautiful sceneries. It's been a while now, I have not gone anywhere outside this village. And as you know, I like going to different places. And my dear friend also lived there. It's been so long, we have not met since she moved to Ambipur. It would be so much fun meeting her again. You know her mother makes the best laddoo in the whole world. I want to taste it again. Haaaa. My mouth is watering just at the thought of those laddoos. I want to go. Father, please, take me with you. The jewelleries of Ambipur are also one of their kind. I want to buy them too. And I will also bring some flowering plants from the rainforest. And I also came to hear that the....."
The list was long of what and what else she wanted to do in Ambipur which ckocked both Mala and Prabhupada to breathe.
"Stop It. Stop it," Prabhupada said and breathed the air. He looked at Mala and said; "Once she starts speaking, just keeps on speaking and speaking." "You don't have a break, do you?" He asked Vani.
"Take her with you. I can't listen to her crying for three days," Mala said.
"All right. Prepare to leave tomorrow."
"Can we take sis with us too?" Elated, Vani asked.
Her question made them look at each other.
"No. She has just come here. Let her enjoy her home life," Mala said.
"But, mother, she has not seen other places so much. Isn't is good that she travels a little and enjoys herself. Soon, she will get married and leave us. After marriage, after kids, which woman gets time to fulfil her wishes?" Vani said.
The little girl succeeded in manipulating her parents. They became emotional on the thought of Dhani's marriage. They agreed and Mala decided to go too.