"Hmm, is that so? You came at once to find a cure for the plague?" Physician Gentala looked sharply at Nalini.
The girl nodded clumsily again. She knew that all eyes in the room were now looking at her. A look of disbelief, perhaps half disdain.
"Hey, little girl. We elders haven't found the cure yet, how much more you little snot?" Nalini was right. Discordant voices began to emanate from the healer's mouth.
"Yes, that's right. We have tried various methods but the plague has not been completely cured, instead it has spread throughout the country." Other voices began to chime in.
Great Physician Gentala tapped the wooden back of his chair with his stone ring.
"Calm down, this young doctor is right. He was sent all the way by the empress and must have great abilities, don't interrupt him." Physician Gentala tried to respond wisely.
"I heard that Queen Padma's condition is getting better after her treatment."
People whispered again and began to stare admiringly at Nalini.
"Oh, no-no. It wasn't me, it was my mother who did the treatment. I was just helping her," Nalini said uncomfortably. She was embarrassed by Tabib Gentala's praise.
Healer Gentala stood up from his chair. The people fell silent and waited for his next order. "I think this lesson is enough, if anyone is still confused, we will have another meeting next month."
The healers replied in unison and thanked him. Actually, most of them had already understood the lesson. Everyday they worked and became healers.
Their presence at the great healer's house was just a formality and to establish good relations. Physicians who were invited to attend the grand physician's residence would definitely be respected and have a good reputation in the eyes of the public.
"For you young physicians, take part in the medical lessons held here at certain times." Physician Gentala said that specifically to Nalini.
"Thank you, Great Physician. I will do my best to learn," Nalini replied. Her heart felt light now, she had taken a big step forward. Her lips wore a smile, very sweet.
Without waiting for people to ask any more questions, the Gentala healer left the room. Two bodyguards wearing headbands obediently followed her.
One by one, the healers left the place. Including the five childbearing shamans who had been with Nalini. The few healers who did live in the house stayed behind to assist the great healer.
Nalini walked back to her temporary home, the room at the far end of the grand physician's house. She walked slowly behind an old woman healer holding a cane.
Knowing that someone was walking behind her, the old doctor turned his head and waited for Nalini. Without a smile, she scolded Nalini.
"Walk quickly. You're so young, why do you walk so slowly like a snail?" she asked in a stern tone.
Nalini was instantly shocked by the doctor's scolding. She hurriedly stepped up and was about to precede him. However, she was again scolded by the woman in the lurik kebaya.
"Hey, young man. You are not very polite! There is an old man walking weakly instead of going ahead. Did you not see me?" she asked again. She threw away the betel nut she had been chewing with her right hand.
Nalini stopped and organised her emotions. Of course she couldn't be angry at the old healer.
"Sorry, grandma. Let me help you," Nalini said, extending her hand. She intended to help the grandmother and guide her hand.
But instead of accepting, the old healer pointed her stick at Nalini. "I don't need your help, I can walk on my own!"
"Yes, yes. Come, grandma. I'll walk behind you." Nalini really couldn't understand the old doctor. She tried hard to be patient with her unpredictable behaviour.
"Well, that's better. Walk behind me but not far. If I fall, you can help me quickly," said the old doctor nonchalantly. She quickly walked again while swinging her staff.
Nalini looked puzzled but then chuckled. She just realised that she had found a type of human similar to Radmila but in an older form. She followed the old doctor's footsteps right behind her.
The old doctor headed to the same hut used by Nalini. She entered and laid down on one of the cots. The bed was different from the other cots. There was a thick and soft mattress. It looked like it was specially prepared for her.
"You live here too?" she asked Nalini. Her eyes were half closed. She looked very tired.
"Yes, grandma. I live here. A servant brought me here this morning," Nalini replied. She sat on a cot a few rows away from where the old healer lay.
The room was still quiet. It seemed that the other occupants had not returned and were still busy with their work.
"Is grandmother a healer too?" Nalini ventured to ask.
"I used to be a healer, now I'm old. I only treat people sometimes," the old woman replied. Her eyes squinted a little but then closed again.
"Excuse me, may I know, what is your name?" For some reason, Nalini felt safe with the old healer. Even though from the outside, he looked grumpy and angry.
"Has Radmila told you about me yet?" the old woman asked lazily. She seemed reluctant to tell her name.
Nalini shook her head. "Not yet, grandma. I've only met Princess Mila once, she hasn't told me much."
"Huh, that Mila. She's already told me a lot. That's why I bothered to follow you," said the old woman as she sat down again and smoothed her hair.
"Huh? Mila's daughter told grandmother about me, how come?" This time it was Nalini who was surprised. Her mouth was half open. The people in the great healer's house were really strange.
"Sshh, don't keep calling me 'grandma'. I'm not that old. I'm Mila's mother." The old woman got off the bed swiftly. She didn't have any trouble at all as she walked with a cane.
Nalini gasped at the woman's words. She immediately dropped herself and saluted her. "I'm sorry, Princess. I did not recognise you quickly enough."
The woman did not reply, instead she chuckled. "Stand up. I am not what you think I am. Nor do I deserve your respect in such a way."
Nalini rose and sat closer to the woman. The tail of her eyes watched her briefly. The woman who claimed to be Radmila's mother was probably 60 years old. True, the lines of their faces were similar at first glance.
"My name is Sarala. When I was your age, I was a maid in this great physician's house. The great physician I'm referring to is Gentala's father. Little did I know that he wanted me and made me his concubine until Radmila was born." Sarala began her story.
"Oh, so Sarala's mother was Gentala's stepmother?" asked Nalini who was beginning to understand the storyline of their extended family.
Sarala gave a small nod. Her fingers rubbed her eyes like dust had entered them when she heard Gentala's name.
"Physician Gentala is my stepson. I used to take care of him wholeheartedly, raising him with love like my own son. Unexpectedly, this is how he repaid me."
"Ehm, you mean, healer Gentala doesn't want to return the favour?" asked Nalini almost incredulously.
"It's not that he doesn't want to return the favour but he no longer wants to acknowledge me as his mother, he hates me because he thinks I made his mother die."
Nalini was stunned. She was shocked to hear Sarala's story. "Why is that? Did you also study medicine in the past? Have you ever been a healer too?"