The Far Pavilions - Mary Margaret Kaye [54]
‘Someone,’ said Koda Dad, unimpressed by the Rani's apparent change of heart, ‘should remind that boy of the tiger of Teetagunje, who feigned to be a vegetarian and invited the buffalo's child to dine.’
The court too regarded this new situation with a sceptical eye and predicted that it would not last. But as the weeks went by and it was seen that the Rani continued to remain on good terms with her step-son, it lost its novelty and in time came to be accepted as a normal state of affairs; which delighted the Rajah and pleased the majority of the Yuveraj's household – with the exception of old Dunmaya, who could not be brought to trust the Nautch-girl, and Hira Lal, who for once found himself in agreement with her. ‘Never trust a snake or a harlot,’ quoted Hira Lal sardonically.
Ash too had benefited briefly from the changed atmosphere, for Lalji's happiness and high spirits made him wish to make amends for his former unkindness to the boy who had, after all, once saved his life; though Lalji no longer believed that his step-mother had been in any way involved in that incident. It must have been an accident, he felt certain of that now; and also that there had been no need for him to insist on Ashok's presence in the palace, or any valid reason why he should continue to restrict his liberty. The obvious thing to do now would be to permit him to come and go as he chose. But Lalji was nothing if not obstinate and his pride forbade him to go back on any orders he had once given. He resolved, however, to be kinder to Ashok in the future.
For a time it almost seemed that Ash had been reinstated in his original position of companion and confidant to the Yuveraj. But it did not last. He was not aware of having done anything to offend, and he could not understand the reason for his second fall from favour – any more than he had understood the previous, and equally sudden, reinstatement. But the fact remained that once again, and without warning, Lalji turned against him, and from then on treated him with unreasonable and increasing hostility. A trinket mislaid or an ornament broken, a curtain torn or a parrot ailing – these and a dozen other petty mishaps were laid at his door and he was duly punished for them.
‘But why me?’ demanded Ash, bewildered by Lalji's inexplicable change of heart and, as always, taking his troubles to Koda Dad. ‘What have I done? It's not fair! Why should he treat me like this? What has happened to him?’
‘Allah knows,’ shrugged Koda Dad. ‘It may be that one of his household became jealous of his renewed favour towards you, and has whispered falsehoods against you to bring you down. The favour of princes breeds envy and makes enemies; and there are some who have no love for you. He they call “Bichchhu” for one.’
‘Oh, him. Biju Ram has always hated me; though I do not know why he should, for I have done him no harm and I have never stood in his way.’
Of that I am not so sure,’ said Koda Dad.
Ash looked a question, and Koda Dad said dryly: ‘Has it never occurred to you that he might be in the pay of the Rani?’
‘Biju? But – but that cannot be so,’ stammered Ash, aghast. ‘He could not… not while Lalji holds him in such favour and gives him rich presents and… He would not –’
‘Why? Was it not the Yuveraj himself who dubbed him ‘Bichchhu’? – and with good reason? I tell you, Biju Ram's blood is as cold as that of his namesake. Moreover, we have a proverb in the country beyond the Khyber, that says “A snake, a scorpion and a Shinwari have no heart to tame” (which Allah knows is true of a Shinwari). Listen, my son; I have heard it whispered in certain quarters of the city, and here too in the Hawa Mahal, that this man is a creature of the Rani's and that she pays him well to do her work. Should this be true – and I think it is – then surely both he and the