Scene 1

Place: Courtyard of the royal temple. Rani Ratnaprabha, Maitreya and Mandahasini enter.

RATNAPRABHA

Oh, Maitreya Bhattji …

MAITREYA

At your command, Rani Saheb!

RATNAPRABHA

Where is he?

MAITREYA

Kichaka or Virata Maharaja?

RATNAPRABHA

The one who should be by my side!

MAITREYA

The one who should be by your side is on this side.

RATNAPRABHA

“This side” means?

MAITREYA

“This side” means “That side!”

RATNAPRABHA

I must tell Rani Sudeshana that her employees don't know how to talk.

MANDAHASINI

Maitreya Bhattji, Rani Saheb is asking you where has Kichaka Maharaja gone?

MAITREYA

That only dasis like you would know! When Kichaka Maharaja comes to the palace, he searches for Sairandhri or fools around with Saudamini or laughs with Mandahasini – so how am I to know? Besides Rani Saheb, when Kichaka Maharaja enters the royal temple all these dasis fly and hide like owls hiding from the sun. So we can't say where Kichaka Maharaja is or is not, nor where he will be or will not be!

RATNAPRABHA

Mandahasini, you walk a few steps ahead of us and find out whether or not he is in Sudeshana Vahini's palace!

MAITREYA

And as Kichaka Maharaja sets foot in Sudeshana Rani Saheb's palace, send me a signal immediately. Our Rani Saheb has planned a lunch for Virata Maharaja. And I have been ordered to attend. So what I mean to say is as soon as the food is served, call me.