One day the Grand Queen Mother summoned Jasumati, consort of her royal grandson Crown Prince Surchandra and said, “My dear, keep a close ey...
One day the Grand Queen Mother summoned Jasumati, consort of her royal grandson Crown Prince Surchandra and said, “My dear, keep a close eye on your daughter. She is wilful and is going to be a handful. It is not enough to be kind-hearted. It will not do to be an accommodating and accepting worm of a person. You do not have any male offspring. The astrologers also say your daughter is of strong birth. I want to find a good match for her and get her married. What do you think?”
“The Grand Queen Mother needs only to instruct us. What can your humble servant say? After you inform your royal grandson, I defer to whatever the Divine Majesty and the Grand Queen Mother decide,” replied the meek Lady of Satpam.
Jasumati was a gentle woman. No one in the palace talked about her much. She may have had her disappointments and sorrows but she expressed them to no one. Most people in the palace did not even know of her existence. Her senior sister-wife Premamayi, Lady of Ngangbam, dominated all. Even though Premamayi was not the first wife of Surchandra, she overshadowed all – and so it must be. It was...
