The Jasmine Throne

Priya struggles with her duties while serving Malini. With no help from other servants and under Pramila’s constant surveillance, Priya feels like she has been imprisoned herself. Malini refrains from questioning Priya about what happened with Meena. Priya also becomes increasingly frustrated with Pramila’s neglect of Malini and suspects that the woman intentionally disregards the princess’s well-being.

As time passes, Priya’s bond with the Hirana deepens; she hopes that this will soon lead her to the deathless waters. She finally convinces Pramila to give her a break so that she can speak to Sima, who watches over Rukh. Later, Malini asks to be bathed. While Priya attempts to clean Malini’s tangled hair, Malini shares that she dreams that she is burning and that she is regularly drugged with needle-flower. Priya realizes that Pramila is controlling Malini’s physical and mental state under orders from the emperor.

Bhumika defies her guards’ concerns—and her husband’s likely disapproval—and secretly arranges a palanquin to take her into the city. At the execution grounds, Bhumika witnesses the deaths of the captured rebels. The men are crushed by elephants, and the women are burned alive while dressed as brides. Afterward, Bhumika learns that her support of the Ahiranyi rebellion is undiscovered.

From there, she visits her ailing uncle, Lord Govind, who reminds her of how he had brought her back from the temple, which saved her from being massacred with the other temple children. While her uncle sleeps, Bhumika goes to his prayer room to enter the sangam, where she meets with Ashok. He believes that Priya will help him find the deathless waters, and Bhumika fears that the escalating conflict will end in disaster.

Priya wakes one night to find Malini trapped in a nightmare. Priya helps her wake up and comforts her. As they walk together through the Hirana, Priya tells her an Ahiranyi story of a man who married a male yaksa. Although Priya believes that she has made a mistake in telling the story, as the empire has outlawed same-sex marriage, Malini responds with curiosity. Priya refuses to tell her anything about the forbidden Birch Bark Mantras, though Malini is curious about them. However, she does explain the Ahiranyi concept of how the world originated: The Ahiranyi believe that the world began with the rivers flowing from the world egg. Malini says that the Parijati believe they came to this world from another world, which burned.

Their conversation comes to an abrupt halt when Pramila catches them outside and accuses them of disobedience. She strikes Priya and forces Malini to take more of the needle-flower. Priya resolves to take control of the dosages to ensure Malini’s survival.

Priya enters the sangam while sleeping and meets Bhumika. They discuss Malini’s worsening condition and speculate about Emperor Chandra’s intentions for her. Priya believes that the emperor wants Malini to burn rather than die by poison.

Priya also challenges Bhumika on her secrecy regarding Ashok’s survival. Bhumika explains that she only acted out of concern. They argue, with Priya stating her loyalty to Ashok and Bhumika emphasizing the importance of preserving what remains of their homeland. Bhumika, however, asks Priya to keep Malini alive long enough for them to figure out their next move. She then shoves Priya under the water, jolting her awake in the real world.

Malini’s bond with Priya deepens as the maidservant continues to tell her stories. However, the effects of the needle-flower worsen, making it harder for the princess to speak and think clearly. Malini reveals that the reason Pramila hates her is that her daughter was one of the ladies-in-waiting who died in the pyre while Malini refused to enter it and burn.

During the day, Priya offers to help Pramila with Malini’s care by administering the needle-flower-laced wine, and Pramila grudgingly agrees to let her take over the responsibility. Later, when Priya gives her the wine, Malini chooses to trust her and drink it.

Rao struggles to cope with the news of the executions; he drinks heavily with Prem. The following day, he visits Lord Govind, hoping to gain information on the local politics. Lord Govind explains that the rebellion is driven by a longing for independence from the Parijatdvipan Empire. He is, however, disillusioned by the violence and idealism that fuel both the rebels and the empire’s actions. He advises Rao to leave Ahiranya before the situation escalates further, warning that the recent burnings will likely incite retaliation from the rebels and result in more bloodshed.

Jitesh is a guard for Vikram’s advisor, Lord Iskar. He is barely awake during a celebration that is being held to mark the end of the monsoon season and the birth of Iskar’s son. The event is full of Parijati elite. The new Parijati commander irritates the guards with his arrogance and demeaning attitude. He complains about recent rebel activity, dismisses the power of poets and rebels, and glorifies the recent burning of Ahiranyi women. Suddenly, an assassin in a mahogany mask appears and kills the commander. A massacre begins as more rebels arrive and slaughter the guards and guests, including Lord Iskar and his wife. Jitesh tries to escape, but he is cornered by another assassin.

Malini’s health rapidly improves after Priya stops administering the needle-flower. With Priya’s help, Malini takes a walk around the room. Their conversation turns playful, with Malini asking Priya to share what she wants most. Priya is distracted by her growing attraction to the princess, but she answers that she wants one of the rare coconuts from the forest that open to reveal dark purple flowers—the wealthy use them as offerings. As Malini listens, her mood shifts from playful to pensive, leaving Priya confused by the sudden change. Soon after, Malini withdraws emotionally and asks to be left alone. Though Priya doesn’t have the key, the door opens by itself.

Outside, Priya notices that the floor markings have shifted from waves to jagged, flame-like patterns. Pramila arrives and informs Priya that a terrible attack has taken place in the city. Malini joins them as they look out over the temple grounds and see that the city is ablaze.

Priya runs toward the exit, but she is stopped by the guards, who remind her that no one is allowed to leave the Hirana. Priya and Malini retreat to a secluded room to talk. Priya is desperate to leave and check on her loved ones, but Malini wants to use the confusion in the city as a chance to escape imprisonment. She tries to convince Priya to help her. She suggests that Priya could kill the guards and Pramila to secure their escape; Malini tries to use her vulnerability and Priya’s attraction toward her to sway Priya’s decision. However, Priya sees through Malini’s manipulation and confronts her about it, only for Malini to argue that they both have something to gain from each other. Priya ultimately cannot bring herself to help the princess in that moment and leaves the room. Once away from Malini, Priya reconnects with the sangam.

Ashok leads his rebels through the forest after their attack on Lord Iskar’s home. They dealt a devastating blow to the imperial regime, but one of Ashok’s followers, Sarita, succumbed to the effects of the deathless waters. When consumed away from the source, it leads to death if not followed by another dose. Since their supply is dwindling, they leave her to die.

Ashok senses Priya calling to him through the sangam. During their meeting, Priya confronts Ashok about the assassination of Lord Iskar, but he justifies it as necessary for freeing Ahiranya. He presses her to find the deathless waters, and when she resists, he forces her to experience the pain and loss of humanity that he feels from consuming vials of the deathless waters. Hurt and disillusioned, Priya flees.

Priya returns to her body from the sangam and feels as though she is drowning. As she comes to, she realizes that she is surrounded by an unnatural growth of moss, flowers, and vines that have overtaken the walls around her. Malini tells her to stop the wild display of her power before anyone notices, especially Pramila. Though Priya tries to focus, the pain from Ashok’s attack overwhelms her, and she loses consciousness.

Malini recalls how, during her childhood, Chandra cut her hair as a punishment for holding a knife while playing with her ladies-in-waiting. From this incident, she learned how to use tears and vulnerability as a weapon.

In the present, Malini realizes that she attempted to push Priya too soon, and she decides that she will have to find a new way to manipulate things in her favor. She finds Priya unconscious and surrounded by plants and shakes her awake. Once fully conscious, Priya confronts Malini about the fact that she used her vulnerability to gain her trust. Malini reveals that she tried to have the throne given to her brother Aditya, who left to become a priest of Alor’s nameless god, instead of Chandra. She asks Priya to deliver a message to Rao, promising that Ahiranya would gain more autonomy under her brother Aditya’s reign. Priya agrees, but she demands to be treated as an equal rather than as a servant. Malini agrees as well, sealing their uneasy partnership.