It was such a headache convincing the servants to leave me for the night.
I sat in bed, thinking long and hard about what excuse to use. What if I said I wasn't feeling well? They would call for amma, and she would then insist that at least one of my servants stayed with me. No, this wouldn't do. I couldn't risk a single one, not even Aadhira, my handmaiden. What could I do? I hadn't realized that I had groaned, and apparently loudly, because Aadhira came running in, asking if I needed anything.
"No, Aadhira, I cannot fall asleep, that's all."
She opened her mouth, presumably to ask me if I'd like a glass of warm milk, but clamped it shut when I shook my head. "There's no need to bother yourself. It is very late, rest for the night." Aadhira blinked twice, tidied her saree, and left the room, closing the door behind her.
It was only a few hours until midnight, a few hours until the midnight bell rang, and a few hours left to plan my getaway.