Manthara, the hunch-back maid of Kaikeyi who was the latter’s close confidante, instigates her. She said to Kaikeyi—] ‘Seven days have passed since all the paraphernalia required for anointing Ram as the prince regent of the kingdom of Ayodhya have been arranged by the king (but you were kept in the dark). What do you ask me now—you are very simple-hearted (and don’t understand the gravity of the situation).’