Pained, she reconciled herself to spending her 10th day in Parappana Agrahara.
As she sat inside the chamber of the jail superintendent, anxiously watching television for the Karnataka high court's verdict, came news that bail had been granted. Rising to her feet, she thanked the Almighty and directed women jail officials to pack her belongings, which include some saris and books.
Relieved after a television channel ran a breaking news ticker about conditional bail, she returned to her room and sent word to her foster-son Sudhakaran, and aides Sasikala and Ilavarasi. Almost unbelievingly, she then switched to an English news channel and to her dismay, a ticker read: Karnataka High Court rejects Jaya bail plea.
She collapsed into her chair. It was a cruel twist - even Sudhakaran had said bail had been granted after a few quick phone calls.
Unclear what to believe, and which television channel she could trust, Jaya stood outside the superintendent's chamber and directed Sasikala to confirm the news.
About 10 minutes later, Sasikala made things clear. Quietly, Jayalalithaa entered her chamber again and sat before the television for about 16 minutes, before walking back to her first-floor cell. Sasikala's desperate efforts to console Jayalalithaa evoked only a signal to remain silent. She then lay down on her cot.
The VIP convict's morning, though, was a lot better and filled with hope.
Having woken up by 7am, she stepped out for a brief walk, and was at the library till 9am. After breakfast, she met Sasikala and Sudhakaran near their rooms. By 11am, she entered the superintendent's chamber and began watching television.
But the court kept her waiting. Television channels announced that the bail hearing has been put off to 2.30pm. She finished lunch and even found time for a pleasant afternoon nap. She returned to the chamber by 2.40pm, and what followed was not at all pleasant.
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