________________
episode of seven kodis and loved each other more than their own lives.
Once during a voyage, they reached an island which was inhabited by a demi-god who used to devour humans. There, they went for a stroll in an extremely beautiful garden. The atmosphere there was so pleasant and charming that Sursundari's eyes began to close and soon she put her head on Amar's lap and fell asleep. Amar was looking down at his wife's innocent face lovingly, enraptured by her beauty and grace. Suddenly, he remembered the episode of the seven kodis. His own insult, Sursundari's ego and anger – all these filled his mind with bitterness. In just a split moment or two, he became so hard-hearted that he tied seven kodis at the edge of Sursundari's sari, who was fast asleep, along with a note challenging her to buy a kingdom with those seven kodis. He abandoned her and fled towards the seashore. He spun a story that a man-eater demi-god had suddenly swooped down on Sursundari, snatching her away and that he had barely managed to escape. He suggested that they should all leave the island immediately. Everyone got on to the ship as quickly as possible. The anchors were lifted and the ships set sail. The whole episode occurred in the blink of an eyelid. What was the outcome? Sursundari had to undergo terrible calamities time and again, reading about which would fill anyone's eyes with tears. Though Amar forsook Sursundari, he immediately felt a deep remorse. Not a day went by when he did not cry. His love for Sursundari was still intact because of which he was always dejected and sad. Sursundari, on the other hand,
63