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JANUARY, 1981
'Prabhavati, why have you come here ?', The prince asked.
'Why?' She was hurt at these words, but she controlled herself. She said, 'For not any particular reason. Whose praise I had heard from the lips of Kinnara damsels and who had shown his valour in defeating the Kalinga king I could not check myself to look at him from near. If you were not awake I would have returned silently...' Then after a pause, she said, 'Prince, I am going now but before that I want to ask you a question, if you permit.'
'Ask, please.'
'Prince, when I came here what good dream you were dreaming?'
A smile spread on the lips of prince Parsva. He said, 'For which I came here I have been able to accomplish, that dream.'
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'Only that!' Saying so she turned to go away. Her voice hardly concealed a tremor.
But in the midst said prince Parsva, 'Oh good one, what dream you were expecting?'
With her eyes downcast Prabhavati remained silent. Then she said, 'Please drop this topic.'
'But I want to know.'
"Then hear. If I exceed my limit please forgive me. I was thinking that you were dreaming of her who had given her heart to you, for whose rescue you have rushed from such a distance, that in the dream she was placing the wedding garland on your neck and amongst the sweet hymn and blowing of counch-shell you were making her your own beloved for ever."
'Sweet is your fantasy.... not come here to win a bride.'
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but oh good one, you know that I have
'I know... ...but......say now, after looking at the face of a woman who loves you, are not your lips athirst? Are not your breathings have become rapid? Is not your heart eager to be absorbed in a sweet ecstasy by drinking the nectar of the lips of the damsel of Kushasthala ?"
'No, my fair lady!'
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