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276
JAIN RAMAYAN
place with Anjana whose beauty and nobility are universally acclaimed, and now will you betray that 'trust your father has reposed in you? Do you realize how deeply his heart would be pained and grieved if you now refuse to marry Anjana ? Have you thought about this ?”
"I will never betray my father's trust in me!” said Pavananjay changing his tone a little.
"But dear friend! You are doing that very thing. Your behaviour is such that anybody can say that you are betraying the trust reposed in you by your father. Do you realize how deeply your father will be grieved when he comes to know of this? Dear Pavananjay! I know very well that you will be angry with me for having given you this suggestion. But it is my duty as a dear and true friend of yours to reveal to you my thoughts and feelings on this subject without any concealment. Whatever I know; whatever I have understood from the situation, I have told you frankly. This is my duty as a true friend of yours. If by doing so, I have offended you in any way, kindly pardon me". Prahasit's voice was choked with emotion. With a choked voice, he continued :
"Really, this is a machination of your evil fate. Otherwise, you would not have suspected such a stainless and noble lady as Anjana. It is nothing but the cruel mockery of fate that such a baseless accusation should be made against Anjana who is the very embodiment of nobility and purity. When mis ortune descends upon people then differences and dissensions arise in their minds destroying their affection and love; and rifts appear even among close relatives. Such are the machinations of fate !”
"Prahasit! The substance of all that you have said so far is that I should safeguard the honour and prestige of my elders even if it means the ruin of my life".
"Pavananjay. My dear friend ! That is not at all my intention. If my advice were to cause the ruin of your future life and happiness, I would not have insisted thus upon your marrying Anjana. In fact, I strongly believe that if you marry Anjana your
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