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The Wheel of Joy and Sorrow
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band's face which had been the delight of her dreams for sometime past.
Silence and stillness prevailed everywere. Dense darkness enveloped the city of Adityapur. "Within a few monents, the god of my dreams will arrive ! The soft noise of his steps will fill my heart with the sweet melodies of love! And then there will be a sweet and sublime union of our hearts. Our hearts will meet and unite for ever! I will surrender myself to him, heart and soul ! I will place at his feet all that is mine!” This infatuation of various amorous thoughts and emotions began to flash through her eyes like lightnings.
The Chief sentinel watching at the gates of the royal palace rang a bell to indicate that it was twelve in the night. Anjana woke up from her dreaming sleep. When she looked around with searching eyes, she could see no one in the chamber except Vasanta Tilaka who was fast asleep at her feet. At once, she began to shiver with a nameless fear.
"Vasanta !....” called Anjana, shaking violently her maid who was fast asleep on the ground. Her voice shook with grief.
"Hasn't Pavananjay come yet ?” She said looking at Anjana with her eyes full of amazement.
“No!" Anjana said with a broken heart.
There was silence everywhere.... the dreadful silence that causes nameless fears !.... The silence of the cemetery that fills the heart with a nameless grief.... the fair-complexioned face of Anjana was clouded with despair and dread. Various kinds of inauspicious thoughts and fears shook her to the brims of her being.
"But how long can we keep awake thus ? Come on. Let us go to sleep,” said Vasanta in an affectionate and sympathetic tone, taking hold of her hand.
“Dear friend ! I cannot sleep, now"; said Anjana, heaving a deep sigh; and looked out into the window to conceal her tearful eyes from her.
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