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The Mockery of Fate
311
"I do not know what to do. I do not have even the slightest doubt regarding Anjana's purity and nobility but at time it is also true that she is pregnant. It is also well-known to all of us that for the last twenty-two years Pavananjay has not even seen her face. Let alone seeing her face; he has not even seen her shadow. He has kept himself completely away from her. When that is so how could Anjana become pregnant ?" King Prahlad explained the situation to his Chief Minister.
"What does Anjana say about it? What is her explanation? What does she say? Have you tried to find out her explanation ? Have you been able to go to the roots of the matter ?” The Chief Minister said this to understand the problem
fully.
"Anjana has told Ketumati that Prince Pavananjay came to her chamber on the very night of the day on which he set off on his march of victory; that he spent the whole night with her and that he has given her his signet-ring as a proof of his having visited her and that the child in her womb belongs to him."
On hearing this the Chief Minister began to think about every detail deeply. Several thoughts rose in his mind. He had heard a lot about Anjana's nobility and chastity. He knew that Pavananajay had abandoned her. He had not heard even a single word of complaint or censure against Anjana so far. Not only this; the whole city knew very well that even in the absence of Pavananjay, Anjana was taking care of her chastity and purity. Till today, no one had noticed any defect either in her actions or in her words; and no one could point out any defect in her character and such a noble woman had now become a subject of censure.
The Chief Minister was silent. He began thinking...." "In life, may not even the best people commit a mistake knowingly or unknowingly ? Sometimes one who has crossed a mighty ocean heroically, gets drowned in the back waters on the beach. Even a person who remains unshaken in the worst of calamities that rage like whirlwinds and tempests may be shaken in a weak moment and may soon lose all the grace and glory attained
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