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The Mockery of Fate
313
"Dear Chief Minister! What you say is absolutely right! The people of the city do not know that Anjana has become pregnant in the absence of Pavananjay."
Their discussion ended there. The Chief Minister returned to his residence after requesting the king to prevail upon the queen to have patience for a day and not to act unwisely in accordance with her opinion.
Shilaratna, the Chief Minister was indeed a gem of virtues besides being a man of sharp and incisive intelligence. He sent for a trusted spy of his by name Jayanad. Jayanad was absolutely devoted to the Chief Minister. Moreover, he was a man of exceptional intelligence and intellectual sharpness. He had displayed his exceptional, intellectual brilliance on many occasions and had impressed the Chief Minister greatly. Jayanad, at once, appeared before the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister looked at him; and smiled. He saluted the Chief Minister bowing his head and sat down on a seat as desired by the Chief Minister who suggested by means of a wave of his hand to be seated there. The Chief Minister explained to him all the details of the situation and asked him to secure all the essential information about it. Jayanad saluted the Chief Minister and went away to carry out his task.
The Chief Minister kept wating for Jayanad. Six hours had passed after he had gone away. Yet he was not to be seen. The goddess of the evening was emerging slowly and was taking the world into her lap. Even then, there was no sign of Jayanad. The Chief Minister was greatly worried. His impatience and worry increased every moment because he had to take a decision on the basis of the information collected by Jayanad and then he had to meet the king and tell him about his opinion.
The night came on. The world on account of the day-long labour was getting ready to take rest. The first phase of the night had passed and the second phase had begun. The Chief Minister was waiting for his spy, Jayanad like a Chataka bird waiting for its mate. Just then someone knocked on the door of his chamber. The Chief Minister got up from his seat
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