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The Mockery of Fate
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well up with tears. Her throat was choked. She was greatly grieved and vexed by the calamity that had overtaken her dearest friend Anjana. She wiped the tears that were streaming down her cheeks."
The Chief Minister, Shilaratna was listening to Jayanad's narration with deep concentration. After having heard the entire story, he made a sign with his hand suggesting that Jayanad might leave the chamber. After he went away, the Chief Minister was lost in deep, thought. He thought, "Undoubtedly Anjana is innocent... She is absolutely chaste and pure. She has not committed any enormity. Surely, Pavananjay should have come on that night and met her. The child in Anjana's womb is his;
ot anyone else's. There is no room for any doubt in this matter. But the greatest problem now is to convince Queen
of the truth. Her mind and heart are now completely filled with doubts and suspicious regarding Anjana's chastity and wifely purity. How can her doubts and suspicions be removed ? How can she be made to realize and accept the truth.” The night had far advanced. The second phase was over and the third phase had begun. The whole city of Adityapur was asleep, but he could not get a wink of sleep. The Chief Minister's heart began to shake with compassion when he thought of Anjana's anguish. How good it would be if he could prevail upon Queen Ketumati to realize the truth but she might not realize the truth in spite of all that he might say.
The Chief Minister slept reciting Shri Namaskar Mahamantra. He did not know when he had slept. A few hours later there appeared the saffron-coloured radiance of the sun in the east. Cool breezes were blowing slowly. Birds began to twitter in the trees. Animals began crying as a sign of their waking from sleep. The sweet sounds of bells rung in the Jin temples in Adityapur filled the air. After having carried out his morning ablutions and duties the Chief Minister set out for the royal court.
King Prahlad and Queen Ketumati were waiting for the arrival of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister entered the court; saluted the King and sat in his seat.
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