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JAN RAMAYAN
There was silence everywhere. It was like the silence of the burial-ground. Queen Ketumati said breaking the ice : "Honoured Chief Minister! We should now turn away Anjana from our city without a moment's delay". Even now she was angry. Her anger had not abated.
“Honoured queen! We should act as you suggest, if we find that Anjana is guilty". The Chief Minister who was old and experienced spoke in a voice that rumbled like the roar of a sea.
"What is your opinion ? Don't you deem her on offender ?”
“Noble queen! I have gone to the roots of the matter and according to my information. Anjana is absolutely innocent”.
"Oh ! How is it possible ? She is an offender. There can be no doubt about it. She is a treacherous woman; a sinner of the worst kind. Where is the need for examining this case at all ? This is as clear as the sunlight that for the last twenty-two years my son has not even glanced at her face. When that is so how could there be a meeting? How can there be any question of their happy union ?
“Cannot affection arise in the heart of Pavananjay for Anjana ?”"
"Yes! Affection can arise ! But I do not want the honour of our royal line to be stained under any circumstances. I do not like the name of our family to be stained in the eyes of the world. People believe that Pavananjay even by a mistake has not spoken even a word to Anjana during these twenty two years. They cannot believe that he visited her on that night. Anjana became pregnant after Pavananjay went away to the wars. Under these circumstances, what else can we get from the people except derisive laughter and ridicule, except disgrace. Our royal line whose honour has been resplendent has today been stained”.
"If we can convince all people of the truth where will be any room for ridicule or disgrace? The question of the honour of our royal line being stained does not arise”.
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