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331
JAIN RAMAYAN
They walked slowly and reached the city. There were two guards at the gates of the city. When they tried to enter the city the guard stopped them and said :
"You cannot enter the city”.
“Why ?" Vasanta said a little angrily.
"It is the king's order that you should not be allowed to enter any city in this Kingdom and that no one should give you shelter".
Anjana did not like to say anything. She was silent. She thought about the situation for a while and then turned back. She began walking towards the forest. After walking for sometime they reached a dense and wild forest. They noticed on the way a huge peepal tree. They sat in its shadow to take rest. Anjana's heart throbbed in pain and anguish and she sobbed and wept. She thought again and again.
"How unfortunate I am! My elders have punished me without finding out the truth. They have punished me but put off an examination of my situation. Ketumati has done what is good for her. She has expelled me as an immoral woman; and has thus tried to safeguard the noble name of her family; and my father.. He too has done something for which his relatives and the members of the royal family will praise him. I thought. at least, my mother would give me shelter. For a distressed woman her mother is the only support and shelter. Her mother is the greatest refuge for such a woman. But has my mother also thought of safeguarding the sanctity of the royal family? But, of course, she has to abide by the wishes of my father. Dear brother! Prasannakirti! What is it that you can do in this situation ? and my husband, my dearest lover... my lord ! you are far, far away from me and you do not know the calamity that has occurred to me. You do not know into what a dreadful whirlpool of misery I have fallen. Since you are not here you too have not been able to help me. Friends have become foes. Relatives have become hostile and my in-laws have become out-laws".
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