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Only One Blunder
349
could not get a wink of sleep. Thinking calmly for a while she went out. Walking silently she went to the palace of Queen Lakshmivati.
"Who are you? Why have you come here at this time of the night?” The guard at the door asked her in a harsh manner.”
"I am Sulekha,” she said in a calm tone. “At this time of the night ?"
"I want to meet our noble queen!” She went near the guard and said. He knew Sulekha very well. He had seen her several times with Queen Lakshmivati taking part in the devotional activities such as worshipping the Lord and performing the Arti in the evenings. He also knew that she was Kanakodari's companion. So he permitted her to go into the palace. She approached the chamber of Queen Lakshmivati, and knocked on the door impatiently.
Queen Lakshmivati was still awake. Somehow, she was not able to sleep on that night. Her heart had been greatly moved by Kanakodari's candour and confession of her sinful action. This is the speciality of noble souls. If someone commits a mistake knowingly or unknowingly and makes a clean confession of it and if that person repents her action a great soul thinks of her virtues only; not her vices or weaknesses. Lakshmivati thought of Kanakodari's virtues instead of thinking of her vices or weaknesses. She felt elated by Kanakodari's confession. She just then heard a knock on the door and opened it.
“Who is it ?” "Sulekha”. "Sulekha ! At this time of the night ?”
“Yes, my dear queen,” saying this she came into the chamber and fell at her feet. She washed her feet with her tears.
“Oh! What are you doing? Why all this grief ?” Queen Lakshmivati said patting on the back of Sulekha affectionately.
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