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132
JAIN RAMAYAN
"What can I say?.... Oh! The protector himself has become a cannibal !” The Chief Minister said in an agitated voice. His heart was deeply agitated and his face was clouded with despair.
"What did you do ?”
“I tried my best to prevail upon him to put an end to his ignoble habit but all in vain. Can we ever store water in an inverted pot ?”
"Did he listen to your advice ?” “No”.
“Then what have you thought of doing next”.
“You tell us what steps we shall adopt.” The Chief Minister instead of giving a reply put a question to them.
“We are sure that you would have thought of some measure". “Yes, of course”. “Then why delay”. “No; it's not a question of delaying....yet...." “You may tell us clearly what your plan is."
"Prince Simharath has to be installed upon the royal throne of Ayodhya”.
"And the king ?” "He must be dethroned and deposed”. “How can this be done ?”
"It is only to discuss that point that I have invited you at this time of the night", the Chief Minister said looking straight into the eyes of the leading citizen. The leading citizen who was a man of shrewd and incisive intelligence, at once, thought of the details regarding the plan they had to implement.
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