________________
LIV
THE ABDUCTION OF JANAK
"Are you suffering from any disease?"
Silence !
"Has anyone dishonoured you ?"
Silence!
"Are you afraid of any enemies?"
Silence !
"Then, has anyone ridiculed you?
Silence !
But when Chandragathi did not get any answers to his questions, he was deeply worried. Bhamandal stood before him silently with his eyes fixed on the ground; as if he was a stoneimage. He was in a strange dilemma. He could not say anything. Words rose from his heart like waves but they broke against the shores of his mind and receded. He found himself between the devil and the deep sea. He could neither speak out his thoughts nor keep quiet. He could not speak out his thoughts to his father. He felt it improper. Chandragati was totally ignorant of Bhamandal's mental state; yet by looking at the thoughts and emotions manifesting themselves on his face he could realize that he was worried about something, some secret problem which he could not reveal. He seemed to be hesitant to speak out.
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