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190
JAIN RAMAYAN
back to Ayodhya ? Ah! Yes! You decided to leave Ayodhya and to live in forests only to see that Bharath was crowned the king of the country."
"My dear Sita ! You are right in entertaining this doubt but I will speak to Bharath. He will never disobey me. Otherwise, such thoughts about the future may be entertained.”
“My dear lord! What you say is right. It is true that even in absent-mindness, Bharath will not disobey your words. Bharath has unexampled affection and regard for you. But we should not forget that there can be two consequences of that affection. One is that impelled by his affection for you, he may insist upon your accepting the kingship, and the other is he may carry out your orders with absolute dedication."
Sita opened her heart to Shri Ram because she had found an opportunity to speak out her mind freely. After their return to Ayodhya, she might not find time for it.
The night had almost ended. Sita bowed to Shri Ram and returned to her chamber.
Vishalya's thoughts, agitations, and aspirations were totally different from those of Sita. Just as Sita was sleepless on that night which was to be their last night in Lanka, Vishalya also was sleepless because the goddess of sleep was playing hideand-seek with her. Therefore in a mood of agitation, she too went to Lakshman's chamber that night. On seeing Vishalya, Lakshman sat up on his bed. He increased the flame of the light and sat on his bed.
There was silence in the room. After being silent for a while, Vishalya said :
"I wonder why I have not been able to sleep this night.”
“What wonder is there in it? I too have not been able to get a wink of sleep this night.” Lakshman said at once.
"I think this night you are thinking of Ayodhya.”
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