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JAINA STORIES
"Hm
Now, the princess felt some doubt about the man in whose company she had eloped and many a question disturbed her mind.
'Is he proud? Does he not understand what I say? Is he angry? Why does he not talk with me and convey his love to me "'
She was now sure that she had come out with a different man, that she had taken a wrong step or she had been deceived. She was pretty sure that this was not the man whom she loved, When it was dawn, she could clearly sec the man seated beside her. Her dreams now vanished and the ground almost slipped from beneath her feet She had only scorn and remorse for what she had done Her mind went back to the palace, to her parents, the king and the queen, their great affection for her, her own comfortable life-all these were left behind and that for good, and she had stepped into a great uncertainty The princess could no longer bear and fell down in a swoon When she regained consciousness, she bewailed and lamented, to become senseless again.
Harıbala knew not what to do He read into her mental agony. He realised that he could not live with her in peace and comfort. He thought of the deva-if he could do something to save the situation.
Time is the best healer. With the passage of time, the princess became somewhat consoled She could blame none save herself. All that had happened was her own doing. It was no use lamenting for what had been left behind wiser it would be to look ahead and build up the future.
If an arrow, haphazardly cast, hits the target, it becomes a source of joy for the archer Such a thing now happened to the princess She opened her tired eyes to look at the man and wanted to ask him about his family, profession, residence and many other things. Just at that moment she heard a Voice from the sky :
'Princess, you are lucky. It would be a folly on your
