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Ganga and Santanu
81
"I do not know young lady. I have no recollection of my having ever seen you before. We could not have met, because you and I seem to belong to two different worlds. I make obeisance to your charm and comeliness the like of which I have never seen in my life.”
"Not even in dreams !” she said in jest. "You must be a thoroughly boring, unimaginative type and your wife—or wives ?-must be feeling miserable, indeed. Anyway I am flattered to be told that I am beautiful. But, I repeat, I have heard of you before."
"I hope you have no prejudice against me on that account.”
"I thought you were really worthy of your reputation. Are you not ashamed of parading your prowess before tiny birds and beasts? Perhaps your army is good only at hunting and not at fighting.”
"Is this all you heard about me and my army? Now may I know who you are ?"
"I myself do not know who I am, I seem to belong to none and none to me. But I cherish my freedom and obscurity."
"You are telling a lie. No, you are not happy." "Have you found happiness ?”
"No. I often ask myself: 'Am I not seeking it in killing?' Can you give me the answer ?"
"Is it not obvious ? You need a woman who can wean you away from your diabolical diversion." i "Perhaps. But where can I find one worthy of me?"
"Oh, how conceited! Any woman is worthy of you, a congenital killer. It is a question of her choice, not yours. TM-6
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