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114
Tales from Indian Mythology
She brought water from the nearest pond and sprinkled it on his face. He did not stir. She tickled his eyelashes with the edge of her garment. At last his first symptom of life, a smile, flickered on his lips. Now she began to feel uneasy ; for she found herself with a stranger! Meanwhile he opened his eyes mumbling : "Who are you? Where am I ?” She would have ignored him and gone her way. But having brought him back to life, she did not like to abandon him in his miserable state. So she softly replied: "I am the daughter of the Sun God. They call me Tapati. Never mind where you are. It is all the same in this jungle. But I can assist you, if you want to escape from here. This is no place for people like you."
“People like me! What do you mean? Do you know who I am ?”
"No. Nor have I any intention of gathering information about stranded strangers.” She added, smiling: "However handsome they may be. But before we part, I want to make sure that there is nothing that I can do for you. You must be hungry. Let me fetch some food."
"No. I am all right. Your mere presence is enough for me."
"But I cannot be with you for long! It is already late and I must go, lest my father see us together. You do not know his wrath."
"I wish you had left me alone. Some wild animal perhaps would have eaten me up. But my pain would have been less acute than what awaits me during your absence.”
She vanished suddenly, as he was still talking to her. He continued thus : "Do not abandon me, Tapati, I need you. I am worthy of you. O Daughter of the all-seeing Tapana, your father knows me. For I am to the earth what he is to the fir
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