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Kaveri and Agastya
35 It was Kaveri's fifteenth birthday. After her bath she said her prayers and received blessings from her Gurudev and the munibalakas. But Agastya was not there, and she feared for him. Knowing her anxiety, the sage suggested that she seek his benediction also on the auspicious day. She first blushed and then bowed to him and went in search of Agastya.
He was found in an unlikely site-in the cool fragrant shade of the flowering trees. What was he doing there? Nobody could tell, because he was covered by the blossoms. Kaveri softly arrived behind him and amorously tickled him in the ear with the hem of her garb. "Oh, it is you,” he said amusedly. "Kaveri, I am making this garland for you. This is my birthday present to you.” She sat by his side, but he refused her offer of help in his pleasant preoccupation.
"Agastya,” she began, “today I want to make you one request. Will you grant it ?”
"It is granted, my dear Kaveri.”
"I desire to spend some time with you in the idyllic setting near the peak. You say I was born there. I am anxious to see the place."
Agastya was stupefied. But exercising great restraint, he parted her on the cheek and said: "Kaveri, I can take you wherever you want to go. But there is nothing in the thick thorny wood, near the peak, and it is a long and steep climb. There are much better ways of spending your birthday.”
"But I am curious to see the place where you first found me, and, remember, you have promised to take me there.”
"All right,” said he resignedly and rose, holding the halfstrung garland. “Let us go."
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