black and blue, when you spoiled my dinner by touching my dishes? Parbati—my sweet sister! just sing a song.
My heart's cherished secret is that,
Where is the maid on gallant's lap?
Where is the moon within clouds' wrap?
Vain, oh vain, is my covert-craft!
You see, Parbati, I am miserably confused—I feel, as if, some one is absent—he was here, but now he is not—some one is expected, but he does not turn up—I have come somewhere, but I feel I have not—I want some one, but I know him not."
Sundari was taken aback and she looked Chandra Shekhar in the face, anxious to know what the matter was. Chandra Shekhar called her near him. He then whispered into her ears that Shaibalini had gone mad. Sundari now understood everything. She remained absolutely silent for a time. First of all, her eyes looked a bit brighter with moisture—they then became wet, and finally, tears came out of them in torrents—Sundari began to weep. Blessed are women in this world! This Sundari, on another occasion, had sincerely wished for Shaibalini's death—she had
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