66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

The king remained silent a moment, then said, “I have not
forgotten.”
“Bear with me if I repeat some small details that might
escape your recollection. Let me help you. You said, ‘Ask for
two boons of your choice and you shall have them.’ And then
what did she do?” When he failed to answer, she added, “I
said I would wait to take them, and you vowed, ‘Whenever
you like—even if it is a hundred years hence, you shall have
whatever you ask for.’ ”
The King, who was becoming increasingly uneasy, simply
said, “I see that the time has come for you to ask.” There
was no cheer in his tone. He was seized with dismal
forebodings.
“Should I speak about it or not?”
“Get up and put on your festive clothes and jewellery so
that you may shine like the resplendent star that you are. Let
us go.”
“Yes—in proper time—after you have fulfilled your promise
to me.” He had completely lost all courage to let her mention
them. The sound of words such as “promise,” “vow,” “fulfill,”
“boon” shook his nerves. She looked up at him with tears in
her eyes. He dared not look at her; he knew that he would be
overwhelmed by her charms, and when she said presently,
“Leave me now. Go back to your Kausalya and feast and
enjoy. Leave me to myself.” It was not necessary for her to