66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

had commanded me directly.”
“Never mind, you can still please him by your action. Now
leave at once, and he will feel happy that you have acted
without embarrassing him.”
“I want you to assure him that I am not in the least pained
by this order. I will take your word as his.” He saw his father’s
plight and moved closer.
Kaikeyi said, “I will attend to him. Don’t waste your time.
You must leave without delay. That’s his wish.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll do so. I will send a messenger to fetch
Bharatha without any delay.”
“No, no,” said Kaikeyi. “Do not concern yourself with
Bharatha. I’ll arrange everything. You make haste to depart
first.” She knew Bharatha’s devotion to Rama and, uncertain
as to how he would react, preferred to have Rama well out of
the way before Bharatha should arrive. “I’ll take leave of my
mother, Kausalya, and leave at once,” said Rama. He threw
another look at his speechless father and left.
When Rama emerged from Dasaratha’s palace, a crowd
was waiting to follow him to the assembly hall. Looking at his
face, they found no difference on it, but instead of ascending
the chariot waiting for him, he set out on foot in the direction
of his mother’s palace. They followed him.
Rama went up to his mother, Kausalya. She was weak
with her fasts and austerities undertaken for the welfare of