66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

When Rama took a step, the whole crowd stepped
forward, and it stopped when he stopped. No one spoke.
Considering the vastness of the crowd, the silence was
overwhelming. There were tears in several eyes. Rama told
someone nearest to him, “Now, I’ll take leave of you all,” and
brought his palms together in a salutation. They returned the
salutation, but moved when he moved, showing not the least
sign of staying back. They surrounded Rama, Sita, and
Lakshmana. The crowd was suffocating. After they had
proceeded along for some distance, the crowd made way
for a chariot which pulled up. Sumanthra got out of it and
said, “Get into the chariot. Sita Devi may not be able to walk
through this crowd… .”
Rama smiled to himself. “She has undertaken to keep me
company and may have to go a long way on foot yet.”
“Still, when a chariot is available, please come. At least
you can leave the crowd behind and get ahead… .”
Rama helped Sita up into the chariot. The horses started
to gallop, but not too far—to no purpose actually, as the
crowd made it difficult for the vehicle to proceed except at a
walking pace. Rama said, “Let us go slowly; no harm.”
Lakshmana added, “Our stepmother has at least refrained
from specifying how fast you should get away!”
They reached the banks of the river Sarayu and camped