66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

fact, I do not doubt that he will be extremely happy.”
His father’s deviousness was rather startling, but if he
noticed it, Rama did not show it.
This worry at the back of Dasaratha’s mind about
Bharatha’s claim turned out to be a valid one. Though
Bharatha was away, his cause and claim were espoused by
his mother Kaikeyi so energetically that it brought on
disaster and changed the whole course of events in Rama’s
life. It came about thus. Kooni, a freak and hunchback (and
nicknamed thus on account of her deformity), was the
favourite of the King’s favourite wife, Kaikeyi. On this
particular day she climbed to the top terrace of Kaikeyi’s
mansion to view the city, and noticed the festoons and lights,
and asked herself, “What are they celebrating today?”
When she went down, inquired, and found out the cause of
the celebrations, she became excited, bit her lips, and
muttered, “I will stop it.” She hurried to Kaikeyi’s chamber
and shouted at her mistress, who was resting, “Is this the
time to sleep? Wake up before you are ruined.” Kaikeyi
opened her eyes and cried, “You! Where have you been?
What is troubling you?”
“Your impending fate,” replied Kooni.
Kaikeyi was curious, but still without rising she said,
“Kooni, something seems to be the matter with your health.
Won’t you call the physician and see that he sets you right?”
She laughed and said, “Now calm down, sit near me, and