"Once upon a time," Ramesh began, "there was a tribe of Rajputs and they had a peculiar custom. When one of them was going to marry he did not go himself to the bride's house but sent his sword. They considered it beneath them to go in person to the bride's house to be married. The king that the story is about belonged to that tribe. One day he-".
Ramesh was interrupted by Kamala "You haven't told me what place he was king of and what's his name." Kamala insisted on having everything cut and dried and would take nothing for granted. Had Ramesh been aware of this he would have come better prepared to the task. Having perceived her eager as she was to hear the story, he understood that he had to suffer to omit every detail of what he was to say.
"His name was Ranjit Singh, king of Madura. One day he heard from a minstrel that the king of Conjeveram, Amar Singh, had a beautiful daughter, named Chandra. Ranjit Singh, king of Madura, despatched a herald to the king of Conjeveram asking for the princess's hand in marriage. Amar Singh, king of Conjeveram, readily gave his consent to the match. The royal astrologers made their calculations and fixed upon an auspicious day and hour for the wedding. The time chosen was the twelfth night of the dark fortnight,two hours after midnight. That night all houses were festooned with garlands and the whole city was illuminated to celebrate the marriage of the princess Chandra."
"'At the time of her birth the sage Paramananda Swami had announced to her father, 'The aspect of one of the planets portends evil to your daughter. When the time comes for her marriage do not divulge to her the name of the man whom she is to wed.' And thus the princess did not know who her destined husband was."
"At the time appointed the princess went through the marriage ceremony with the sword. Ranjit Singh had deputed his younger brother, Indrajit Singh, to attend the marriage ceremony to perform the required formalities at the marriage ceremony. Indrajit Singh proffered the customary gifts on the bridegroom's behalf, and did obeisance to his brother's wife like Lakshman was to Rama, and did not raise his eyes to the face of the noble maid blushing behind the veil keeping his eyes fixed on her lovely little feet dyed with lac beneath the jingling anklets."
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