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Devadasi
Chapter Listing
CHAPTER V
When Udayar arrived at Meena's house, she was having lunch. He walked
straight into the kitchen. ' Meena girl ' wash your hands and come with
me,' he said. ' We are going on a pilgrimage and you are going to have
a ride on the new railway.'
Muthu was speechless, but Meena left her lunch, washed her hands and
went into her room to get the few things necessary for the journey.
It was then that Muthu started shouting and wailing. ' How can she go
away now ? ' she cried. ' What will the priests say ? How can I answer
them ? What will the devotees who come to the temple expecting
Meena to dance, say? It is the most humiliating thing that can happen
to a dancer to be forced not to keep an appointment at the temple ! '
' But Meena is no longer a dancer,' said Udayar.
' We are deva daasies; it is our profession and it is our life,' Muthu
shouted. ' Who are you to come and interfere with the tradition of a
thousand years ? '
' Well, it is not going to be Meena's life any longer' Udayar shouted back,
'and the sooner you get that into your head, the happier you will be.
Here is hundred rupees for your expenses while we are away. Give some of
it to the priests and there won't be any trouble.'
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