The World of Courtesans c10.37

c10.37

In the Eighth Act, a Buddhist monk is shown washing his clothes in a pond in the Pushpakarandaka garden. Shakara rebukes him and strikes him and then lets him go. He sits in the garden and tells his friend that he cannot get Vasantasena out of his mind After some time his bullock-cart driver arrives with Vasantasena inside. The Vita finds this out and is surprised to see her. Vasantasena tells him what has happened. They try to hoodwink Shakara. Shakara sees her. He is infuriated and remembers the occasion when she escaped from his clutches He orders his friend to kill her. The friend refuses; a similar order to the driver meets with the same fate. Shakara begins professing his love for her. Naturally she spurns his advances. Enraged by her refusal, he tries to strangle her, and she falls down on the ground unconscious. The Vita and the driver soon discover the crime. The Vita is afraid and knows that it is folly to stay there, so he leaves the place. The driver is ordered by Shakara to wait for him in the tower of his palace