The World of Courtesans c11.147

c11.147

Panka who had learnt the lessons of *ars amoris*, behaved like a grown up man He entered the room and sat by the side of Kalavati and mechanically began telling her his jokes Then following a previous arrangement a band of people entered and began praising Panka. Kankali introduced the members of the assembly to him Each of them was given *pan* after the introduction was over Among the friends and relatives of Kalavati appeared the barber, a conch-blower, a Shakta priest, the son of a revenue officer, a bar-tender, a drummer, a nurse, a gardener, a florist, a cobbler and so on After they had munched *pan* leaves, drinks were brought in and the revels began. The *vitas* boasted among themselves, "I am the right hand of the king in the battlefield; the state is at my beck and call." "Dramaturgy owes its existence to me" "I am the issuer of wealth." "I have calculated the circumference of the earth." "I am the doctor of Bhoja (the ruler of Malava) and I have pleased the king with my verses." After the group was dismissed Panka retired with Kalavatī to the bedroom.