The World of Courtesans c11.149

c11.149

But the bawd was not satisfied with this success. She decided to cheat Panka's father Shankha She went to the market and saw his father there He was troubled by the absence of his son He was seated on a high cushion and was wearing a dirty cap, torn socks and frayed clothes. She went up to him and told him that in order to rescue his son from the clutches of scoundrels she had given him shelter in her house. There he had married her daughter. After this happy event she had decided to proceed on a pilgrimage She wanted to deposit with him a sealed casket which contained her ornaments To gain his trust she fell at his feet. The greedy shopkeeper thought that this was a chance to make easy money He agreed to defray Kankalī's daily expenses and accepted a dinner invitation to her house. The condition was that she should take a rupee and half as the cost of the dinner. This was because he had made a vow never to eat food paid for by others. Of course this did not stop him from enjoying a very satisfying dinner at the place of his supposed relative.