The World of Courtesans c8.141

c8.141

When their love-making was over, the *nayaka* and his beloved simulated shyness. They did not look at each other squarely in the face and both proceeded to the toilet room. When they returned to the bedroom, they still simulated shyness and took their seats a little away from the bed. The nayaka offered her pan and applied sandal-paste and unguents to her body, caressed her with the left hand, and held the wine cup in the right. He spoke to her in a sweet voice. They had a lavish dinner, sipped water, ate sweets and other food which suited their taste. Lying in the lap of her lover the *nayika* gazed at the moon and he in turn explained to her the movements of the planets. He pointed out Arundhati, the star Alcon The belief was that the failure to see this planet presaged death within six months. The lover showed her Dhruva, the Polar star. If one sighted it, the sin committed during the day was washed away. He also made her watch the group of Saptarshi.