The World of Courtesans c9.43

c9.43

One day, however, Vasantatilaka's mother told the infatuated lover that since he was now a pauper, the time had come for him to quit. But Vasantatilaka loved Dhammilla intensely and she frankly told her mother that she would not bear any separation from him. The mother pretended to accede to her daughter's wishes. But she actually worked out a plan to get rid of him. To gain her end, she decided to hold a festival in honour of the local deity (*kabbadadevata*) and invited her relatives and other courtesans to be present at the festival. After the worship of the deity, Dhammilla ate and drank in the company of Vasantatilaka and her friends. Soon he was in an absolutely drunken state and Vasantatilaka's mother got him removed to a place outside the city. When he gained consciousness, Dhammilla bemoaned his fate and cursed the perfidy of the courtesan. But there was nothing left for him to do but proceed to his own home. There he found that his parents had died. He was disgusted with his life and retreated to a forest.