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21 " it’s not enough to merely love someone. Even if we love them with our entire being, even if we’re willing to commit the most heinous sin for their well-being. We must understand and respect the values that drive them. We must want what they want, not what we want for them. "
― Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni , The Forest of Enchantments
22 " Such is the ancient law of the universe. Of karma and its fruit. The idea of motive is irrelevant to it. "
23 " The laws of karma were complicated, and ultimately, one never escaped them. "
24 " Bushes would pull in their sharp thorns and burst into flower when I watered them or loosened the earth around their roots. Squirrel-like creatures, their long white hair smooth as silk-thread, would scurry up to take berries from my palm. "
25 " Sometimes he sang to me, making me smile because he was always slightly off-key, my husband who was so perfect at everything else. For me, that was part of his charm. "
26 " Such rulers were adored by the citizens they protected, but often their families had to bear the brunt of sacrifice. "
27 " Endure your challenges. "
28 " Mostly their troubles were minor ones, for they followed a healthy lifestyle, waking at sunrise to bathe in the river, then spending long hours in study or prayer, followed by daily chores, simple meals, storytelling "
29 " I was forced to face the truth. Ram no longer cared for me. Or if he did, it was pushed deep down inside him, suffocated by kingship. And since the children came from my body and were subject to the same gossip and doubts, he couldn’t afford to care for them either. "
30 " He told me that visions of all he needed to write came to him at the oddest moments, forcing him to abandon other activities and write them down. "
31 " To return to the peaceful forest, its healing green canopies. To return to the ashram community, where everyone trusts and accepts me, "
32 " Rage rises up in me until my whole body is scorched, for some kinds of burning don’t require a fire. Not a word of love, not a word of apology for the sorrow he has caused me. Not a word about the unjust and cruel way in which he sent me away. He hasn’t even called me by my name. "
33 " Anger and self-pity are useless emotions, so I push them away and speak calmly, even though my heart is breaking all over again. "
34 " did you think of the impact your actions would have on the women of the city? That men would punish their wives harshly or even discard them for the smallest refractions, saying King Ram did so. Then why shouldn’t I? "
35 " What enchantment did my betrothed possess that made even enemies forget their ancient rivalries in their desire to make him happy? "
36 " He’d probably kill us both with the same blow. A little part of my mind said, That’s all right. It would be better than living on alone if he killed Ram. "
37 " be polite and respectful to all and don’t take sides. "
38 " fashion wasn’t as important to me as to Urmila. There would be time enough to wear my mother’s saris. And in any case Ram’s eyes were on me all the time, too. "
39 " Ram wasn’t shy about telling me what pleased him, and he asked me what I liked until I overcame my shyness and answered. Bedtime became at once exciting and joyful, a secret gift I looked forward to all day while we went about our separate duties—his as heir-apparent, mine as new bride. "
40 " How, without detaching ourselves from the spell of the past, can we focus fully on the moment that faces us? "