You provided love, you touched her intimately for a long time. Now in a fatal twist you’ve inflicted the rawest wound. Tender words can’t assuage her unbearable jealousy. Our friend needs to cry now— grief has unlocked her throat.
—Amarushataka 7
When she’d been icy he dropped at her feet. But accused of cheating in secret he bristled and left. She exhaled audibly both hands on her breasts and glanced through moist eyes at her girlfriends.
—Amarushataka 19
Why is this enchanted creature asleep, a sash fastened over her robe—? He was softly querying the servants when she cried bitterly Mother, he disrupts my dreams even here! and turned as if sleeping to make room on the bed.
—Amarushataka 20
Each turned aside on the bed silently suffering secretly hoping to reconcile but afraid to lose face. At some point their furtive eyes met— there was a quick unintentional laugh and the quarrel broke in one wild embrace.
—Amarushataka 21
In bed he whispers the wrong name. She feels her youthful enthusiasm wilt & curls coldly away from excuses. He falls silent. And she turning back softly eyes him— Don’t go to sleep.
—Amarushataka 23
The lord of her heart made some injurious remark. Lacking the counsel of friends she could not compose her bewildered body or phrase a slant reply. Blue eye petals darting about she just wept— tears on bright cheekbones locks of stray hair.
—Amarushataka 27
Now I know everything. Please go. Talking is pointless. You don’t bear the slightest blame, fate has simply turned from me. If your so abundant love comes to this what pain could I experience if hateful life— mere flicker of nature— departed?
—Amarushataka 28
She averts a well-bred face when her lord fingers her skirt. He moves to enfold her she extracts her limbs mildly. Caught wordless, eyeing the conspiratorial smiles of her bridesmaids at a first joke the girl nearly perishes.
—Amarushataka 36
We’d been drinking. She noticed wounds on my skin from her own fingernails and bolted up jealously. Let go, she cried when I caught her skirt. Tear-streaked face averted lower lip quavering— who could forget what she said next?
—Amarushataka 47
Unhappy women have used tears, severe oaths, even collapse to prevent a lover from traveling. Darling I’m a pluckier girl. Good luck & for your early departure I hope a good day. After you’re gone you may hear what I see fit to do with my love life.
—Amarushataka 52
Hear his name and every hair on my body’s aroused. See his moonlike face I get moist like a moonstone everywhere. He steps near enough to touch my throat & pride is broken oh hard diamond heart.
—Amarushataka 58 Note: In Indian folklore the moonstone is said to secrete moisture when struck by a moonbeam.
You’re determined to lead your whole life like a child? Develop some pride take a risk with a lover you need to be devious. Her face whitened at her friend’s admonishment— speak softly he’ll hear you he dwells in my heart.
—Amarushataka 82
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