Rup, waking up, missed her and waited for her, feigning sleep. When the dawn was about to break she returned, and threw herself on the bed. The next night she again went out, while her husband pretended to be asleep. She returned at midnight and tried to awaken him, but he neither moved nor gave any sign of being awake; and so, three times putting the dust of his feet on her head, she again quitted the room in tears. Rup ran out of the room by another door, and finding his wife in the chariot of heaven that he had once seen, he got on to it from behind, unperceived. The chariot reached heaven, and Kanchan went into Indra's hall and commenced dancing, Rup concealing himself behind a pillar and observing what passed. One of those who were playing on instruments could not keep time with the dance, and the gods and the dancers were very much displeased, and Rup, who was an adept in instrumental music, could not resist the temptation of moving to the spot, snatching away the instrument from the awkward musician, and playing on it himself. The scene was then turned into one of voluptuous music: tum tum tum, went the dhole (drum) whang whang whang went the sound of the tanpura (a musical instrument supplied with chords), and pat pat pat went on the dancers. The fascination that surrounded Rup was observed by his wife, and she could not help casting looks of love and approval at him. Indra marked this, and also the fact of his being a human being, and guessing that he was Kanchan's lover, hinted to her that the secret was no longer hers. At this she blushed in confusion, and falling prostrate before the god, admitted the truth, and prayed that she might from that day be excused from attending his court. Her prayer was granted, and not only that, but Indra made a gift of the chariot which had so long been at her service, offering at the same time any other boon she might ask. Encouraged thus, she asked the fan in his hand, with the object of bringing back the malini's niece to life, for fanning with it was known to possess the power of reanimating the
