He came !!...Bhakti - 4

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'What are you doing, daughter?' he cried.<br><br>

Without saying a word, Sarvamangala ran from the

room.<br><br> Devicharan asked his wife to prepare a fresh

offering, and when it was ready he again sat down to

worship the Mother.<br><br> Again Sarvamangala crept into

the room and ate up the food that was being offered,

and again Devicharan asked his wife to prepare some

more.<br><br> For the third time Sarvamangala crept into the

room and ate up all the offering. Now Devicharan felt

angry with her.<br><br> 'What is wrong with you today?'

he cried. 'Do not spoil my worship again. Go

away.'<br><br> Sarvamangala went to her mother. <br><br> 'Father

told me to go away, Mother,' she said, 'so I am

going.' 'Today you will have to go back to your

father-in-law's house, child,' her mother replied, 'for the

festival is over. When your father has finished the

worship he will take you home.'<br><br> When Devicharan

at last finished the puja he went to his

wife.<br><br> 'Where is Sarvamangala?' he asked.<br><br> 'She

was here a short while ago,' his wife replied. 'She

must be waiting for you to take her home.'<br><br>

They searched and searched for Sarvamangala, but could

not find her anywhere.<br><br> 'The foolish girl must

have gone alone to her father-in-law's house,'

Devicharan said. 'I must go and see that she is

safe.'<br><br> When Devicharan reached the house he was relieved

to see that his daughter was there.<br><br> 'I

scolded you for spoiling the worship,' he said to her.

'Is that why you came away alone? Are you very angry

with me?' 'What are you talking about, Father?'

Sarvamangala replied looking very puzzled.<br><br> 'Did you

not eat up the offering as I was doing the puja?'

Devicharan said. 'Did I not scold you?'<br><br> 'But,

Father, I have been here all the time,' Sarvamangala

replied. 'My father-in-law told you I could not go with

you.' Devicharan was astonished. Then he understood

what had happened. It was Durga herself who had come

in the form of his daughter.<br><br> 'Mother,

Mother,' he cried, weeping tears of joy. 'You came to me

and I did not know

you!'<br><br><br>=================================================