Rup then went to the malini, and she drove him out, disgusted with his loathsome appearance. But her niece called him back and promised to free him from his disease. She fasted the whole of the next day, and kissed the whole of his body, bringing upon herself the doom foretold by the wise men. And Rup became once more a young man, with his former personal charms. Fortune smiled on him, and his business prospered, making him the master of immense treasure. But the hand that was showering the blessings was unseen. It was that of Kanchan, now in heaven.
After some time, Rup was again called upon to start on a voyage. He did so to his advantage, and returned home a millionaire. One day, while he was moodily passing by the palmyra tree into which the malini's niece had been changed, a drop of water fell on his head. He looked up and caught a piece of cloth hanging down. It was a part of Kanchan's sari. She was seated on the crown of the tree, and thence addressed her husband thus, "My husband, I am your slave, and I thank you for your kind looks. You have made me happy, but I have stood in the way of the malini's niece. My sisters thought of coming here to-night to restore her to her former self. Now that you have touched me they will not come."
Ruplal, completely staggered at this revelation, sat down on the ground quite dazed, with his hands to his head. Kanchan, however, assured him that further grief was unnecessary, and that she would from that time remain at his side, on condition that he would let her have her own way at night, and that he would not question her as to her movements, however strange they might appear. She then promised that in seven days she would give him back the malini's niece. After that they went to Rup's house. There they spent several days very happily, without any new occurrence. But soon afterwards Kanchan one night left her husband while he slept, and went off unknown to him.
