The Palace of Illusions

by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

“A problem becomes a problem only if you believe it to be so. And often others see you as you see yourself.”

“Only a fool meddles in the Great Design. Besides, your destiny is born of lifetimes of karma, too powerful for me to change. But I’ll give you some advice. Three dangerous moments will come to you. The first will be just before your wedding: at that time, hold back your question. The second will be when your husbands are at the height of their power: at that time, hold back your laughter. The third will be when you’re shamed as you’d never imagined possible: at that time, hold back your curse. Maybe it will mitigate the catastrophes to come.”

I advise you to forget about love, princess. Pleasure is simpler, and duty more important. Learn to be satisfied with them.”

Expectations are like hidden rocks in your path—all they do is trip you up.

“Can’t you ever be serious?” I said, mortified. “It’s difficult,” he said. “There’s so little in life that’s worth it.”

But when you share a man’s pillow, his dreams seep into you.

Wisdom that isn’t distilled in our own crucible can’t help us.

sometimes one has to drop logic and go with the instinct of the heart, even if it contradicts law.”

I was surrounded by redness, though I wasn’t in a room. The walls undulated, gave off warmth. I had no body, no name. Yet I knew who I was. Someone spoke to me encouragingly, in a familiar voice, telling me that it was my turn now. I must go forth to do my duty. But I held back. It was so comfortable in this place. So safe and undemanding. Also, I was worried by the enormousness of my task. Can I really change history? I asked. What about the sins I’ll incur, being the cause of so much devastation? The voice was as gentle as a brook wending through pebbles. Try to remember that you are the instrument and I the doer. If you can hold on to this, no sin can touch you. Instrument, I repeated. Doer. It sounded simple enough, though I suspected that it would become more complicated once the game began. I asked, What if I forget? He said, You probably will. Most of them do. That’s the beguiling trick the world plays on you. You’ll suffer for it—or dream that you’re suffering. But no matter. At the time of your death I’ll remind you. That’ll be enough.