Rupasikha collected all her jewels and precious ornaments and Srungabhuja took the golden arrow which had been the reason all this had started and they started on their journey to Vardhamanapura.
When they had gone some distance away Agnisikha came to know that the couple had left his kingdom.
Agnisikha flew towards them.
The second that Rupasikha heard her father's wings she had an idea. She saw a woodcutter cutting wood nearby. She used her magic and made her husband invisible. Then she took the axe from the woodcutter and asked him to stay silent. “There is a Rakshasa who is coming in this direction. If you do not talk, then he will ignore you and not injure you any further.”
The word cutter did not doubt Rupasika's words.
Rupasikha changed herself to look like a man and she held the axe in her hands.
Agnisikha flew and stood before Rupasikha in her male form. “Have you seen a couple go by in this direction?”
Rupasikha pretended to look tired and shook her head. “Sir, we are dead tired and did not see anyone. We have been cutting wood for cremating Agnisikha who is dead.”
Agnisikha was shocked when he heard these words.
Foolishly he nodded at the young man who had spoken to him. “I will go back to my servants and ascertain whether I am dead.”
After Agnisikha had gone back, Rupasikha made her husband visible and gave the axe back to the woodcutter.
The lovers laughed and rode on.
Agnisikha’s servants were all stunned on hearing the king's question.
However, they all managed to convince the king that he was alive.
So Agnisikha again went after the couple and this time Rupasikha transformed herself as a postman. She was standing with a letter in her hand when Agnisikha flew up to her and asked her the same question.
Rupasikha heard the Rakshasa's words and pretended to sadly shake her head. “Sir, I am very sad. I am about to deliver this letter saying that Agnisikha had been wounded in the battlefield and he was about to die.”
The Rakshasa was again a little worried when he heard this and went back to his servants to ask them the truth about this.
The lovers laughed again at the king's foolishness and rode on.
In a short time both Rupasikha and Srungabhuja came to the city of Vardhamanapura.
King Virabhuja was overjoyed on seeing his son and his new daughter-in-law and welcomed them.
On seeing his father, Srungabhuja told the king everything that had happened because of the golden arrow and he also told the king what he had suspected about Ayasolekha’s role in confining Queen Gunavara in a cellar in her own room.
After hearing this, King Virabhuja felt that Srungabhuja was right.
So to set his mistakes right, Virabhuja asked his queen to be released and he also appointed Srungabhuja as his crown prince.
Supported by Rupasikha, Srungabhuja ascended the throne and he was a very good king and he ruled the kingdom wisely and well.
Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara
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