Yajnyawalkya Chapter 40.
Far away in a little village were two women, withdrawn from the life around them, huddled in silence and naturalising the language of fear and endurance. Suddenly one of them stirred. It was Maitreyi. She turned around and raising herself on her elbow bent over the face of her companion. Katyayani felt the touch of her breath and woke up. "What?" Are you awake still? What hour of the night is it?" Getting no reply from Maitreyi Katyayani got up from bed and clasped Maitreyi's hand resolutely. Maitreyi was motionless as though hit by some force that made her immobile. She continued to stare in the darkness. Katyayani shook her up to bring her back to her senses. There was no response, only a dead silence. Katyayani shook her up violently and then cried in distress, "What's wrong with you? I just can't handle you. Why don't you speak? Don't you understand how exasperating it is to have you lying beside me like a haunted creature?" Wisdom and...