the hungry stones and other stories-第21章

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〃Oh；　dear；　no；〃　said　Labanya；　〃I　was　thinking　that　you　haven't　yet　ceased　trying　to　save　that　race…course　of　yours；　so　full　of　promise。　While　there　is　life；　there　is　hope；　you　know。〃

〃That's　what　I　am　afraid　of；　you　think；　do　you？　Very　well；　you　shall　see；〃　said　Nabendu　desperately；　and　forthwith　sat　down　to　write　his　contradiction。　When　he　had　finished；　Labanya　and　Nilratan　read　it　through；　and　said：　〃It　isn't　strong　enough。　We　must　give　it　them　pretty　hot；　mustn't　we？〃　And　they　kindly　undertook　to　revise　the　composition。　Thus　it　ran：　〃When　one　connected　to　us　by　ties　of　blood　turns　our　enemy　he　becomes　far　more　dangerous　than　any　outsider。　To　the　Government　of　India；　the　haughty　Anglo…Indians　are　worse　enemies　than　the　Russians　or　the　frontier　Pathans　themselvesthey　are　the　impenetrable　barrier；　forever　hindering　the　growth　of　any　bond　of　friendship　between　the　Government　and　people　of　the　country。　It　is　the　Congress　which　has　opened　up　the　royal　road　to　a　better　understanding　between　the　rulers　and　the　ruled；　and　the　Anglo…Indian　papers　have　planted　themselves　like　thorns　across　the　whole　breadth　of　that　road；〃　etc。；　etc。

Nabendu　had　an　inward　fear　as　to　the　mischief　this　letter　might　do；　but　at　the　same　time　he　felt　elated　at　the　excellence　of　its　composition；　which　he　fondly　imagined　to　be　his　own。　It　was　duly　published；　and　for　some　days　comments；　replies；　and　rejoinders　went　on　in　various　newspapers；　and　the　air　was　full　of　trumpet…notes；　proclaiming　the　fact　that　Nabendu　had　joined　the　Congress；　and　the　amount　of　his　subscription。

Nabendu；　now　grown　desperate；　talked　as　though　he　was　a　patriot　of　the　fiercest　type。　Labanya　laughed　inwardly；　and　said　to　herself：　〃Well—…　wellyou　have　to　pass　through　the　ordeal　of　fire　yet。〃

One　morning　when　Nabendu；　before　his　bath；　had　finished　rubbing　oil　over　his　chest；　and　was　trying　various　devices　to　reach　the　inaccessible　portions　of　his　back；　the　bearer　brought　in　a　card　inscribed　with　the　name　of　the　District　Magistrate　himself！　Good　heavens！What　would　he　do？　He　could　not　possibly　go；　and　receive　the　Magistrate　Sahib；　thus　oil…besmeared。　He　shook　and　twitched　like　a　koi…fish；　ready　dressed　for　the　frying　pan。　He　finished　his　bath　in　a　great　hurry；　tugged　on　his　clothes　somehow；　and　ran　breathlessly　to　the　outer　apartments。　The　bearer　said　that　the　Sahib　had　just　left　after　waiting　for　a　long　time。　How　much　of　the　blame　for　concocting　this　drama　of　invented　incidents　may　be　set　down　to　Labanya；　and　how　much　to　the　bearer　is　a　nice　problem　for　ethical　mathematics　to　solve。

Nabendu's　heart　was　convulsed　with　pain　within　his　breast；　like　the　tail　of　a　lizard　just　cut　off。　He　moped　like　an　owl　all　day　long。

Labanya　banished　all　traces　of　inward　merriment　from　her　face；　and　kept　on　enquiring　in　anxious　tones：　〃What　has　happened　to　you？　You　are　not　ill；　I　hope？〃

Nabendu　made　great　efforts　to　smile；　and　find　a　humorous　reply。　〃How　can　there　be；〃　he　managed　to　say；　〃any　illness　within　your　jurisdiction；　since　you　yourself　are　the　Goddess　of　Health？〃

But　the　smile　soon　flickered　out。　His　thoughts　were：　〃I　subscribed　to　the　Congress　fund　to　begin　with；　published　a　nasty　letter　in　a　newspaper；　and　on　the　top　of　that；　when　the　Magistrate　Sahib　himself　did　me　the　honour　to　call　on　me；　I　kept　him　waiting。　I　wonder　what　he　is　thinking　of　me。〃

Alas；　father　Purnendu　Sekhar；　by　an　irony　of　Fate　I　am　made　to　appear　what　I　am　not。

The　next　morning；　Nabendu　decked　himself　in　his　best　clothes；　wore　his　watch　and　chain；　and　put　a　big　turban　on　his　head。

〃Where　are　you　off　to？〃　enquired　his　sister…in…law。

〃Urgent　business；〃　Nabendu　replied。　Labanya　kept　quiet。

Arriving　at　the　Magistrate's　gate；　he　took　out　his　card…case。

〃You　cannot　see　him　now；〃　said　the　orderly　peon　icily。

Nabendu　took　out　a　couple　of　rupees　from　his　pocket。　The　peon　at　once　salaamed　him　and　said：　〃There　are　five　of　us；　sir。〃　Immediately　Nabendu　pulled　out　a　ten…rupee　note；　and　handed　it　to　him。

He　was　sent　for　by　the　Magistrate；　who　was　writing　in　his　dressing…gown　and　bedroom　slippers。　Nabendu　salaamed　him。　The　Magistrate　pointed　to　a　chair　with　his　finger；　and　without　raising　his　eyes　from　the　paper　before　him　said：　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　Babu？〃

Fingering　his　watch…chain　nervously；　Nabendu　said　is　shaky　tones：　〃Yesterday　you　were　good　enough　to　call　at　my　place；　sir—〃

The　Sahib　knitted　his　brows；　and；　lifting　just　one　eye　from　his　paper；　said：　〃I　called　at　your　place！　Babu；　what　nonsense　are　you　talking？〃

〃Beg　your　pardon；　sir；〃　faltered　out　Nabendu。　There　has　been　a　mistake　some　confusion；〃　and　wet　with　perspiration；　he　tumbled　out　of　the　room　somehow。　And　that　night；　as　he　lay　tossing　on　his　bed；　a　distant　dream…like　voice　came　into　his　ear　with　a　recurring　persistency：　〃Babu；　you　are　a　howling　idiot。〃

On　his　way　home；　Nabendu　came　to　the　conclusion　that　the　Magistrate　denied　having　called；　simply　because　he　was　highly　offended。

So　he　explained　to　Labanya　that　he　had　been　out　purchasing　rose…water。　No　sooner　had　he　uttered　the　words　than　half…a…dozen　chuprassis　wearing　the　Collectorate　badge　made　their　appearance；　and　after　salaaming　Nabendu；　stood　there　grinning。

〃Have　they　come　to　arrest　you　because　you　subscribed　to　the　Congress　fund？〃　whispered　Labanya　with　a　smile。

The　six　peons　displayed　a　dozen　rows　of　teeth　and　said：　Bakshish　Babu…Sahib。〃

》From　a　side　room　Nilratan　came　out；　and　said　in　an　irritated　manner：　〃Bakshish？　What　for？〃

The　peons；　grinning　as　before；　answered：　〃The　Babu…Sahib　went　to　see　the　Magistrateso　we　have　come　for　bakshish〃

〃I　didn't　know；〃　laughed　out　Labanya；　〃that　the　Magistrate　was　selling　rose…water　nowadays。　Coolness　wasn't　the　special　feature　of　his　trade　before。〃

Nabendu　in　trying　to　reconcile　the　story　of　his　purchase　with　his　visit　to　the　Magistrate；　uttered　some　incoherent　words；　which　nobody　could　make　sense　of。

Nilratan　spoke　to　the　peons：　〃There　has　been　no　occasion　for　bakshish；　you　shan't　have　it。〃

Nabendu　said；　feeling　very　small：　〃Oh；　they　are　poor　menwhat's　the　harm　of　giving　them　something？〃　And　he　took　out　a　currency　note。　Nilratan　snatched　it　way　from　Nabendu's　hand；　remarking：　〃There　are　poorer　men　in　the　worldI　will　give　it　to　them　for　you。〃

Nabendu　felt　greatly　distressed　that　he　was　not　able　to　appease　these　ghostly　retainers　of　the　angry　Siva。　When　the　peons　were　leaving；　with　thunder　in　their　eyes；　he　looked　at　them　languishingly；　as　much　as　to　say：　〃You　know　everything；　gentlemen；　it　is　not　my　fault。〃

The　Congress　was　to　be　held　at　Calcutta　this　year。　Nilratan　went　down　thither　with　his　wife　to　attend　the　sittings。　Nabendu　accompanied　them。

As　soon　as　they　arrived　at　Calcutta；　the　Congress　party　surrounded　Nabendu；　and　their　delight　and　enthusiasm　knew　no　bounds。　They　cheered　him；　honoured　him；　and　extolled　him　up　to　the　skies。　Everybody　said　that；　unless　leading　men　like　Nabendu　devoted　themselves　to　the　Cause；　there　was　no　hope　for　the　country。　Nabendu　was　disposed　to　agree　with　them；　and　emerged　out　of　the　chaos　of　mistake　and　confusion　as　a　leader　of　the　country。　When　he　entered　the　Congress　Pavilion　on　the　first　day；　everybody　stood　up；　and　shouted　〃　Hip；　hip；　hurrah；〃　in　a　loud　outlandish　voice；　hearing　which　our　Motherland　reddened　with　shame　to　the　root　of　her　ears。

In　due　time　the　Queen's　birthday　came；　and　Nabendu's　name　was　not　found　in　the　list　of　Rai　Bahadurs。

He　received　an　invitation　from　Labanya　for　that　evening。　When　he　arrived　there；　Labanya　with　great　pomp　and　ceremony　presented　him　with　a　robe　of　honour；　and　with　her　own　hand　put　a　mark　of　red　sandal　paste　on　the　middle　of　his　forehead。　Each　of　the　other　sisters　threw　round　his　neck　a　garland　of　flowers　woven　by　herself。　Decked　in　a　pink　Sari　and　dazzling　jewels；　his　wife　Arunlekha　was　waiting　in　a　side　room；　her　face　lit　up　with　smiles　and　blushes。　Her　sisters　rushed　to　her；　and；　placing　another　garland　in　her　hand；　insisted　that　she　also　should　come；　and　do　her　part　in　the　ceremony；　but　she　would　not　listen　to　it；　and　that　principal　garland；　cherishing　a　desire　for　Nabendu's　neck；　waited　patiently　for　the　still　secrecy　of　midnight。

The　sisters　said　to　Nabendu　：　〃To…day　we　crown　thee　King。　Such　honour　will　not　be　done　to　any　body　else　in　Hindoostan。〃

Whether　Nabendu　derived　any　consolation　from　this；　he　alone　can　tell；　but　we　greatly　doubt　it。　We　believe；　in　fact；　that　he　will　become　a　Rai　Bahadur　before　he　has　done；　and　the　Englishman　and　the　Pioneer　will　write　heart…rending　articles　lamenting　his　demise　at　the　proper　time。　So；　in　the　meanwhile；　Three　Cheers　for　Babu　Purnendu　Sekhar！　Hip；　hip；　hurrahHip；　hip；　hurrahHip；　hip；　hurrah。



THE　RENUNCIATION

I

It　was　a　night　of　full　moon　early　in　the　month　of　Phalgun。　The　youthful　spring　was　everywhere　sending　forth　its　breeze　laden　with　the　fragrance　of　mango…blossoms。　The　melodious　notes　of　an　untiring　papiya　（One　of　the　sweetest　songsters　in　Bengal。　Anglo…Indian　writers　have　nicknamed　it　the　〃brain…fever　bird；〃　which　is　a　sheer　libel。）；　concealed　within　the　thick　foliage　of　an　old　lichi　tree　by　the　side　of　a　tank；　penetrated　a　sleepless　bedroom　of　the　Mukerji　family。　There　Hemanta　now　restlessly　twisted　a　lock　of　his　wife's　hair　round　his　finger；　now　beat　her　churl　against　her　wristlet　until　it　tinkled；　now　pulled　at　the　chaplet　of　flowers　about　her　head；　and　left　it　hanging　over　hex　face。　His　mood　was　that　of　as　evening　breeze　which　played　about　a　favourite　flowering　shrub；　gently　shaking　her　now　this　side；　now　that；　in　the　hope　of　rousing　her　to　animation。

But　Kusum　sat　motionless；　looking　out　of　the　open　window；　with　eyes　immersed　in　the　moonlit　depth　of　never…ending　space　beyond。　Her　husband's　caresses　were　lost　on　her。

At　last　Hemanta　clasped　both　the　hands　of　his　wife；　and；　shaking　them　gently；　said：　〃Kusum；　where　are　you？　A　patient　search　through　a　big　telescope　would　reveal　you　only　as　a　small　speck…you　seem　to　have　receded　so　far　away。　O；　do　come　closer　to　me；　dear。　See　how　beautiful　the　night　is。〃

Kusum　turned　her　eyes　from　the　void　of　space　towards　her　husband；　and　said　slowly：　〃I　know　a　mantra　（A　set　of　magic　words。）；　which　could　in　one　moment　shatter　this　spring　night　and　the　moon　into　pieces。〃

〃If　you　do；〃　laughed　Hemanta；　〃pray　don't　utter　it。　If　any　mantra　of　yours　could　bring　three　or　four　Saturdays　during　the　week；　and　prolong　the　nights　till　5　P。M。　the　next　day；　say　it　by　all　means。〃

Saying　this；　he　tried　to　draw　his　wife　a　little　closer　to　him。　Kusum；　freeing　herself　from　the　embrace；　said：　〃Do　you　know；　to…night　I　feel　a　longing　to　tell　you　what　I　promised　to　reveal　only　on　my　death…bed。　To…night　I　feel　that　I　could　endure　whatever　punishment　you　might　inflict　on　me。〃

Hemanta　was　on　the　point　of　making　a　jest　about　punishments　by　reciting　a　verse　from　Jayadeva；　when　the　sound　of　an　angry　pair　of　slippers　was　heard　approaching　rapidly。　They　were　the　familiar　footsteps　of　his　father；　Haribar　Mukerji；　and　Hemanta；　not　knowing　what　it　meant；　was　in　a　flutter　of　excitement。

Standing　outside　the　door　Harihar　roared　out：　〃Hemanta；　turn　your　wife　out　of　the　house　immediately。〃

Hemanta　looked　at　his　wife；　and　detected　no　trace　of　surprise　in　her　features。　She　merely　buried　her　face　within　the　palms　of　her　hands；　and；　with