Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

“ Listen Kalyani, be he man or Mahatma, master or deva, mind is unconquerable. The duties of the Children are my life, but let me tell you for the first time that you are more precious than my life or my salvation. The day I brought you back to life I sacrificed my all at your feet. I never knew that such beauty could exist on this earth! If I had ever suspected that I was to look upon such a beautiful woman, I would never have joined the Order of the Children. All my sense of duty has been burnt to ashes by the fire of your beauty. Only my life has been left in me. ”

“ Please tell me who poisoned your life?'
'No one poisoned my life,' Kalyani replied with the utmost serenity. 'Life itself is poisonous. My life is poisonous. Your life is poisonous. The lives of all human beings are poisonous!'
'Yes, Kalyani my life is poisonous indeed! ”

“ The man who has a stone tied to his neck can never swim. The man who has chains around his feet can never run. Why, O holy man, why did you save my useless life?'
'A wife is called her husband's co-religionist. She helps him in the discharge of his duties.'
'In small affairs, yes. But in duties of major importance, she is a hindrance. I took poison only to put myself away from the path of his duties. And you, a sinner of a holy man, you villain, why, why did you give me back my life?'
'Well, Kalyani, let what I gave you stay as my very own. ”