Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay

“ Sitanath said harshly—"Man's life is like unto the water on a lotus leaf. To-day it is here, to-morrow it is gone. We cannot be sure of an hour. Suppose I do not live a year?"
Hrishi Kesh said to himself—"If you do not live, the value of the jewels will be spent on your sradh." Aloud he said—"In that case your jewels will remain in our care and will be used for your grand daughter's wedding."
Sitanath answered with a sneer—"Do you suppose my grand daughter will always remain with you? When she has grown a little, I shall take her away. My eldest daughter-in-law is crazy to see the child. ”

“ She then learnt for the first time that her mother whom she believed to be in heaven, was really alive and that the grandmother had accidentally come across her in some place of pilgrimage. She learnt that her mother, whose memory she had been cherishing all her life as a most sacred treasure, was, in the eyes of the world a fallen woman. The agony of mind that Maloti bore in silence that night was indescribable—and this was that mother! ”

“ I would clear my friend's married life from thorns. The temple for the worship of Gouri Kanta that Nirmala had consecreted in her mind, I would reduce to ashes by thunderbolts of criticism. I would show that there were writers among the new men even more brilliant than Gouri Kanta. I would expose Gouri Kanta's errors in language and in granmar. Going through ancient and modern Western literature, I would show the same ideas as those expressed by Gouri Kanta. ”

“ You were present there, you brought the gentleman to the Hospital, how should I know that you did not witness the occurrence?"
"Well—all that you can do now is to go back to the Magistrate and tell him the real facts."
"Oh no Doctor Babu, how can that be?"—the Daroga burst out. "What? Blow hot and cold in the same breath? I am not the man to say one thing to-day and the opposite thing to-morrow. I am a man of my word—and I stick to my word through thick and thin,—come what may."
The Doctor smiled. He then said—"I will go and tell the Magistrate Sahib myself." ”

“ At these words, Madan Babu was astounded. In accents of fear, he repeated—"Jam of the orange?"
"What is the meaning of this?"—I thought; aloud, I said—"To be sure, the jam of the orange."
"If it were of the orange it would be entirely sweet. Why is there a bitter taste mixed with the sweet then?"
"It is not made from our ordinary oranges. There is an orange growing at Seville, in Spain, that looks like this, but has a bitter flavour. The marmalade is made from this kind."
The expression of fear in Madan Babu's face gave place to one of disgust. He said—"Are you certain of what you say?" ”

“ In the hour of battle, even the most timid soldier loses his fears.
The wedding began, but his heart was callous;—neither fear nor anxiety, hope nor despair possessed him.
Gradually the time came for uplifting of the bride's veil. To ensure good fortune, a cloth was thrown over the heads of groom and bride. On glancing at the bride's face, Bhabatosh was filled with astonishment. She was not the ogress of the last ten days. She was not the hideous Jagadamba of his dreams, but the lovely maiden who had served him with spices in a silver dish. ”

“ Disgusted, I said—"Had you told me beforehand that you did not eat oranges?"
Again distorting his face, Madan Babu said—"Had I told you that beforehand! Why did you not tell me at the time what was in the marmalade?"
Burning with anger at the man's behaviour, I said—"You are exceeding the bounds of good manners."
"Go, go! I have seen plenty of Calcutta Babus of your sort; 'exceeding the bounds of good manners,' indeed. You have come to teach me good manners! Knowing the use of a knife and fork does not constitute good manners. ”

“ He asked the Daroga—"Do you know why she tried to kill my child? Has she confessed anything?"
"She says she lost her child on Tara Devi hill, that you brought it away and killed it. So she has tried to get her revenge."
"I killed her child! I——!"
"I have learned all from your servant's deposition. See, Babu, they are a terrible race; how can they understand that you out of goodness brought away the child to preserve its life? They think you brought it away to slaughter it, and that you did so." ”

“ Nirmala looked very beautiful today. When I had seen her at the station, wearing an English cape and shoes, I did not like her appearance. Now I saw her in red velvet shoes of Indian make, an orange-coloured sari draped in the new fashion, her plentiful hair gathered into a knot, and adorned with a hill rose of a yellow colour. Nirmala looked very handsome indeed. ”

“ I am an old man. If a couple of words are said, do we need quarrel further? I am a hot-tempered man, and I fancied the fault was all on your side. Forgive me."
It struck me that this was truly the man's nature. He had said—"I fancied the fault was all yours," and it was evident he still thought some of the blame was mine—if not all. But the old man's tones were so gentle and pitiful, that my former anger against him departed. I smiled in sign of reconciliation. Madan Babu said—"If I were to tell you fully why I do not eat oranges you would comprehend." ”

“ What consolation could I offer to the old man? "Madan Gopal Babu"—I said—"it is in vain that you blame yourself. Life and death are in the hands of the Almighty, not in those of man. Do you not believe in our sacred writings?" ”

“ Many persons were seen getting ready to depart. At this juncture Subodh stood up and said—"Gentlemen, pray be seated. It is not proper that so many of you should go away because of one man. I would much rather go away myself, gentlemen, and leave you to enjoy yourselves."—Having delivered this speech, Subodh shot out of the room.
Poor Kishori Babu was greatly distressed at this unexpected calamity. He ran after Subodh, caught hold of him near the gate of his house, and besought him to remain and have his dinner in a separate room, all by himself. ”

“ THE LADY FROM BENARES
I
BABU Girindra Nath, the Head Goods Clerk of Dinapur Railway Station, lived in a small thatched cottage away in the bazaar. After entering upon service he led rather a wild bachelor life for about ten years. But now he was quite another man, having recently taken unto him a wife.
Mrs. Girindra was not quite a child as Hindoo brides generally are—he saw to that. Her name was Maloti. Her complexion was rather dark,—but there was a tenderness about her that made her sweet though she could lay no claims to beauty. Young as she was, she had to keep house for her husband. ”

“ The Magistrate's face became crimson. He knew perfectly well that many Bengalees who were in Government service, cherished their Swadeshi principles privately—but so far nobody had ever dared parade it before the Sahibs their masters. He also felt that Nagendra Babu was paying him back for the insult that had been meted out to him this morning. But the proud Sahib was not a man to betray his feelings. He feigned amusement and said with a smile—"Yes, I have heard that Bengalee ladies are keener about Swadeshi than the men-folk even." ”

“ A little earlier, in deep sincerity and boundless faith, the girl had said—"Can a wife ever distrust her husband?" But as at the touch of dawn the darkness of night quickly vanishes, so at this revelation of her husband's true character her faith in him rapidly melted away. She remained voiceless, as though under the weight of a heavy blow.
Placing a hand on his wife's shoulder, Binod went on—"When, before the marriage, I said I would have the ornaments made in Calcutta, it was with this design. ”

“ Binod, gradually recovering himself, said—"Can you make tea, sister? It is quite the thing now to drink tea in the early morning."
Bou Didi's mind was filled with surprise. The younger brother had so quickly recovered from his vexation! But thinking no more of it, she said—"We have none of that leaf, brother."
"Oh, I have some with me. We only want boiling water, sugar and milk."
The children began to dance, crying—"Oh, Uncle! We will drink tea; give us some tea." ”

“ The Daroga replied with great composure—"Don't excite yourself, Doctor Babu. Don't you see how times are? Granted, it is not disloyalty to eat country salt and wear Bombay cloth. Granted, this assault has nothing whatever to do with the Swadeshi movement. But they think it so. You cannot alter that fact. What's the use of beating your head against the wall?" ”

“ We will take a small cottage near the mines. The place is quite unknown. There we will begin a new life."
What was it that arose in the girl bride's mind amid anger and sorrow? One phrase kept thrusting itself upon her—"You have brought my schemes to the ground." The thought was a sweet one. Her husband had been unable to fly, leaving her behind. It was like one sweet fruit in a forest of thorns. She fell asleep with this atom of joy ever rising amid the confusion of her thoughts.
When, on the day but one after, Bou Didi came to arouse Binod as agreed upon, there was no one to be found. ”

“ In the verandah, Khoka, seated in the perambulator, was crying, a policeman standing on guard. His father took him in his arms and kissed him. Khoka, satisfied, became calm. The Daroga, with a salaam, said—"Babu, you have had one great trouble; now another has come about. A Lepcha woman tried to kill your child; your servant preventing her, she stabbed him with her knife."
"Where is my servant?"
"I've sent him to the Ripon Hospital."
"Will he live?"
"It is to be feared he will not. She would have killed the child also, but that Khoda Bux, the constable, caught her." ”

“ Jadu Babu said that at eleven his own rickshaw and three others for Kumud's party, including one for the child's servant, would be waiting. Then, taking his snow staff, he went off smiling, his feet making a sluthering sound in the slush. Kumud Babu thought—"He goes like a demon; how can one go like that?"
Presently Giribala came in. She showed no joy on hearing they were to visit Tara Devi. She said—"Why should we go in a crowd? You and I were going together; I shan't have a chance of talking to you."
"It does not do to go about alone in a strange country. ”

“ But I can never bring myself to believe that one Bengalee wouldn't be a match for another man, to whatever nationality he may belong. In such cases, wouldn't there be strong influences acting on the mind of a Bengalee also? When one of us stands up determined to save his self-respect from being sullied, to protest against oppression and tyranny, to protect his mother, his sister from insult offered by any one—I am sure these considerations would lend additional strength to his honest arms. ”

“ Where there is a family there must also be sorrow. I have never seen any one yet, who could escape it, be it the King on his throne or the beggar by the way side. But a man of the world gets over it in a couple of months; eats, sleeps, laughs and goes about his daily business. If she is so overwhelmed, do you yourself take the key, open the case and bring out the jewels."
Hrishi Kesh went on smoking in gloomy silence. Sitanath began to press him—still the father-in-law could not abandon the hope of retaining the ornaments. ”

“ We are poor men and contrive to maintain our family somehow. After having seen, Sir, how you—a Government servant and a man of wealth and position—have fared at the hands of the Police, it would be insane for us to court their displeasure. ”

“ No house-maid stays long, for they are never paid their wages regularly. My wife's hands are getting tough and bony by doing constant house-work. If I get an opportunity of doing something for myself, why shouldn't I? If I can obtain a Government Pleadership by humouring this new Assam Government a little, where is the harm? One gets tired of going about in torn clothes and tattered shoes and being insulted at every turn of the road by one's creditors."
Jagat Babu maintained silence for a little while. ”

“ The Daroga took Kumud Babu to the cell. He saw that it was indeed she, the beautiful hill woman. Kumud Babu's thoughts were paralysed: he could not conceive why she should feel such enmity against him. ”

“ I am poor and my daughter gets no husband. Your jewels will return to your house, and as a reward I shall be discharged of my obligation to get my daughter married."
To this Srinibash replied—"If that is the way of it, I see there will be difficulties." And he sat biting the ends of his moustach as he pondered.
Sitanath's youngest son was named Sriman Annada Charan. He was a youth who had failed to pass the F. A. Examination. He rather affected English customs. Morning and evening he took tea and biscuits. Among the young men of the village he was esteemed a learned man. ”

“ Looking outside, the Benares lady softly said—"I hope it is not going to rain."
"What does it matter?"—said Maloti.
"I must be off to-day."
"What! To-day?"
The lips of the lady betrayed a momentary smile. "You silly girl,"—she said—"your husband suspects me to be a robber and you desire that I should be your guest? I must return by the two-thirty train to-day. Many belonging to our nunnery are going on a pilgrimage to Puri. We all start to-morrow." ”

“ Madan Babu's eyes were clouded; after some coughing, he said—"Will you listen?" He spoke in a very low tone.
"Say on,"—I said.
He began—"It is now twenty years since I killed a man."
I shivered. "Killed a man?"
"Murdered! Certainly. That is called murder. Listen! In the December of a certain year I went to Calcutta to make purchases, with a view to giving my eldest daughter in marriage in January. I alighted at a boarding house used by college students. There was no vacancy in any room except in one occupied by a fever patient. His brother-in-law shared it with him. ”