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Mashi 10094178
Mashi 10094178
Mashi 10094178
S IR RAB I N D RA N ATH T A GO RE
GI TANJALI g Offerin g ! T l t d by h A u th or
! S on s ran s a e t e
W h an I by W B YE d a Po r t ra i t by
. .
xt d n t ro uc t ro n A TS an
W R C r 8 4 6d
. .
. E E
OT H NST IN . . vo . s. . n et.
ST R AY B IR D S P m C r 8 .
4 6d ne t oe s . . vo . s . . .
THE G A R D ENE R Ly r i c s f L e d Li f T l d o ov an e ra n s a t e
by h A u th or W h Por t ra i t C r 8 4 6d
. .
t e . rt . . vo . s. . net .
n s.
ne t
. . . .
C HI T R A A P lay T ransl a t ed by th A u th or C r 8 e vo
6d ne t
. . . . .
2 5. . .
C S
S HI T IS H H A N D RA EN . . vo . s. . n e t.
Cr 8 6 d ne t
. .
M UK ER E AJ . . vo . 25 . . .
MA S HI AND O T HE R ST O RI E S C r 8 . . vo .
P E R S O N ALI TY Le t res d li er d i n Am r i a
: W it h
c u e v e e c
I ll us t ra t ons
.
E i8 5 . x . cr . vo . 5 . n e t.
MY R E MIN I S CEN CE S B y S ir R T E A B I N D RA N AT H A G OR
I ll us t ra t ed
. .
E 8 .
7 6d x . cr . vo . s . . n et .
8 vo .
55 . n e t.
ONE H N RE
U D D P O EMS OP KAB IR T rans la t ed by S r i
T A ss i s t ed by E V E LYN U N D E R
.
R A B I N D R A N AI H ’ ’
A GO R E
Cr ne t
.
m LL . . 8 vo .
4s . 6d . .
LO N D ON : M AC M I LL AN A N D C O LT D .
M ASH I
AN D O T HER S T O RI E S
MA CMI LL A N A N D CO .
, LM
I IT ED
L ON D O N B OM B A Y C A LC U T T A M A D RA S
M E L BO U R N E
TH E M ACMI LL A N C OMP A N Y
N E W Y ORK B OS T O N C H I C AG O
D A LL A S S AN F RAN CISCO
TH E M A CM I LL A N CO . O F C A N A D A , LT D .
MA SHI
AND OTH ER ST O R I E S
SI R R A B I N D R A N AT H TA G O RE
T RA N SLA T ED FROM T H E O R I G I NA L B E N G A LI
B Y V A RI O U S W RIT E R S
M A C M I LL A N A N D C O .
,
LI M I T E D
S T . M AR T I N ’
S S T R E E T, LO N D O N
1 9 1 8
C OP Y R IG H T
CONTENTS
P A GE
MA S H I
TH E S KELET O N
THE AU SP I CI O US V I SI O N
TH E SU P R EME N I GHT
RAJA AN D RA N I
TH E T RU ST P RO P ERT Y
T HE R I D DLE S OL E V D
TH E ELD E R S I ST E R
SU BHA
THE P O ST M AST ER
T HE R I V E R S T A I Rs
TH E C ASTA WAY
S AV E D
MY FA I R N E I G H B O UR
M A SHI
A
’ l
‘
J A S H l l
.
’
’
Sitarampur .
‘
Just l isten to hi m ! H OW can she bear to
l eave you in this state
Does s he know W hat the d o ctors P
a nn a m r/ mn
’
p ceremony S O I m thinking .
’
It w ill please your mother .
’
much .
cause for
’
Even if he did y o u can see h i s state
, .
be very
’
if I go there will be n O
,
’
You re right there ; it w i ll certainly be no
great l oss if yo u do go But remember if I write .
,
’
to your father I ll tell h i m p l ain l y what is in my
,
’
mind .
7
husband and he will sure l y
,
’
‘
Lo o k here ! What a shame i t is ! Here s
my only sister s a nnapm s/z c m coming and they
’
’
don t want to l et me go t o it
Why Surely you re never t hinking O f going ’
‘
I don t do anything for him and I co uldn t if
’
,
’
6 M A SHI
’
I tried It s so deadly dull in this house that I
.
,
’
lo ok glum lest an y o n e should think ill O f me .
’
Well te ll me y o ur plan
, .
’
I must go Nob o dy can prevent m e
. .
lamp away .
’
all etern i ty .
M A SH I 7
HO W
’
but tria l tests a person .
Mashi
D O try to sleep dear ,
’
Let me think a little let me talk Don t be ,
.
vexed Mash i,
Very well
’
.
,
.
’
No cl ear I won t allow yo u to s ay that ; I
‘
, ,
’
al s o bore it .
’
waywardness .
1
Baba li tera ll y means Fat h e r but i s o ften used by e l de rs as a term o f
,
— t o cry fo r things ’
B ut these things cannot
.
never ceased .
‘
I know yo u thought t h at I was n o t happy
with Mani and therefore you were angry with her
,
.
IO M A SHI
A b o ut nine
’
.
me t o sleep then ,
Is Mani asleep ?
‘
’
Oh no she s busy making some s o up for
,
’
You don t mean to sa
y so , Mashi ? Does
P
’
the busy little woman .
’
made it .
’
Dear me no ! Sure l y you d o n t think M ani
‘
,
’
‘
Is Mani s he alth t h en ,
hearted .
’
coming
‘
Because s he obeys m e i mplicitly But sti ll I .
‘
Mashi if Mani is still awake then c o uld I
, , ,
if only fo r a
’
Very wel l I ll go and call her
’
.
‘
I won t keep her long only for fi v e minutes
’
, .
’
I have s o mething particular to tell her .
M A SHI
’
while Jo t in s pul se began to beat fast He knew .
w h en it is h ard for tw o .
M A SH I I 3
talk .
’
What s th i s chi l d you re not going anywhere
, ,
’
are y ou
’ ’
Of c o urse I m going to Sitarampur
,
.
’
Not to day my c h ild some other day
-
, ,
.
’ ’
All right ! there s stil l some time
‘
I l l j ust .
’
go and see him .
’
But you mustn t say that yo u are go i ng .
’
’
Very well I won t tell him but I shan t be
‘
, ,
’
I4 M A SHI
’
ab l e t o stay l ong To morrow is my sister s
.
-
a uua r a rh a
’
p u and I must go ,
to day - .
‘
Oh my child ! I beg yo u to listen to
,
’
hurry .
’
What can I do
‘
The train won t wait fo r
me Anath wi ll be back i n ten minutes I can
. .
’
s it by him til l then .
o u go on living l onger
? There i s no end to
y
this sin yet I cannot check it
,
‘
I found her weeping bitterly because s he had
allowed the m ilk fo r your soup to get burnt ! I
tried to consol e her saying Why there s more , , ,
’
’
Let her sleep it o ff .
’
Thoug h Jo t in was pained when Mani didn t
come yet he felt a certain amount of relief He
, .
’
do violence t o his heart s image of her Such .
Mashi
What is it Baba ? ,
‘
I feel quite certain that my days ar e drawing
to a close But I have no regre t s D o n t grieve
. .
’
’
fo r me .
’
N O dear I won t grieve I don t believe that
’
.
, ,
’
only life is good and n o t death .
’
sweet .
I 6 M A SH I
J o t in ,
gaz i ng at the dark sky fe l t that it was ,
’
Mani herself wh o was com i ng to h i m i n Death s
guise She had im m o rta l y o uth and the stars were
.
’
became fi l led with the l oving gaze o f Mani s dark
eyes Mani the bride of this house the l ittl e
.
, ,
IV
‘
su ffering Mashi but nothing like you
I m
’
, ,
dear ?
A l l I have I o we to you When you see my .
’
wi ll don t think fo r a moment that 9
‘
What do you mean Jo t in ? Do you th i nk ,
mean as that ?
But you also will have
Look here Jo t in I shal l get angry with yo u
, , .
’
enough Haven t I had you to fill my l one l y
.
, , ,
t o o heavy for me
that
N O ! you mustn t s ay t h at If yo u want to
’
‘
.
M A SHI I9
enj oyment
What harm i f s h e does enj o y herself Mashi ,
N O no i t will be impossib l e
, , Her t h roat .
’
to her .
J o t in
remained silent He could n o t decide.
J o s
tIn
i ghed and said We cannot leave b e
'
’
hind u s what is really worth giving .
’
It s no trifle you are gi v ing dearest I only , .
day I wonder ?
,
‘
Yes s he came but you were asleep She s at
, ,
.
20 M A SH I
’
then went away to get y o ur clothes washed .
‘
H o w wonderfu l ! I bel ieve I was dreaming
that very moment that Mani was trying t o enter
m y r oo m The do o r was s l ightly o pen and sh e
.
,
’
was push i ng against i t but it wouldn t o pen , .
’
they are getting co l d .
‘
D O y o u know Jo t in Mani made this shawl , ,
’
ness o f the w o o l was Mani s o wn Her loving .
’
‘
But Mas h i I thought Mani didn t k now
, ,
‘
Let there be mistakes ; we re not going to ’
’
Mashi to night if I can have on l y a few minutes
,
-
,
22 M AS HI
’
never been i n my life before That s w h y I want .
’
to see M ani No n o Mashi I can t bear t o
.
, , ,
‘
Call Mani I ll remind her o f our weddi n g
.
’
night s o that to —
,
morrow she may
I m going dear Sho mb h u will wait at the
‘ ’
.
,
’
do o r I f yo u want anything call him
.
,
.
hearing
o t in the sound o f footsteps started
J
saying Mani ,
cannot av o id t h e blow .
24 M A SH I
’
tend you with all my l ove .
’
I shall dress yo u .
, , .
’
”
‘
I sha l l name yo u L akshmi .
’
‘
I can t w i sh that I should come and burden
your home w i th the misfortune of a g i rl— chil d
Mashi you thi nk me weak an d are wanting
, ,
’
to save me al l tr o ubl e .
’
‘
No n o ! you must s it by my side I can t
,
.
’
hand shall G o d take me .
’
‘
A l l right said the d o ctor you can rema i n
, ,
‘
’ ’
h er . I t s time for you t o take your medic i ne .
‘
Time for my medicine ? Nonsense ! The
time for that is over To give medicine now is .
more false h o o d
‘
I protest as a doctor this exc i tement is doing
, ,
’
o u harm
y .
’
‘
Then go doctor don t excite me any more !
, ,
’
awake a little longer Don t yo u hear a sound .
’
Somebody is coming .
M A SHI 27
Jo t in d ear ,
j ust open your eyes a little She
‘
.
’
her fat h er .
’
hand o n her head and bless her Don t cry like .
t h at Mani
,
There will be t ime enough for t h at .
’
Keep quiet n o w for a little .
THE SK ELETO N
, ,
3I
3 2 T H E SK ELET O N
same thing .
something cheerful .
’
‘
W hen I was in the land O f the l iv i ng an d ,
’
is extremel y humor o us .
‘
Let me proceed then I ca me back to m y .
is your opinion
’
‘
Very likely I murmured
, But yo u must .
‘
‘
But that stark and star i ng o ld ske l et o n o f
mine has b o rne false w i tness t o y o u against me
-
,
’
‘
I c o uld have sw o rn by your body cried I i f , ,
‘
’
o f night I cannot say more than that
. .
’
I had n o girl compan i ons went o n the voice
-
, .
, ,
Shekhar
Wait a bit Hear t h e w h ole story first One
. .
“
beneath the coverlet Ah ! thought I as I lo oked
.
,
”
on i t if on l y there h ad been a sapphire bracelet
,
1
.
—D o n t y o u believe me
’
1
W i d o ws are supp o sed t o dress i n w hi t e o n l y w i t ho ut o rnaments o r
,
j ewe ll ery .
THE SK ELET O N 39
1
I n these evenings I used to dress myself
secretly in a canary-coloured sa ri twine about the
braided knot int o wh i ch I did my hair a garl and
O f white jasmine b l ossoms and with a lit t l e
mirr o r i n my hand betake myself t o my usual seat
under the trees .
‘
Wel l ! Are you perhaps t hinking that the
sight o f one s o wn beauty woul d soon grow
’
‘
Any h ow from that time I was never a l one
, .
1 S ee n o te o n p .
38 .
40 T H E SK E LET O N
”
bang l es. And I S preading a sn o w-white S heet on
,
‘
I t w o uld n o d o ubt remain a l ittle inc o mp l ete but ,
‘
But that wou l d make the st o ry too serious .
‘
I gradua ll y l earnt that the br i de was an heiress ,
d i scovery .
‘
When the d o ctor came in after his work and
was ready to s t ar t I said to him rippling with
, ,
be married to-night ?
‘
M y gaiety not only made the doctor l ose
countenance i t thorough l y irritated him .
“ “
How is it I went on
‘
,
that there i s no
,
“
‘
With a S igh he replied : Is marriage then
such a j oyfu l occasion
I burst o ut into renewed l aughter No n o .
, ,
”
wedd i ng with o ut lig h ts and mus i c ?
I bothered my brother about it S O much t h at
he at once ordered all the trappings O f a gay
wedding .
‘
I went up smiling and said Have you
,
”
start .
”
pierced me t o the heart said Then I must go
,
.
‘
I fanc i ed that when people came and found
me they would see that smile o f mine l ingering o n
my lips l i ke a trace of r o se coloured wine that
-
,
’
water s edge with tw o white ducklings c l asped to
,
men was the cause o f her care and not the wi l dness
o f the ducks .
’
The g i rl s beauty had a rare freshness as if -
’
alm o st a woman s but her face was so chi l d i sh
,
’
Kanti s gun -c l eaning stopped for a while He .
’
surr o undings o f the householder s yard i nstantly ,
’
delicate foliage o f the z iz yp/z played o n the girl s ,
wit h in . Sudha‘
th o ught Kanti what an ap ,
‘
r o r iat e name
p p
Kanti returned to the boat handed his gun t o ,
1
S a dka means necta r ambr o s i a
, .
THE A USPI CI O US VISI O N 53
h is men and went over to the front door o f the
,
maiden .
full of water .
’
o wn name his father s name and the address of
, ,
’
fortunate .
’
‘
I require no service my s o n said Nabin , ,
‘
It is my daughter Sudha wh o is growing up
, ,
‘
If yo u would see me i n my b o at sir we , ,
Kanti .
’
1
A uspicious Vision .
began .
a pparent calmness .
was called .
fulfil ment .
T H E S UP REM E N IG H T
THE SUPREME NIGHT
61
62 THE SUP REME NIGHT
huris a fami l y o f z eminda rs It was h i s plan as
, .
,
o f the District
’
Magistrate ; tha t was my l i fe s
ideal I was secretly determ i ned t o be the H ead
Clerk o f the Judge s Co u rt even i f I c o uld not
’
due .
my studies regularly .
me the way .
’
‘
leaders o f o u r assoc i ations delivered speeches ,
though t
I had matriculated and was about to appear at
,
with h i m .
o r tw o whi l e pu f ng at o ne s b owed
’
fi
l
.
pair of eyes — ,
a pair o f large eyes beaming with ,
, ,
me ?
M y heart rej oined To day Su r ab ala is n o b o dy
-
68 THE SUPREME NIGHT
to y ou . But what might she not have been to
ou
y
A h ! that s true
’
. Wha t might
not have s he
been to me ? Dearest to me o f al l things closer ,
,
.
, ,
’
t o dr izzle at ten o cl o ck A t the aspect of the
.
torrent o f death .
’
amidst this terr i b l e desolate gloom o f Nature s
death -convulsion The stream o f birth had flung
.
’
unfit for life s handicap He ro ll ed al o ng l ife s
’
.
’
road like the wheel of Jagannath s car He could .
l iving .
77
78 RAJ A AN D RANI
he used to dine and S leep at appo i nted hours
and even at appoi nted places And he sudde n ly
.
’
usual hour o f her husband s meals is a world of
anx i ety to h er but she never cares a brass button
,
delightful fulminations .
’
But what was sport to the roya l coupl e was ,
’
comfo rts to Bipin s infinite chagrin and unt ol d
,
su fferings .
valet .
,
’
’
of Krishna and Bipin that o f A rj una
‘
,
’
Oh ‘
.
,
‘
Indeed Bipin acted the part o f Arj una g l ori
,
’
to an end B ipin s even i ng ser vices were no more
.
needed .
’
not ascertain t h e cause of the Raj a s sudden
"
estrangement . Tis Fate ! all is Fate B ipin
said to himself And then S i l ently and bravely
.
, ,
J g n at h Kundu
a a . When you have paid me
back all that I have spent o n your fo o d and cloth
ing it wi l l be time enough to give yourse l f these
,
’
airs.
87
88 THE TRUST PROPERTY
smoothly en o ugh but after his marriage he began
,
apace .
murderer .
'
Nonsense sa i d the fat h er Don t peop l e die .
’
kings and emper o rs are n o t immorta l ? Y o u don t
expect your wife to die with more pomp and
1
C o untry d o ct o r un qua li fied by any med i ca l tra i n i ng
,
.
9 0 THE TRUST PROPE RTY
sma l l rev ol ut io n as a great re l ief after a long peri o d
o f monot o ny A nd when Jagan at h disinher i ted
.
’
they gave was s o und t o o When your wife dies
.
,
’
But when y o ur father dies yo u can t get another ,
’
to rep l ace him for l ove o r money Their l o gic .
i t disappeared altogether .
every day .
1
i s a superst i t io n current i n B eng l t h at i f a man pr o n o unces th e
It a
2
t h i s t h e Lo rd o f Fest i v i ty and J g h w o u l d mean t h e desp oil er
j g a an a ,
a a na s
of i t .
94 TH E TRUST PROPERTY
The n o vel attentions o f th i s manikin came as a
great re l ief to Jagan at h It was long since any .
’
Nitai Pa l .
’
Where s y o ur home
’ ’
‘
Won t tell .
’ ’
Who s your father ?
’ ’
W o n t tell .
’
Why w o n t yo u
Because I have run away from home .
’
‘
We l l we l l said Jagan at h how woul d you
, ,
’
,
‘
,
’
’
installed himself in Jagan at h s house He felt as .
Jg
a a n at h
. T h ey felt sure that the old man s end
was n ear and the prospect o f his bequeath i ng all
,
’
themselves .
’
ti ll it is night said Jagan at h
,
.
A prayer carpet
2
.
THE TRUST PROPERTY 99
’
excla i med ; you won t take back a rupee w i ll
‘
,
’
you ?
’
‘
If I do said the o l d man in s olemn tones
, ,
‘
may my hand be attacked with l eprosy But .
’
here .
’
Very wel l he replied , .
What fo r ?
’
Because p uj a will be done to you .
’
This is the ru l e .
1
I ncanta t io ns .
1 00 THE TRUST PROPERTY
To s it there like a go d and h ear ma ntra s recited
,
he whispered .
’
be the rightful he i r .
listen .
’
Father .
open fields .
’
There to o somebody cal l ed o u t Father
, , .
son at h i s heels .
’
‘
Father said Brindaban I hear my boy is
, ,
‘
back .
’
’
boy ?
‘
Yes my b o y Gokul He is Nitai Pal now
,
.
,
ground .
wailing sound
’ ’
No I don t said Brindaban
, ,
.
’
my l adder ?
Unable to find the ladder to climb o u t o f his
terrib l e dunge o n where there was no l ight to s ee
,
’
o ne has ever been fo und out in the w o rld s eterna l
game o f hide and seek
- 1 - .
1
T h e i nc i dents desc ri bed i n t hi s st o ry n o w h app il y a t hi ng o f t h e past
, ,
1 07
1 08 THE R IDDLE SOLVED
remission of one single pice o u t o f the rents j ustl y
due to him In no circumstances wou l d he grant
.
’
any tenant o n e single day s grace i n paying up .
’
fashioned methods won t do now If I interfere .
,
’
are left me t o the serv i ce of my G o d .
II
’
B ipin s displeasure was kee n est against this
man He could quite understand his father having
.
misery .
‘
Oh mother ! protested A simu d din
,
’
What .
‘
’
a smal l particle o f i t my s o n , .
’
I have got him at l ast .
1 Tha lz :
pl ate .
2 D ao : k n i fe .
3
La t ht s : s t i ck .
THE RIDDLE SOLVED 1 1 5
IV
’
Bipin Babu s ear He got up very agitated and
.
wrapped in a p i ece o f n a ma ha h l
A string o f
’
’
and h i s flowing chap ka n touched his fat h er s feet ,
’
father t o c o me to his pl eader s house c l ose by .
’
No thank you Kris h na Gopal replied I wi l l
, , ,
’
tel l you here what I have got to say .
’
h o me father we wi ll ta l k about it afterwards
, .
’
No my s o n rep l ied the old man having
, , ,
‘
steps .
’
the older generat i on he said t o himself He r e,
.
’
principle to guide one s act i ons .
t h ough t
T h e Deputy Magistrate and B ipin were friends ,
THE RIDDLE SOLVED 1 1 9
’
were made all pious men might be found o u t
, .
a vast relief to hi m
THE ELDE R SISTE R
husband s mouth ’
.
’
’
At this Jo ygo pal Babu s wife felt much hurt
it did n o t become womankind to wish in any ,
’
births over than the wife of such a husband ,
’
o fl e n ce i n a husband that could s o harden the
heart against him Even as she turned the ma t ter
.
’
1 23
1 24 TH E ELDER SISTER
over in her mind a l l the tenderness o f her l o ving
,
, ,
tears o f sadness .
’
the tie love s knot grew tighter and the passion
, , ,
’
The parents l ove centred i n this s o n o f their
advanced years and when the newly arrived , ,
in A ssam .
’
in l aw s and l eft for A ssam It was the first separa
-
,
.
’
But in a short time the child s m o ther died .
’
her daughter s care .
, ,
II
two years old his father fel l ser io usly ill A l etter .
come .
Nilman i
’
wou l d c l asp Sas i s neck and hide h i s ,
be wasted o n him .
of her secret care the obj ect o f her iso l ated love
, .
J yg p
o o al w as great l y annoyed when N ilm an i
cried ; s o Sas i would quickly press the chi l d to
her breast and with her whole heart and soul try
,
h im to sleep .
’
went like a dagger to Sas i s heart ; so she would
take her punished brother into her r oo m and ,
stricken heart .
N ilman i .
N ilm an i s
’
head was the l argest part o f h i m .
sixth year .
, ,
’ ’
Tis no u se cried she giving the brother s
’
, ,
1
Lit . t h e br ot h e r s ma r k A beaut i fu l and t o uc hi ng ce r em o ny i n
’
.
’
’
write to the M aharan i hersel f to save her brother s ,
sol d .
1
T h e V i cer o y .
2
L and .
THE ELDER SISTER 1
35
the patient .
’
and went straight to the doctor s h ouse The .
at once .
’
Even if you cut me to pieces I won t return , ,
’
’
to my house cried Jo ygo pal i ndignantly
, .
’ ’
t i s my brother s
All right we ll see
’ ’
,
said Jo ygo pal The ,
.
’
‘
If you want t o quarrel w i th y o ur husband sai d ,
’
your house ? A fter all Jo ygo pal is your husband,
.
’
he silently fixed his gaze on the Mag i strate s face .
2
A t no o n Jo ygo pal dressed in trousers chap ka n
, , , ,
3
and p agr i went to pay his salams to the Saheb
,
.
2 A cha
pka rx i s a lo ng c o at .
3 T urban
. S e vants
1
‘
r .
THE ELDER SISTER 1 39
’
resign my helpless brother Save him .The .
’
at once sto o d up and said Please enter the tent .
J yg p
o o al tried to interrupt now and then the ,
ra o
,
’
and wit h t h e tip of his cane motioned to
Jo ygo pal t o leave the chair and stand up .
’
be ab l e to save him .
‘
I will reti re to m y husband s house said Sasi ’
,
’
’
clutched her dress Don t be frightened ha ha
.
‘
, ,
withdrew and j ust then the Saheb put his left arm
round him The child wailed out
. Sister oh my , ,
x 43
1 46 SUBH A
’
wh o can forget pain Night and day her parents
m i nds were aching o n her account Especial l y .
’
kantha Subha s father loved her rather better
, ,
’
B an ik an t ha s h o use looked upon the stream .
’
were the dumb g i r l s l anguage ; that speech o f
the dark eyes which the l ong l ashes shaded was
, ,
’
P r at ap s chief ambition was t o catch fish He .
’
showed his afl e ct io n by calling her Su Subha .
’
dumb little Su Ban ikan t h a s child ? Yes o u r Su
, , ,
1 ’
P at alpu r but into Ban ikan tha s fami l y and she
, ,
’
knew no means o f ast o nishing t h e G o sain s boy .
1 T h e Lo wer W o r l d .
I 52 SUBH A
s he sl owly opened her door and peeped out t i midly
,
.
“
days Presently he returned and said :
. We
,
’
s t r u ct io n s a lo ud and increased her daughter s
,
’
examiner s presence The great man after scan .
,
’
ning her a long t i me observed Not so bad
,
.
’
oyster s pear l s the chi l d s tears only i ncreased her
’
’ ’
over their dumb girl into another s hands Subha s ,
SUBHA I 55
’
birt h of those who had understood a dumb gir l s
,
of Hearts c ou l d hear .
1 59
I 60 THE POSTM A STER
clouds o f the sky were enough to fill life with j oy
such were the sentiments to which he sought
t o give expressi o n B ut God kn o ws that the
.
ta l l houses .
’
The po stmaster s sal ary was sma l l He h ad to .
j o bs for h i m .
’
little l am p and call o u t Ratan
,
.
Did you ca l l me s ir ,
1
D ada = e lde r br o t h er .
1 64 TH E POSTM A STER
Thus i n a very short t i me Ratan had got as
, ,
’
One heavily c l o u ded m orning the postmaster s ,
’
morrow Ratan , .
’
‘
I am go i ng home .
your home ?
’
The postmaster l aughed What an idea ! .
‘
’
my success o r to l ook after you These words .
’
here.
’
o u t fr o m his pocket the wh o le o f his m o nt h s
sal ary retaining only a tr i fle fo r h i s travelling
,
’
Oh Dada I pray you don t g i ve me anyth i ng
, , , ,
’
d o n t in any way troub l e about me and then she ,
’
bathing stairs - .
’
the i r friend had been l ed away to her husband s
house wh i ch was a pl ace far away from the river
, ,
roads .
1 B t a hi ng-p l ace .
THE RIVE R ST A IRS 1 75
December next .
had gr o wn up .
’
brow nose and eyes !
,
Yet an o ther woman
, ,
luck to Kusu m
But obj ected o n e H e had n o t such a big
, ,
‘
’ ’
beard and another He was not so thi n , or
’
He was m o st probab l y not so ta ll That settled .
no further .
’
passed fr o m the east to the west and the Sanyasi s ,
h a t or the Sanyasi
g
c , .
’
Te l l me your thoughts w i thout reserve .
her s ari over her face she sat d own o n the step at
,
’
the Sanyasi s feet and wept , .
y o u t h e way to peace .
’
‘
You must te ll me whom yo u s aw in your
’
dream .
’
With folded hands s h e entreated I cannot
,
.
’
He insisted Y o u must tel l me who he was .
’
He replied Yes you must ,
.
’
T h en crying Yo u are he Master ! she fell
,
‘
,
’
we l l to stop here a month o r tw o more .
‘
A nd at this moment I sup pose every o n e i n
this p l ace is perfectly wel l !
What had happened was this : K i ran was a
universal favour i te with her family an d n eighbours ,
to her r oo m.
’
I n the quiet shelter of Shar at s house and garden
at Chandernagore Nature h ad leisure to work her
,
his rest l ess tra i ning made it imp o ssib l e for him to
keep his mi nd l o ng engaged presently the alphabet ,
’
present when N ilkan t a s meals were served Before .
,
’
her absence made n o d ifl eren ce to t h e boy s app c ’
’
choking v o ice I am not hungry ‘
He thought .
’
I am not hungry w o uld reach Kiran he pictured
,
‘
I don t remember and wa l ked away
’
,
’
.
permanent .
a m ouse again 1
And he has evidentl y d i scovered
.
T w i c e -b o rn b i r d , ah w h ere fo re s t i r re d
To w ro ng o ur r o y a l la dy
smil ed and sa i d
,
Brother in law your go o se has - -
,
”
flown o ff t o l ook for y o ur D am ayn t i .
1
l ike c l aws .
’
no o n e says another word to y o u about it Big .
1
To fi nd S at is h a w i fe .
20 2 THE CA STA WAY
c l othes would not go i n S o she tho u ght she had
.
’
like things dear to a boy s heart were discovered .
wondering .
to allow t h at to be done .
the river .
would break .
SA VED
20 7
20 8 S A VED
got rid o f fo rthwith The high spirited Gouri
.
-
’
her husband s behaviour still stranger .
’
maid ab o ut her the wh ol e thing reached his wife s
,
’
and this mad suspicion swept like a destr o yer s
s wo rd between them Pares h as so o n as he saw
.
,
’
Because I wanted to .
’
i nto her husband s h ands s he wondered ,
At first .
,
insolent hands .
’
With swift steps s he hurr i ed to her husband s
ro o m He lay gr oaning o n the flo o r wit h eyes
.
,
a doctor .
depth had he fa ll en
When the widowed Gouri caught sight from the
W indow of her Guru stealing like a t h ief to the side
of t h e pool s he lowered h er eyes as at a lightning
,
’
The G u ru called Gouri .
’
‘
I am c o ming she replied, .
212 SAVED
self
. Even my nearest intimate Nabin knew
, ,
’
was the poor fell o w s first attack and he was equally ,
wife .
o ld c h ap who is s h e
,
n o t yet discovered
’
ing on a duck s egg I l avished al l the warmth
,
N
’
o f my pent u - passion on ab in s e flh sio n s So
p .
became my o wn .
its cause .
M Y F A I R NEIG H BOU R 21 9
’
widowhood sa i d he h as in it a sense o f immense
, ,
1
T h e e l even t h day o f t h e m oo n i s a day o f fast i ng and penance .
2 20 MY F A I R NEIGHBOU R
was m o re i mpassioned than I need have been I .
st o ry .
’
post the magaz i ne without d i sc l osi n g the sender s
,
222 MY FAI R NEIGHBOU R
’
Take i t at once sa i d I , .
’
‘
But Nabin went o n yo u know it w il l be
, ,
‘
’
How are we t o live i n the meantime ? I wr o t e
out the necessary cheque w i thout a w o rd and then ,
ou
y
’ ’
‘
Don t be absurd said Nabin ; I have n o t ,
‘
’
yours .
’
‘
Not at the present moment rep l ied Nabin ,
with a smile .
‘
And was it the p oems alone which wroug h t
the magic change
M Y F A I R NEIGHB OUR 223
’
We ll my poems were n o t s o bad you kn ow
, , ,
I sw o re mentall y .
THE END
P r i n t ed éy R . R . C LA R K LI M I T E D , E d z n é u rg lz .