CHAPTER VI
spiritual or psychic force
e cannot say what the drug was, but Chandra Shekhar came to administer it after self-ablution and rigid observance of such other rites as lead to the purification of the soul. He was naturally a master of his passions and propensities and had greater control over hunger and thirst than ordinary men. But to meet the demands of the present occasion, he had rigorously abstained from any food, and during the last few days had kept himself absolutely engaged in the contemplation of God—he had not allowed any other thought to creep into his mind.
At the appointed hour, Chandra Shekhar began to arrange the preliminaries to the administration of the sacred drug. He asked the maid-servant, whom Sundari had engaged for Shaibalini, to get ready a bed, which she did. Chandra Shekhar then asked Sundari to make Shaibalini lie down on it. Sundari had to apply force; for, Shaibalini could not be made to do anything easily. She would not touch Shaibalini, as she had lost her caste ; but, Sundari did so on the present occasion, only because she would undergo self-ablution, as usual, on her return home from Shaibalini's place.
Chandra Shekhar now said to those who were present in the room, "You all go out—come in when I ask."
When all went out, Chandra Shekhar placed the cup, containing the drug, on the floor. He then asked Shaibalini to sit up. She did not do so—she began to sing lowly. He fixed his eyes upon her firmly, and began to give her handfuls of that drug, at short intervals. Ramananda Swami had told him that the medicine was nothing else but the holy water from his sacred Kamandalu. He had also told him, on being asked, that it would give Shaibalini spiritual powers.
After this, Chandra Shekhar began to mesmerize Shaibalini. Slowly and gradually her eyes were closed and she was soon over-powered with mesmeric sleep.
Chandra Shekhar now called out, "Shaibalini!"
"My lord," responded she, in her sleep.
Chandra Shekhar. Can you say who am I?
Shaibalini. Yes, you are my husband.
Chandra Shekhar. Who are you?
Shaibalini. I am Shaibalini.
Chandra Shekhar. What place is this?
Shaibalini. Bedagram—your home.
Chandra Shekhar. Can you say who are waiting outside?
Shaibalini. Pratap, Sundari, and a few others.
Chandra Shekhar. Will you tell me why did you leave Bedagram?
Shaibalini. Because, Foster had taken me away.
Chandra Shekhar. Why couldn't you recollect all these things so long?
Shaibalini. I remembered them, but I could not rightly express myself.
Chandra Shekhar. Why?
Shaibalini. On account of my insanity.
Chandra Shekhar. Is it real or pretended?
Shaibalini. It is absolutely real.
Chandra Shekhar. But, now?
Shaibalini. It is a dream—I have got back my senses through you.
Chandra Shekhar. Then, will you speak the truth?
Shaibalini. Yes, I will.
Chandra Shekhar. Why did you go with Foster?
Shaibalini. For Pratap.
Chandra Shekhar was startled—the things of the past appeared before him in the vividness of reality. He asked,
"Is Pratap your paramour??
Shaibalini. Fie!
Chandra Shekhar. Then what is he to you?
Shaibalini. We were two flowers blooming in the same garden and on the same stalk—why did you tear us asunder?
Chandra Shekhar breathed a deep sigh. He was a man of unlimited wisdom and he could understand everything. After a while, he asked,
"Do you remember that you swam along with Pratap in the Ganges, on the night, Pratap made his escape from the boat of the English?"
Shaibalini. Yes, I do.
Chandra Shekhar. What talk had you with him that night?
Shaibalini briefly related everything. Hearing her, Chandra Shekhar thanked Pratap at heart. He then asked,
"Why did you live with Foster?"
Shaibalini. I lived with him in name only. It was my hope that I would meet Pratap, if I would go to Purandarpur with Foster.
Chandra Shekhar. In name only! Are you then still chaste?
Shaibalini. I am not, only because I had dedicated my life to Pratap—I am a great sinner.
Chandra Shekhar. Otherwise?
Shaibalini. Otherwise I am perfectly stainless.
Chandra Shekhar. In respect of Foster?
Shaibalini. In respect of Foster, I am absolutely innocent.
At this stage, Chandra Shekhar cast upon Shaibalini sharp and penetrating glances and carried on the mesmeric operations, more vigourously. He urged,
“Tell me the truth."
Shaibalini, although unconscious in her mysterious stupor, contracted her eye-brows and said,
"I have told you the truth and nothing but the truth."
Chandra Shekhar again breathed a deep sigh and said,
"Why then did you, for nothing, suffer yourself to lose the Brahmanic caste, by living with an alien infidel?"
Shaibalini. You are well-versed in all the scriptures of divine authority and I appeal to your judgment to say, whether I have really lost my caste or not. I have never taken any food at Foster's hand—never drank from the pot he might have touched; I cooked my food, with my own hands, every day—a Hindu maid-servant used to serve me. I had, no doubt, to live with Foster in the same boat, but that was on the sacred waters of the holy Ganges.
Chandra Shekhar remained silent, with downcast eyes—he reflected for a long time and then said within himself, "Alas! how cruelly have I treated Shaibalini—I was about to make myself responsible for the death of an innocent life!"
After a while he asked Shaibalini,
"Why didn't you say all these things before?"
Shaibalini. Who would believe me?
Chandra Shekhar. Who can testify to what you say?
Shaibalini. Foster and Parbaty.
Chandra Shekhar. Where is Parbaty now?
Shaibalini. She has died at Monghyr about a month ago.
Chandra Shekhar. Where is Foster?
Shaibalini. He is now in the Nawab's camp, at Udayanalla.
Chandra Shekhar remained absorbed in meditation for a time and then inquired,
"Can you say whether you will be cured of the malady you are now suffering from?"
Shaibalini. You have given me your spiritual strength and with its help, I can very well perceive that through your grace and the efficacy of your sacred drug, I shall soon recover.
Chandra Shekhar. Where do you desire to go after your recovery?
Shaibalini. If I get poison I shall take it, but I fear the hell.
Chandra Shekhar. Why do you like to put an end to your life?
Shaibalini. What place have I to resort to, in this world?
Chandra Shekhar. Why, my house?
Shaibalini. Will you take me back?
Chandra Shekhar. If I do?
Shaibalini. In that case, I shall devote my heart and soul to your service; but then, it will bring stain on your good name.
Just as she concluded, the tramp of a horse was heard at a distance. Thereupon Chandra Shekhar said,
"I have no spiritual force within me—you have got Ramananda Swami's divine strength and with its help, tell me what noise is that.
Shaibalini. It is the foot-tramp of a horse.
Chandra Shekhar. Who is coming on it?
Shaibalini. Mahammad Irfan—one of the Nawab's military officers.
Chandra Shekhar. Why is he coming?
Shaibalini. To take me to Udayanalla along with him—the Nawab wants to see me.
Chandra Shekhar. Did he send for you on Foster's arrival or before it?
Shaibalini. No, he ordered at the same time to bring both of us before him.
Chandra Shekhar. No cause for anxiety—you better sleep in peace.
Chandra Shekhar called in every one, and said to them, "Shaibalini is now sleeping. When she will wake up, give her the draught in that pot. Now, one of the Nawab's officers is coming here to take her away with him to the Nawab’s camp, to-morrow. You all should go with her."
"Every one was surprised and frightened to hear this. They all asked, "Why should she be taken before the Nawab?"
"You shall come to know every thing presently," replied Chandra Shekhar briefly. "There is absolutely no cause for anxiety."
On Mahammad Irfan's arrival there, Pratap engaged himself in his reception. On the other hand, Chandra Shekhar secretly related to Ramananda Swami all what Shaibalini had said in her hypnotic sleep. Hearing him, the Swami said, "Both of us must be present at the Nawab's Durbar, to-morrow."
