Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Part 1/Chapter 11
CHAPTER XI.
Gobind Lâl put in an appearance at Krishna Kanta Râi's principal Kachari. Very early in the morning the Kartâ was attending to the duties of his court. Seated on a cushioned throne, smoking a golden huka, he was as it were a god among mortals. On one side were heaps of bundles of memoranda, ledgers, receipts, balance sheets, rent papers, cash books, &c., and on the other the Nâibs, Gomashtâs, Kârkuns, Muharrirs, Tahsildâr, Âmins, Pâiks, and tenants. In front, her head bent, her face veiled in her drapery, Rohini.
Gobind Lâl was a favourite nephew. Entering the court he asked, "What has occurred, uncle?"
At the sound of his voice Rohini slightly opened the veiling scarf and glanced at him. Gobind Lâl scarcely paid any heed to the answer given by Krishna Kanta; he was thinking, "What does that look mean?" and concluded, "This anxious look is a petition."
What petition? What could it be but for deliverance from her trouble? He remembered the conversation they had held on the steps of the tank. He remembered saying, "If you are in any trouble, whether to-day or to-morrow, let me know." Now Rohini was indeed in trouble, and by this sign she was appealing to him. He thought, "My desire is to help you, for I see there is no one in this world likely to do so. But it is not easy to rescue you from the people into whose hands you have fallen." Thus musing, he repeated his question to his uncle, "What has happened, sir?"
Krishna Kanta had already related to his nephew the whole matter, but Gobind Lâl had been so absorbed in interpreting Rohini's glance that he had not heard. At this second question the old man thought, "What has happened? I think the boy is bewitched by the woman's lovely face," and again told the whole story. At the end he said, "This is that good-for-nothing Hara's doing. I imagine this woman has been bribed by him to bring the false will and steal the true one. Then when caught, being alarmed, she tore the false will in pieces."
"What does Rohini say?"
"What would she say? She says it was not so."
Gobind Lâl turned towards the defendant. "If not so, how was it, Rohini?" he asked.
Without raising her head Rohini answered through her sobs, "I am in your hands, do with me as you will. I will say nothing more."
"There! you can see what a bad lot she is!" remarked Krishna Kanta.
Gobind Lâl reflected that all in this world are not evil, there may be some good as well as evil persons. Aloud he asked, "What order have you given about her? Are you sending her to the police?"
Krishna. "What have I to do with police courts and police? I am the police court, I am the magistrate, I am the judge. Besides, would it exalt my manhood to send this wretched woman to gaol?"
Gobind. "Then what will you do?"
Krishna. "I'll have her head shaved, butter-milk poured over it, and have her winnowed out of the village.[1] She shall not return to my domain."
Gobind Lâl again asked the unhappy woman, "What do you say, Rohini?"
Rohini. "What does it matter?"
Gobind Lâl was astonished at this reply. After thinking awhile he said to Krishna Kanta, "I have a request to make."
Krishna. "What is it?"
Gobind. "Let this woman go for a little. I will be surety for her, and bring her here at ten o'clock."
Krishna reflected. "It is as I thought. I see the boy has some object in view." Aloud he said, "Where will she go? Why should I release her?"
Gobind. "It is necessary to get at the true story. She will not reveal it in the presence of so many. I will take her indoors and question her."
Krishna reflected. "I will shave the heads of the whole lot of her people. The boys of this generation are shameless! Wait, you scamp, I shall know how to deal with you." Aloud he said, "Very good." And addressing a cash-keeper, added, "Oh, you, send some one with this woman to the young mistress's rooms, and take care she does not escape."
The cashier took away Rohini, and Gobind Lâl departed. Krishna Kanta thought, "Durgâ! Durgâ! What has come to the boys?"
- ↑ The greatest indignity that can be inflicted on a Hindu woman.