Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Part 1/Chapter 12

by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

 

CHAPTER XII.

On entering the women's apartments Gobind Lâl found Bhramar sitting in silence with Rohini. Bhramar had wished to say something kind with respect to this unfortunate affair, but in fear, lest even a show of sympathy should make Rohini weep, she had not ventured to do so. At sight of Gobind Lâl his young wife felt relieved from a difficulty. Going quickly to a distance she beckoned to her husband, who joined her, when Bhramar, speaking low, asked, "Why is Rohini here?"

Gobind.   "I have something to ask her privately. Afterwards she must submit to her destiny."

"What will you ask her?"

"What is in her mind. If you fear to let me talk alone with her, then listen from behind the screen."

Bhramar was much perplexed. Bending her head in shame she darted away, and reaching the kitchen, she took hold of the cook's hair from behind, and pulling it, said, "Mistress cook, while you are cooking tell me a pretty story."

In the meantime Gobind Lâl questioned Rohini. He said to her, "Will you tell me all the details of this matter?"

Rohini's heart was bursting to tell him, but she was of that race who, yet living, allowed themselves to be burnt on their husband's funeral pyre—the Aryan women. She answered only, "Have you not heard all about it from the Kartâ?"

Gobind.   "The Kartâ says that you came to change the true will for a false one. Was that so?"

Rohini.   "Not so!"

Gobind.   "Then how was it?"

Rohini.   "What will be the good of telling you?"

Gobind.   "It may be for your good."

Rohini.   "Will you believe my story?"

Gobind.   "If it is a likely story, why should I not believe it?"

Rohini.   "It is not a likely story."

Gobind.   "I know what I may think worthy of belief, but how can you know? Occasionally I even believe improbable stories."

Rohini thought, "Otherwise, why should I be sitting here to die for you? Well, I am prepared for that, nevertheless. I will put you to the test." Aloud she said, "That is because you are magnanimous. But what is the use of telling you this wretched being's troubles?"

Gobind.   "To give me a chance of helping you?"

Rohini.   "What help can you give me?"

Gobind Lâl thought, "I never came across such a woman, but she is distressed, one can't easily give her up." Aloud he said, "If I can, I will plead with the Kartâ for you, and he may let you go."

Rohini.   "And if you do not plead for me, what will he do to me?"

Gobind.   "You heard."

Rohini.   "He will turn me out of the village with a shaven head covered with curds. I cannot understand it at all. If I am so disgraced it will be a mercy to drive me out of the country. If I am not driven out I shall go of my own will. How can I show my face here again? The curds are no great punishment, they are easily washed off. But this hair" (which was to be shaven off), and Rohini looked at her wealth of black wavy hair—"this hair—yet, at your bidding, I would bring a pair of scissors and cut it all off myself to make a rope to bind your lady wife's hair."

Gobind Lâl was distressed. With a deep sigh he said, "I understand, Rohini; you feel the stain to be your punishment. If you cannot be saved from that you care not what other punishment attends it."

Then Rohini wept. In her heart she uttered a thousand blessings upon Gobind Lâl for his comprehension of her real feeling. Aloud she said, "Since you comprehend me, then I ask you, can you possibly save me from this disgrace?"

After some thought Gobind Lâl replied, "I cannot say. If I hear the real truth, I may be able to say whether I can or not."

Rohini.   "Ask me what you wish to know."

Gobind.   "What was that you burned?"

Rohini.   "A false will."

Gobind.   "Where did you get it?"

Rohini.   "In the Kartâ's drawer."

Gobind.   "How did it get in there?"

Rohini.   "I put it there. The day the true will was written, I came at night and stole it, putting the false one in its place."

Gobind.   "But why? What made you do it?"

Rohini.   "It was at Hara Lâl Babu's urging."

Gobind.   "Then what did you come to do last night?"

Rohini.   "To put in the true will and steal the forged one."

Gobind.   "Why so? What was in the forged one?"

Rohini.   "To the elder Babu three-fourths, to you a forty-eighth share."

Gobind.   "Why did you come to change it? I did not urge you."

Rohini wept. With much difficulty she checked her sobs to say, "No, you did not ask me to change it, but you gave me what I had never had—what I shall never have again in this life."

Gobind.   "What is that, Rohini?"

Rohini.   "You remember on the steps of the Bârunî tank?"

Gobind.   "What was it, Rohini?"

Rohini.   "What was it? I can't tell you. Please say no more about it. There is no physic for this disease. I shall never be cured of it. If I had had poison I would have taken it. But I would not do so in your house. There is only one help you can give me. Let me go, let me depart in tears. If I am found living after that, then you may cut off my hair, pour curded milk on my head, and exile me."

Gobind Lâl comprehended. As though reflected in a mirror, he had seen into Rohini's heart. He saw that the charm that had infatuated Bhramar, had also subjugated this serpent. He was neither pleased nor angry. Like the surging of the ocean, so was his heart moved with pity. He said, "Rohini, I think death would be well for you, but you have no right to take your own life. We all come into this world to work, and until that work is done we should not die."

Gobind Lâl began to move hither and thither. Rohini said, "Speak!"

Gobind.   "You will have to leave this place."

Rohini.   "Why so?"

Gobind.   "You said yourself, you wished to do so."

Rohini.   "I said so in shame, but why do you say it?"

Gobind.   "You and I must not see more of each other."

Rohini perceived that Gobind Lâl understood all. She was at once confounded and delighted. She forgot all her suffering and once more desired to live. Now she wished to stay in the village. Man is very dependent. Aloud she said, "I consent to go away at once, but where can I go?"

Gobind.   "To Calcutta. I will give you a letter to a friend I have there. He will buy a house for you; it will cost you nothing.”

Rohini.   "What will become of my uncle?"

Gobind.   "He will be with you, or I should not have bid you go to Calcutta."

Rohini.   "How shall we live there?"

Gobind.   "My friend will obtain employment for your uncle."

Rohini.   "Will my uncle consent to leave this place?"

Gobind.   "Can't you persuade him to do so after what has occurred?"

Rohini.   "I can. But who will persuade your uncle? He will not let me go."

Gobind.   "I will urge it upon him."

Rohini.   "But that will bring yet another stain upon me. It will injure you also."

Gobind.   "True. Then Bhramar shall speak to the Kartâ on your behalf. Do you go in search of her. Send her to me, and stay in the house yourself. Be ready in case you are called."

With tears in her eyes Rohini departed in search of Bhramar, gazing at Gobind Lâl as she went. Thus, in disgrace and in bonds, Rohini gave the first indication of her love.