Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Part 1/Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII.
Bhramar could not be induced to plead with her father-in-law. The thought of doing so covered her with shame![1]
Reluctantly Gobind Lâl went himself to his uncle. Krishna Kanta after his meal sat, half reclining, on his bed, grasping the stem of his hukâ, fast asleep. Whilst his nose discoursed sweet music in measured tones and modes of various kinds, his mind, thanks to the opium, mounted on the steed that travels the three worlds, was visiting many places. Rohini's bright face had, I fancy, intruded into the old man's mind, else why did he, swayed by opium, fix her face upon the shoulders of Indrâni? In thought Krishna Kanta saw that Rohini had suddenly turned into Sachi (Indra's wife), and had gone to steal the bull from Mahâdeva's cowhouse. Nandi, trident in hand, going there to give the bull his food, had caught her. A struggle ensued, the which Sadânama, Kârtika's peacock, perceiving, at the sight of her loosened locks, which reached down to her ankles in long and sinuous curls, mistaking them for hooded serpents, was about to swallow them up, when Kârtika, seeing his peacock about to commit this outrage, had gone in person to complain to Mahâdeva, and was calling out "Uncle!"
Gobind Lâl, confounded, said, "Sleep on, sir, I have not come about anything very important." He then took up the spittoon and put it right, put the spice-box in its proper place, and the stem of the hukâ in his uncle's hand. But Krishna Kanta was a vigorous old man, he did not easily forget. He said to himself, "This scamp has come only to talk again about that bright-faced woman's affair." Aloud he said, "My nap is over, I shall not sleep any more."
Gobind Lâl was in a difficulty. In the morning he had felt no embarrassment in speaking to his uncle of Rohini, but now he felt ashamed because he had talked with Rohini about what had occurred at the Bârunî tank. The old man enjoyed the sport. Seeing that Gobind Lâl could not bring himself to say anything, he started talking about his estate, then family matters, and again a law suit, never once alluding to Rohini. Gobind Lâl could in no way introduce the matter. In the recesses of his mind Krishna Kanta indulged himself in hearty laughter. The old man was very wicked.
In desperation the young man turned to go, when Krishna Kanta, taking compassion on his favourite nephew, called him back, saying, "That woman, for whom you stood surety this morning, has she confessed anything?"
Then Gobind Lâl, finding the road made clear for him, briefly related Rohini's story. The interview on the tank steps he concealed.
Krishna Kanta then asked, "What do you wish should be done to her?"
Ashamed, Gobind Lâl answered, "Whatever you wish, we also wish."
Inwardly laughing, but with a grave face, the uncle said, "I don't believe her tale. She should be turned out of the village with shaven head, crowned with curds. What do you say?"
Gobind Lâl was silent. The wicked old man resumed, "But if you others think she is not in fault, then let her go."
Gobind Lâl, with a sigh of relief, escaped from the old man's hands.
- ↑ It was not unkindness that prevented Bhramar from interceding for Rohini with her father-in-law. Among the many rules of domestic etiquette which govern the conduct of women in a Hindu household is one which forbids a wife from talking freely with her father-in-law, and it was this feeling of restraint and artificial shame that withheld Bhramar from speaking to Krishna Kanta Râi about Rohini.