Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Part 1/Chapter 29
CHAPTER XXIX.
"What fault have I committed that I should be abandoned?"
These words Bhramar had been unable to utter to Gobind Lâl; but now, moment by moment, she asked herself, "What is my fault?"
Gobind Lâl also asked himself what was Bhramar's fault. He was in a manner convinced that she had committed a very heinous offence, but what it was, even after so much thought, he could not see. It arose in his mind that Bhramar's want of faith in him, and her writing that very hard letter at once, without inquiry into the truth or falsity of the report, constituted her offence. "That she for whom I do so much, that she should so easily distrust me—this is her fault." I have formerly spoken of the two spirits, Kumati and Sumati. I will now relate how these two conversed, sitting side by side in the heart of Gobind Lâl.
Kumati said, "This was Bhramar's first fault, this unbelief."
Sumati answered, "Why not distrust the unworthy? You were enjoying Rohini's society. Is it so great a fault in Bhramar that she should have suspected it?"
Kumati. "Suppose that I have now become untrustworthy—still, when Bhramar distrusted me, I was innocent."
Sumati. "A day or two sooner or later matters little. I have become guilty. Is it so heavy a fault to distrust a person who is capable of this guilt?"
Kumati. "The fact that Bhramar considered me guilty made me become so. If you call an honest man a thief he becomes one."
Sumati. "Is that the fault of the person who called him a thief? The one that steals, is he not to blame?"
Kumati. "I can't argue with you! Then see how Bhramar affronted me! As soon as she heard I was coming home she went off to her father's house."
Sumati. "What woman is there that would not be angry if her husband became attached to another?"
Kumati. She was wrong to believe it—that was her fault."
Sumati. "Have you questioned her about that?"
Kumati. "No."
Sumati. "You are angry without examination, yet you make all this to-do because Bhramar, who is but a girl, became angry without questioning you. This is not the real matter. Shall I tell you the real cause of your anger?"
Kumati. "What do you say it is?"
Sumati. "The true cause is Rohini. You have set your heart upon Rohini, and no longer love the dark Bhomrâ."
Kumati. "Then how is it I loved Bhomrâ so long?"
Sumati. "Because you had not come across Rohini. A thing does not come about in a day. Everything has its time. Because you are parched with the sun to-day, shall it not be cloudy to-morrow ? Nor is that all; there is something else."
Kumati. "What else?"
Sumati. "Krishna Kanta's will. The old man knew that in leaving the property to Bhramar it remained yours. He also knew that in the course of a month Bhramar would make it over to you in writing. But, seeing that you are at present pursuing evil paths, to purify your character he left you bound to Bhramar. You, not comprehending all that, are angry with Bhramar."
Kumati. "That is true. Do you think I am going to live on a monthly allowance from my wife?"
Sumati. "It is your property. Why don't you take the deed of gift from Bhramar?"
Kumati. "Shall I live in dependence on my wife?"
Sumati. "Good gracious! what a lion of a fellow! Then go to law with your wife and get a decree; 'tis your ancestral property."
Kumati. "Go to law with my wife!"
Sumati. "Then what will you do? Go to destruction?"
Kumati. "That is what I am striving to do."
Sumati. "Rohini—will she go with you?"
Then Kumati and Sumati began a terrible wrangle.