Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Part 1/Chapter 8
CHAPTER VIII.
In good time in the morning Rohini finished cooking, served Brahmânanda’s meal, and, herself fasting, closed the door of her sleeping chamber, and lay down—not to sleep, but to think.
Oh! ye students of the Vedas, leave for a while your customary lore and listen to my simple speech. There is a daughter of the gods named Benevolence, and an ogress named Malevolence. These two beings roam about in the human heart, and are constantly at war with each other. As two tigresses fight for a dead cow, or two jackals for the body of a dead man, so do these two for the living man. To-day in that lonely sleeping chamber these two spirits wrangled for Rohini.
Sumati (Benevolence) said: "Is it right to ruin so good a man?"
Kumati (Malevolence). "I have not given the will to Hara Lâl. What ruin have I caused?"
Sumati. "Return Krishna Kanta's will to Krishna Kanta."
Kumati. "Bah! When Krishna Kanta shall ask me, 'Where did you get this will? and how came another will, a forged one, to be in my drawer?' then what shall I say? A fine thing this! that would be sending both me and my uncle to gaol."
Sumati. "Then why not fall weeping at the feet of Gobind Lâl, and tell him the whole matter. He is compassionate, and will certainly protect you."
Kumati. "That is all right. But Gobind Lâl must necessarily tell Krishna Kanta all about it, otherwise the change of will cannot be rectified. If Krishna Kanta sends us to the police station how can Gobind Lâl protect us? Rather take this other advice. Keep silence until after Krishna Kanta dies, then, as you suggest, I shall go to Gobind Lâl, fall at his feet, and give him the will."
Sumati. "Then it will be useless. The will found in Krishna Kanta's house will be received as the genuine will. And should Gobind Lâl produce this will he may be accused of forgery."
Kumati. "Then remain silent. What is done is done."
Then Sumati had no more to say—she was defeated. The two spirits made a compact, and in friendly mood set about another piece of work. They brought before Rohini’s mental vision the beauteous, god-like form of Gobind Lâl standing majestic on the border of the tank, bathed in moonlight splendour. At this figure Rohini gazed and gazed until she wept. Rohini slept not that night.