Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Part 2/Chapter 7
CHAPTER VII.
When Nishâkar had taken his seat in the large hall, Rohini had to go into a side room. She could not now see but she could hear. She listened to the conversation that ensued. Moreover, she moved the door curtain a little aside and looked at Nishâkar. He also observed that a large and beautiful eye was peeping at him from the curtain. Rohini heard that Nishâkar. or rather Râs Bihâri, had come from Haridrâ. The servant Rupo, like Rohini, stood listening to all that was said. As soon as Nishâkar had gone away, Rohini, showing her face from one side of the curtain, beckoned to Rupo, who approached. She said in his ear—
"Will you do what I tell you? It must be kept secret from the bâbu. If the bâbu knows nothing of it I will give you five rupees."
Rupo thought "I know not whose face I saw when I rose this morning.[1] Every one I see to-day gives me something. It is well for a poor man to get a few coppers." Aloud he said, "I can do anything you wish. What are your commands?"
"Go down with this bâbu. He has come from my father's country. I never get any news from there, how much I have wept about it! When a person comes from one's own country one wants to question him about one's folks. The bâbu, in anger, has dismissed him. Do you follow and ask him to be seated, but in such a place that if the bâbu goes down he won't see him. Don't let any one see you, I will go to him in private. If he does not wish to sit, persuade him a little."
Rupo, scenting a present, darted off with the words, "At your bidding."
With what design Nishâkar had come to deceive Gobind Lâl I cannot say, but his conduct on coming downstairs would have led any intelligent person to distrust him. He was examining the shutters and fastenings of the entrance door when Rupo Khânsâmâ came up to him and said, "Do you wish to smoke, sir?"
Nish. "As the master does not offer it, how can I take it from the servants?"
Rupo. "No, I suppose not, but I should like a word with you in secret; please come to a place where we may be in privacy." Thus saying, Rupo led the way to his own private room, and Nishâkar followed without making any objection. Offering a seat, Rupo gave to Nishâkar Rohini's message.
Nishâkar had stretched forth his hand and reached the moon in the sky. He had found a means to accomplish his design very easily. He said, "Your master has driven me out; how can I remain hidden in his house?"
"He will know nothing of it, I assure you, sir; he never comes into this room."
"Well, suppose he doesn't; still, when your mistress comes down he may wonder where she has gone. If he does, and follows her, and by some chance finds your mistress with me, then what position shall I be in? eh?"
Rupo remained silent. Nishâkar resumed, "He would lock me up in his house, murder me, and bury me in this garden before I could say anything. Even you yourself would give me a blow or two. So I can't consent to this. Make your mistress understand that I can't do it. Also say that her uncle charged me with important messages for her. That I was anxious to deliver them to her, but that your master has driven me out. I could not tell her what I had in charge, and so I am off."
Rupo saw the five rupees slipping from his hand. He said, "Well, though you can't stay here; could you not wait at a distance for her?"
"I did think of that. As I came I observed a ghât at the bank of the stream near your dwelling. Near it I saw two bakul trees. Do you know the spot?"
"I know it."
"I will go there and wait. It is now evening. When night falls if I sit there I shall not be noticed. If your mistress can come thither she will hear all the news. If I see anything go wrong I shall be able to save my life by flight. To be locked up in this house and killed like a dog would not suit me at all."
So Rupo had to go to Rohini and repeat to her Nishâkar's words. What now were Rohini's emotions I am quite unable to tell. If I cannot understand my own mind how can I possibly say, "Thus and thus thought Rohini?" That she loved Brahmânanda so fondly that to obtain news of him she lost all power of discrimination, I am unable to say. I think there was something more in it. There had been a little exchange of glances, some divining of one another's thoughts. Rohini had observed that Nishâkar was a handsome man with fine eyes. That in manliness Nishâkar was a prince among men. Rohini was firmly resolved never to be unfaithful to Gobind Lâl, but then unfaithfulness was one thing, this quite another, I fancy this sinful woman thought.
If a huntsman should see a deer carelessly straying, would he not certainly shoot an arrow at it? What woman seeing a vulnerable man would not strive to make a conquest? The tiger slays the ox, but he does not consume the whole carcase. A woman defeats a man only that she may flourish the standard of victory. Many go fishing for love of the art; they don't eat the fish, but give them away. Many shoot birds for the sake of the sport and throw them away. The hunter hunts for sport, not to eat. I know not what fun there is in that. Rohini continued thinking, "Since this large-eyed deer has strayed into this Prasâdpur forest, why should I not pierce him with an arrow and let him depart?"
I know not what else arose in this wicked woman's heart, but Rohini agreed that in the evening, when she could make an opportunity, she would go alone to the ghât on the river Chitrâ and hear news of her uncle from Nishâkar.
Rupo brought this message to Nishâkar, who received it with much contentment of mind, rising slowly from his seat.
- ↑ A common saying amongst Bengalis. The sight of an auspicious or inauspicious face the first thing in the morning is supposed to influence the events of the day for good or evil.