Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/203

Chapter III

Mahendra and Kalyani, Jivananda and Santi, Nimai and her husband were all of them together now in the new fort of Padachinha and were leading a happy life. Santi came dressed as Nabinananda. On the night on which she brought Kalyani to her cottage, she had asked her not to give out to her husband that she was a woman. One day, Kalyani called her into the zenana. Nabinananda came there. The servants forbade her but she would not hear. On coming to Kalyani, Santi asked, " Why have you sent for me ? " " How long are you going to dress yourself as a man ? " inquired Kalyani : " I cannot talk to you peely. You must let my husband know of your identity." Nabinananda grew very thoughtful and for a long time did not speak. At last he said, " Kalyani, there is great harm in that." They then began to talk about it. Now, the servants who had forbidden Nabinananda from going into the zenana informed Mahendra that Nabinananda had entered there in spite of protest on their part. Mahendra crrew curious and came to the zenana. On entering Kalyani's bed-room, he found Nabinananda standing in that room and Kalyani undoing the knots that fastened the tiger-skin to the breast of that ascetic. Mahendra was amazed and very angry. Nabinananda