Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/58

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STORIES OF BENGALEE LIFE

"Since the Bande Mataram began, the boys don't allow anybody to buy bilati things."

"What do they say? Bundook marum.?"

"No, no—Bande Mataram."

"What's that?"

"Some new kind of abuse they have invented, I think. The boys shout it out whenever they see Europeans now-a-days."


III

Having made a profit of eight annas clean, the Khansama returned to the Dak Bungalow in high glee. He found his master walking about the verandah in an impatient manner.

Seeing the Khansama, the Sahib enquired of him in an angry voice the cause of his delay and took the tin from his hand. As soon as he saw the words "Hindu Biscuits" inscribed on the tin, he lost all control over himself and hurled it with a tremendous force at the head of his servant. The poor man was standing at the edge of the verandah and the impact sent him down to the ground below where a quantity of rubbish was lying scattered. The corner of the tin cut open the skin of his forehead and he bled profusely.

The Sahib, taking no notice of the man's condition, roared out—"You damned son of a pig—why did you bring these deshi biscuits?"