“But, oh sister, his power over me has been
utterly broken. And it is you who have broken
it!”
“Brother dear,” said I, “if that
is so, then my life is justified. But more remains
to be done, Amulya. It is not enough that the
spell has been destroyed. Its stains must be
washed away. Don’t delay any longer, go
at once and put back the money where you took it from.
Can you not do it, dear?”
“With your blessing everything is possible,
Sister Rani.”
“Remember, it will not be your expiation alone,
but mine also. I am a woman; the outside world
is closed to me, else I would have gone myself.
My hardest punishment is that I must put on you the
burden of my sin.”
“Don’t say that, sister. The path
I was treading was not your path. It attracted
me because of its dangers and difficulties. Now
that your path calls me, let it be a thousand times
more difficult and dangerous, the dust of your feet
will help me to win through. Is it then your
command that this money be replaced?”
“Not my command, brother mine, but a command
from above.”
“Of that I know nothing. It is enough
for me that this command from above comes from your
lips. And, sister, I thought I had an invitation
here. I must not lose that. You must give
me your __prasad__ [26] before I go. Then, if
I can possibly manage it, I will finish my duty in
the evening.”
Tears came to my eyes when I tried to smile as I said:
“So be it.”
------
26. Food consecrated by the touch of a revered
person.
Bimala’s Story
With Amulya’s departure my heart sank within
me. On what perilous adventure had I sent this
only son of his mother? O God, why need my expiation
have such pomp and circumstance? Could I not
be allowed to suffer alone without inviting all this
multitude to share my punishment? Oh, let not
this innocent child fall victim to Your wrath.
I called him back—“Amulya!”
My voice sounded so feebly, it failed to reach him.
I went up to the door and called again: “Amulya!”
He had gone.
“Who is there?”
“Rani Mother!”
“Go and tell Amulya Babu that I want him.”
What exactly happened I could not make out—the
man, perhaps, was not familiar with Amulya’s
name—but he returned almost at once followed
by Sandip.
“The very moment you sent me away,” he
said as he came in, “I had a presentiment that
you would call me back. The attraction of the
same moon causes both ebb and flow. I was so
sure of being sent for, that I was actually waiting
out in the passage. As soon as I caught sight
of your man, coming from your room, I said: ’Yes,
yes, I am coming, I am coming at once!’—before
he could utter a word. That up-country lout
was surprised, I can tell you! He stared at
me, open-mouthed, as if he thought I knew magic.
