This was not denied. But Panchu was reminded
that it had never been asserted that the second wife
had come after the death of the first, but the former
had been married by his uncle during the latter’s
lifetime. Not relishing the idea of living with
a co-wife she had remained in her father’s house
till her husband’s death, after which she had
got religion and retired to holy Brindaban, whence
she was now coming. These facts were well known
to the officers of Harish Kundu, as well as to some
of his tenants. And if the __zamindar’s__
summons should be peremptory enough, even some of
those who had partaken of the marriage feast would
be forthcoming!
One afternoon, when I happened to be specially busy,
word came to my office room that Bimala had sent for
me. I was startled.
“Who did you say had sent for me?” I
asked the messenger.
“The Rani Mother.”
“The Bara Rani?”
“No, sir, the Chota Rani Mother.”
The Chota Rani! It seemed a century since I
had been sent for by her. I kept them all waiting
there, and went off into the inner apartments.
When I stepped into our room I had another shock of
surprise to find Bimala there with a distinct suggestion
of being dressed up. The room, which from persistent
neglect had latterly acquired an air of having grown
absent-minded, had regained something of its old order
this afternoon. I stood there silently, looking
enquiringly at Bimala.
She flushed a little and the fingers of her right
hand toyed for a time with the bangles on her left
arm. Then she abruptly broke the silence.
“Look here! Is it right that ours should
be the only market in all Bengal which allows foreign
goods?”
“What, then, would be the right thing to do?”
I asked.
“Order them to be cleared out!”
“But the goods are not mine.”
“Is not the market yours?”
“It is much more theirs who use it for trade.”
“Let them trade in Indian goods, then.”
“Nothing would please me better. But suppose
they do not?”
“Nonsense! How dare they be so insolent?
Are you not ...”
“I am very busy this afternoon and cannot stop
to argue it out. But I must refuse to tyrannize.”
“It would not be tyranny for selfish gain, but
for the sake of the country.”
“To tyrannize for the country is to tyrannize
over the country. But that I am afraid you will
never understand.” With this I came away.
All of a sudden the world shone out for me with a
fresh clearness. I seemed to feel it in my blood,
that the Earth had lost the weight of its earthiness,
and its daily task of sustaining life no longer appeared
a burden, as with a wonderful access of power it whirled
through space telling its beads of days and nights.
What endless work, and withal what illimitable energy
of freedom! None shall check it, oh, none can
ever check it! From the depths of my being an
uprush of joy, like a waterspout, sprang high to storm
the skies.
