Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Part 2/Chapter 11
CHAPTER XI.
third year.
Bhramar did not die. Why, I cannot say. It is one of the greatest evils in this world that no one dies at the right time. All die out of season. That, I think, was the reason Bhramar did not die. However, she had recovered in some measure from her illness. Bhramar was again in her father's house. The news brought home by Mâdhabi Nâth was communicated in great secresy by his wife to the eldest daughter, who passed it on, confidentially, to Bhramar. Now the eldest sister, Jâmini, said—
"Why does he not come and dwell in the house of Haridrâ? If he did, I fancy there would be no danger."
"How would there be no danger?" asked Bhramar.
Jâmini. "He lived at Prasâdpur under a borrowed name. No one knew him to be Gobind Lâl Bâbu."
Bhramar. "Did you not hear that the police had been seeking him in Haridrâ village? So how can it be that they don't know?"
Jâmini. "Suppose they do know! If he were to come here and settle down in possession of his property, he would have some cash in hand. Father says the police are open to bribes."
Bhramar (weeping). "Who will give him this counsel? Where can I find him to give him that advice? Father did once find him. I wonder if he could do so again?"
Jâmini. "The police are great searchers. If with their daily searching they cannot find him, how should father do so? But I think Gobind Lâl Bâbu will himself come and settle down at Haridrâ. Just after that event at Prasâdpur, had he shown himself in Haridrâ, people would have identified him as the Prasâdpur Babu. On that account, I think, he has kept away. But now it may be expected that he will come."
Bhramar. "I have no hope of it."
Jâmini. "And if he comes?"
Bhramar. "If it be for his welfare to come here, I will pray to the gods with all my heart that he should do so; if it be better for him not to come, I will pray earnestly that he shall never again be seen in Haridrâ. May the gods enable him to live in security."
Jâmini. "I think, sister, that you ought to live there. Who knows but some day, being short of money, he may appear there? Suppose he does not trust the Âmlâ, and won't see them? Then if he doesn't see you he may go back again."
Bhramar. "And I so ill!—now worse, now better. I may die at any time. Under whose care should I stay there?"
Jâmini. "If you like, one of us will stay there with you; in any case you ought to live on the spot."
Bhramar (after some thought). "Well, I will go. Tell mother to send me to-morrow. None of you need come now. But in the day of my trouble mind you come."
"What trouble, Bhramar?"
"If he should come."
"How can that be a trouble, Bhramar? If your lost jewel returns home, what greater joy than that?"
"Joy, sister! What joy can there ever be for me?"
Bhramar said no more. Jâmini understood nothing of her feeling, knew nothing of her inward grief. Bhramar had a dim vision of what must follow in the future. Jâmini had no such vision; she never thought of Gobind Lâl as a murderer, but Bhramar could not forget it.