“ May God bless the happy pair," and tied to it was a card with the first letter of Sudhir's name written on it. Lolita had made a firm determination not to let herself cry to-day, but, on getting this one and only token of affection from the friend of her childhood at the moment of leaving her father s home, she could not restrain her tears and they began to flow freely. Paresh Babu also wiped his eyes as he sat quietly in e“CCome in, my dear, come in 1 ” cried Anandamoyi, and she seized Lolita by both hands and took her into the room, a* if she had been on the look-out for her.
GORA CHAP.
" Lolita has left our house for good now,” explained Parcsh Babu when he had sent for Sucharita, and his voice trembled as he spoke.
“ She will not lack for love and affection here, father,” said Sucharita, taking his hand in hers.
When Parcsh Babu was on the point of leaving again, Anandamoyi, drawing her sari over her head, came up to him and bowed to him, and Paresh Babu returned the bow as though slightly confused.
“ Do not let yourself be in the least worried about Lolita,” said Anandamoyi assuringly. “ She will never suffer any sorrow at the hands of him to whom you arc surrendering her. God has at last supplied what I have felt the want of so much. I had no daughter, and now I have got one. I’or a long time I have been hoping that in Binov’s bride I would find com- Esation for the lack of a daughter — and now God has at ; last fulfilled my desire in such a wonderful way, and with such a girl, that I could never have even dreamed of such good fortune! " This was the first time that Paresh Babu had received any consolation, or seen any shelter, from the very day that all this agitation about Lolita’s marriage had commenced. Here was one place in the world where his heart found rest.
CHAPTER LXX Since Gora’s release from gaol so many visitors had been coming every day to his house, that, what with their dis¬ cussions and adulation, he was so besieged that he could hardly breathe, and it became unbearable for him to remain at home. So he began to go about amongst the villages as he had done before.
He used to leave the house early in the morning after a slight meal, and would not return till late at night. Taking the train from Calcutta he would get out at some not far distant station, and wander about amongst the villages. There he would be the guest of potters, oil-vendors, and other low-cast© men. These people could not understand why this huge, fair-skinned, Brahmin youth should visit them and inquire into their joys and sorrows, in fact they were often quite suspicious as to his motives. But Gora, thrusting aside all IXS IXS GORA their doubts and hesitations, roamed about amongst them at will, and even when he sometimes heard them make unpleasant remarks he was not deterred.
The more he saw of their lives the more did one thought constantly occur to his mind. He saw that amongst these village people the social bondage was far greater than it was amongst the educated community. Night and day without ceasing every act of eating, drinking, social ceremony, and touching, in every home, was under the vigilant eyes of society. Every person had an absolutely simple faith in social custom — it never oven occurred to them to question such matters. But this implicit faith in tradition and the bondage of society did not give them the least bit of strength for the tasks of their daily life. It is in fact doubtful whether in the whole world could be found a species of animal so impotent to judge what was for their own good, so helpless, and so cowardly. Apart from observing traditional customs their minds were completely unconscious of what was for their welfare, and even if it was explained to them they would not understand. They regarded prohibitions, by the threat of penalties and in the spirit of sectarianism, as greater than anything else in the world — it seemed as if their whole natures had become entangled from head to foot in a network of various penalties for transgressing against rules forbidding them to do this or that at every step — but this net was one woven by debt, and the bondage was one of creditors and of money-lenders, not the bondage of a king. In it there was no such unity as could make them stand firmly shoulder to shoulder in times of misfortune or prosperity. Gora could not help seeing that by this weapon of tradition and custom man was sucking the blood of man and was reducing him to poverty in a merciless fashion. How often did he see- how, at the time of some social function, no one had the least pity for any one else. The father of one poor fellow had been, suffering for a long time from some disease, and nearly all the man’s means had been expended on giving him medicines, special treatment and diet, and yet he had received not one particle of help from any one — on the contrary the people of his village insisted that his father’s chronic illness must be the penalty for some unknown sin he had committed and that he must therefore spend more money in a ceremony of penance. The unfortunate man’s poverty and helplessness were known, to every one, but there was no pity for him. The same sort of thing happened in every kind of social function. Just as a police inquiry into a dacoity is a greater misfortune to a.
GORA CHAP.
village than the dacoity itself, so the obsequies that have to be performed at the funeral of a parent are the cause of a more serious misfortune than the death itself of a father or mother. No one will accept the excuse of poverty or any other form of inability— no matter how it is accomplished society’s heartless claim has to be satisfied to the very last farthing. On tho occasion of a marriage the bridegroom’s party adopt all sorts of tactics to make the burden of the girl’s father as intolerable as possible, and show nottracc of pity for the unfortunate man. Gora saw that society offers no help to a man at the time of his need, gives him no encouragement at the. time of his misfortune, it merely alllicts him with penalties and humbles him to the dust..
In tho educated community, in which he had been accus¬ tomed to move, Gora had forgotten this fuct, because in that society a power to present a united front worked from out¬ side for the common welfare. In that society many efforts towards unity could be observed, and the only thing to be feared was lest all their efforts after unity should be rendered fruitless through imitating others.
But Gora saw the image of his country’s weakness, naked and unashamed, in the midst of the lethargy of village life where the blows from outside could not work so readilv. He could see nowhere any trace of that religion which through service, love, compassion, self-respect and respect for humanity as a whole, gives power and life and happiness to all. The tradition which merely divided men into classes and separated class from class, driving to a distance even love itself, did not want to carry into effect the results of man’s intelligent thinking, and only put obstacles at every step in the way of man’s coming and going. In these villages the cruel and evil results of this blind bondage were so clearly seen by Gora in all kinds of ways (for he could see how, from a variety of standpoints, it 'attacked the work, wisdom, health, and religious principles of mankind), that it was no longer possible for him to delude himself by the web of delusion which his own mind had woven.
First of all Gora noticed that amongst the lower castes in the villages, owing to a scarcity in numbers amongst the females, or for some other reason, it was only possiblo to obtain a girl for marriage by offering a large dowry. Many men indeed remained unmarried all their lives, and many others did not marry till quite late in life. On the other hand there was a strict prohibition against widow remarriage.
LXX GORA Owing to this, in many homes of the community, health was ruined, and the evil and inconvenience was felt by all alike. Every one was forced to bear the burden of this ill fortune, and yet no one anywhere found means to remedy it. The Gora who in the educated community had not wanted tradi¬ tional custom to be relaxed in any respect was the very man who gave to custom a direct blow here in the villages. Ho managed to win over the priests, but he could not get the people themselves to agree to his view's. They simply became angry with him and 'exclaimed: “ That’s all very well, but you Brahmins should first adopt widow remarriage, and then we will follow suit.”.
The chief cause of their anger was that they imagined Gora despised them because of their low caste, and that ho had come to preach to them that it would bo best for such people as they were to adopt a low standard of conduct.
During his wanderings through the village districts Gora had noticed one thing, namely, that amongst the Mohammedans there was something which enabled them to unite with ono another. He had observed that, when any misfortune or calamity occurred in a village the Mohammedans stood shoulder to shoulder in a way that the Hindus never did, and he often asked himself why there was such a great difference between communities which were such close neighbours. The answer that rose to his mind was one which he did not want to admit as the true one, for it pained him intensely to acknowledge that the Mussulmans were united by their religion, and not merely by custom and tradition. On the one hand, just as the bondage of custom did not render all their functions use¬ less, so on the other the bond of religion made them very intimately one. Uniting together they had taken hold of something which was not merely negative but positive, by which they did not become merely debtors but owners of wealth— something at the summons of which man could in one moment easily sacrifice his very life, standing beside his comrades.
When, in his educated community, Gora had written, argued and lectured, it was in order to influence others, and it was natural for him to paint in rosy colours, through the power of liis own imagination, the words which were intended to draw others into his own path. What was simple he had enveloped with subtle explanations, and in the moonlight of his own emotions he had given a fascinating picture of what was in reality a mere useless ruin. Because one party of people GORA CHAP.
GORA CHAP.
were opposed to his country, and regarded everything in the country as bad, Gora tried day and night, because of his intense love for his motherland, to cover everything behind tho screen of his own brilliant feelings in order to save his country from the insult of such callous regard. Gora had learnt his lesson by heart. Not that lie wanted to prove like a pleader that all was good, and that what from one point of view might be regarded as a fault from another might be regarded as a virtue— he believed all this with implicit faith. Even in the most impossible places ho would stand erect and flaunt this faith of his with pride, holding it firmly in Jiis hand like a flag of victory, iu the face of the opposing party. His one motto was that first tho people of one’s country must- be brought back to a true devotion to the motherland, and then other work could be undertaken.
But when he got out amongst the villages where lie hud no audience and where he had nothing to prove, where there was no need for awakening all the power of opposition at his command in order to lower in the dust all those who showed contempt and disrespect, be found it no longer possible to look at the truth through any kind of veil. Tho very intensity of his love for his country made his perception of truth all tho keener.
CHAPTER LXXI With a shawl tied round his waist, wearing a Tussore-silk coat, and carrying a canvas bag, Kailash presented himself to Harimohini and made his pronams to her. His age would be about thirty-five: he was short of stature, with a heavy face and tight skin. He had several days’ growth on his chin, which looked like a stubllc field.
Harimohini was overjoyed at seeing a member of her father-in-law’s family after so long an interval, and exclaimed with delight: “ Well, well, here is my Thakurpo! Sit down, sit down! ” and she spread a mat for him to sit on, asking him whether he would like to have some water.
“ No need, thank you,” he repliod, and observed: “ You are looking very well.”
“ I ” exclaimed Harimohini in annoyance, feeling that jt was a kind of insult to say that she was in good health. “ How can you say that? ” and she proceeded to give a list LXXI GORA of her various ailments, adding: “ If only I could die I would be rid of this wretched body of mine! ” Kailash objected to this display' of contempt for life, and although his brother was no more, as a proof that they all had the most heartfelt hope that Harimohini would live long, he said: “ You mustn’t talk like that. Why, if you were not alive I should not be in Calcutta now. I have at least- got some sort of a shelter to my head in your home here.”
After lie had given all the news, from start to finish, of their relatives and neighbours in the village, Kailash suddenly looked about, him, and asked: “ So this is the bouse, I suppose?
“ Yes.” replied Harimohini.
“ Pucoa indeed! I should think it is, every hit of it 1 ” exclaimed Harimohini, trying to stimulate his enthusiasm.
He made careful note of the fact that the beams were of solid slial timber, and that the doors and windows were not of mere mango wood. Whether the walls were of two or only one-and-a-lialf brick’s thickness did not escape him cither. He also inquired how many rooms there were both upstairs and downstairs, and on the whole he was quite satisfied with the results of his observations. It was difficult for him to make an estimate of the probable cost of building such a house, because he was not an expert in the matter of bricks and mortar and their price, but nevertheless, as ho sat waggling his toes, he calculated to himself that it probably must huve cost anything from fifteen to twenty thousand rupees. How¬ ever, he did not say so openly, but observed: “ What do you think, sister-in-law, it must have cost seven or eight thousand at least, don’t you imagine? ” “ What are you saying? ” exclaimed Harimohini, express¬ ing her surprise at his rustic ignorance. “ Seven or eight thousand indeed! Why, it can’t have cost a pice less than twenty thousand! ” Kailash began to examine everything within range of his vision with the utmost attention. He felt an intense satis¬ faction in the thought that, at a mere nod of his head, he might become sole lord of this well-built mansion with its beams of shal wood and its doors and windows of teak. He observed: “ This is all right, but what about the girl? " “ She lias suddenly had an invitation to her aunt’s house, and has gone there for three or four days,” hurriedly replied Harimohini.
» Pucca means solidly built.
GORA CHAP.
“ Then how shall I be able to see her? " complained Kailash. “ I have a lawsuit coming off in a day or so, and must leave again to-morrow."
“ Let your lawsuit be for the present,” said Harimohini; “ you can’t go away from here till this business is finished."
Kailash pondered for a moment and thought to himself: “ Well, supposing I do drop the lawsuit they can only order a decree against me. And what of that? * Lot me take a good look round here first, and sec what preparations for compensation are going on." Then suddenly his eyes caught sight of Harimohini’s room where she did her puja, and ho noticed some water had collected in one corner. In that room there was no drain or outlet, and in spite of that fact Harimohini every day washed the floor with water, so that there was always a little collected in that corner of the. room. Kailash was quite upset on seeing this, and exclaimed: “ That’s not right, sister-in-law! " “ Why, what’s the matter? ” asked Harimohini.
“ Why, that water there! It will never do to let it accumu¬ late like that,” explained Kailash.
“ But what can I do? ” expostulated Harimohini.
“ No, no, that will never do! ” protested Kailash. " Why, the floor will get rotten! No, sister, let mo tell you, in that room you must never throw ‘any water.”
Harimohini remained silent, until Kailash began to question her as to the personal appearance of Sucharita.
“ You’ll know soon enough when you sec her,” said Hari¬ mohini. “ I can say this much, that up to now there has been no such bride in your family.”
“ What do you say? ” cried Kailash. “ What about our second brother’s -? ” “ Pugh! ” interrupted Harimohini. " Why, she can’t bear any comparison with our Sucharita! Whatever you may say, your youngest brother’s wife is much better-looking than your second brother’s.”
It should be explained that the second brother’s wife was not a great favourite with Harimohini.
At these comparisons with the beauty of his second and youngest brothers’ wives Kailash did not feel much enthusiasm, but he became lost in the contemplation of a creation of bis own imagination, with almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose with arched eyebrows, and hair reaching down to her waist.
Harimohini saw that things were looking hopeful from her side. So much so, indeed, that even all the social flaws which Lxxn GORA existed on the girl’s side were not likely to be counted os so serious after all.
CHAPTER LXXII Binoy knew that nowadays Gora went out very early in the morning, so on Monday, while it was still dark before dawn, he went to his house, going straight up to lus bedroom on the top floor. On not finding him there, he inquired of a servant, who informed him that ho was in his prayer-room at worship. Binoy was a little surprised on hearing this, and going there found him engaged in some puja. He wore a silk tlhulie, and had on also a silk wrapper, but lus immense body was for the most part bare, showing his fair skin. Binoy was still more astonished on seeing Gora actually doing lus ceremonial PU On hearing the sound of footsteps Gora looked round, and on seeing Binoy, exclaimed in dismay: ‘ Don t come into “ You needn’t be afraid,” assured ^ Binoy. I m not- coming in. But I have called to see you.”
Gora then emerged, and after changing his clothes, took Binoy upstairs where they sat down, Binoy saying: Brother Goru, do you know that to-day is Monday l “ Of course it’s Monday,” laughed Gora, the calendar is not likelv to make a mistake, and as for you, you cannot make a blunder about what day this is. At aU events to-day is not Tuesday, that is sure.”., “ I know that you will probably not come, faltered Binoy, “ but without at least speaking to you once to-day I could not take such a step. That is why I have come to you so Gora sat still without making any answer, and Binoy went on: “ Then is it quite settled that you will not be able to attend ray wedding? ” van “ No, Binoy, I shall not be able to go, replied Gora.
Binoy remained silent, and Gora, concealing the pain with which his heart was filled, said with a laugh: And what docs it matter, after all, if I do not go? You are victorious, for you are dragging mother thero I tnecl my hardest to prevent her from going, but I could not hold her back, bo at last I have had to confess defeat at your hands even in my GORA CHAP.
GORA CHAP.
mother’s case! Binoy, one by one all tho countries of the map are being painted red. On my map there will soon bo only myself left! ” “ No, brother, don’t blame me! ” begged Binoy. “ I told her again and again that she needn’t come to my wedding but she said: ‘ Look here, Binoy, those who will not go to your wedding will not go even if they are invited, and those who will go will go even if you forbid them to come, so you had much better keep quiet.’ Well, Gora, you say you have had to admit defeat at my hands. But it is at the hands of your mother that you have had to admit defeat, not onco only, but t times 1 wllcrc else could you find a mother like her?
Although Gora had tried his best to dissuade Anandamoyi from attending Binoy ’s marriage ceremony he was not in h’is heart of hearts very much pained when, taking no account of his anger or distress, she refused to listen to him, in fact he really felt delighted. Feeling so certain that however great the gulf between Binoy and himself might become, Binoy could never be deprived of that part of his mother’s im¬ measurable love which was showered upon him like nectar Gora s heart was satisfied and at peace. From every other standpoint he might be separated ever so far from Binoy, but by this one bond of the imperishable love of a mother these two lifelong friends would be united by the closest and deepest ties for life. r “ Then, brother, I will be going,” said Binoy. “ If it is quite impossible for you to come, then I shall not expect you but do not harbour any displeasure in your mind against me. If only you could realise what a great purpose has been fulfilled in my life by this union, then you could never allow this marriage to cause a breach in our friendship. I can tell you that for certain. And as he spoke he got up to go.
Bmqy, sit down, do!” urged Gora. “The auspicious moment is not till to-night— what need of such hurrv now? ” Binoy sat down again at once, his heart melted by this unexpected and affectionate request.
Then these two, after such a long interval, began to con- versc intimately as of old. Gora struck the same sweet note which was resounding to-day on Binoy’s heartstrings, and Binov began to talk without ceasing. How many very trifling events, which if he had written them down in plain black and white would have appeared futile and even ridicu¬ lous, were related by Binoy as though they had the oft-repeated Lxxn GORA sweetness of an epic poem set to music! The wonderful drains which was being staged in Binoy’s heart was described by him with such skill of language that it became deeply touching and full of unsurpassable beauty. What was this unexampled experience in his life? This indescribable feeling with which Jiis heart was filled,— did every one experience it? Had every¬ body got the power of grasping hold of it? Binoy assured him¬ self that, in the ordinary relationship bet ween man and woman in worldly society it was impossible that such a supremely lofty note could be heard, and again and again he told Cora that ho must not compare it with the relationships of others. It was doubt ful whether ever before quite what hud happened to Binoy had occurred to any one else! If such experiences had been universal, then the whole of human society would have become restless on every side with the surge of new life, just as, with the breath of spring, all the forests rejoice in their fresh leaves and blossoms. Then people would not have, spent dull lives in sleeping and eating as they do now, and whatever had power or beauty in it would naturally have unfolded itself in a variety of shapes and colours. This was the golden wand, the touch 'of which no one could afford to neglect or remain insensitive to. By it even the most commonplace people became exceptional, and if once man tasted the strength of this rare experience he would acquire a knowledge of the truth of life.
“ Gora,” said Binoy ecstatically, " I can tell you for certain that the one means by which in a single moment man's whole nature can be awakened is this love — no matter what the reason is, there is no doubt that amongst us the manifestation of this love is weak, and therefore all of us arc deprived of a complete realisation of ourselves — we don’t know what is in us, we cannot reveal what is hidden within, and it is impossible for us to spend what is accumulated in our hearts— that is why there is such joylessness on every side, such want of cheerful¬ ness! Therefore it is that, apart from one or two men like yourself, no one realises that there is so great a soul within each of us — the ordinary consciousness is quite blind to that The current of Binoy’s enthusiasm was here interrupted by the sound of Mohim’s loud yawning as he got up from his bed and went to wash his face and hands, so he rose and said farewell to Gora.
Gora heaved a deep sigh as he stood on the roof looking towards the rosy sky of approaching dawn. For a loDg time GORA CHAP.
ho walked up and down on the roof. To-day he did not go out on his usual visits to the villages.
That morning Gora felt in his own heart a longing and a void which he found it impossible to satisfy by any form of work. It was not only he himself, but the whole work of his life, that seemed to be stretching out its hands on high and saying— I want light, a bright and beautiful light. It was as if all the materials were ready, as if diamonds and jewels were not high-priced, and iron and mail were not difficult to get — only that tender and beautiful light of dawn, illumined by hope and consolation, where was that? To increase that which we already possess there is no need for any sort of exertion, but we await what should mako it more manifest in radiance and loveliness.
When Binoy had said that when, at certain auspicious moments we find refuge in love between man and woman, an unspeakable, aud rare experience illumines our lives, Gora was not able to laugh it off as he had done before. He acknow¬ ledged to himself that this was no ordinary union of souls, it was a fulfilment of one’s life, a relationship in which every¬ thing attained a greater value, which gave body to one’s fancy, and filled the body with new life. It was not merely that it redoubled the powers of body and mind, it gave a new savour to life.
On this day, when Binov was socially ostracising himself, his heart had awakened in Cora’s heart a faultless harmony of music. Binoy himself had left him, but as the day wore on that music would not cease. Just as two rivers on their way to the ocean unite, so the current of Binoy’s love, mingling with the love of Gora himself, resounded as wave fell upon wave. What Gora had been trying to hide from himself by any means he could devise, weakening it, obstructing it, and screening it from view, had now burst its banks and had re¬ vealed itself clearly and unmistakably. Gora no longer had tho power to abuse it as improper or condemn it as contemptible.