Though love had sustained Hemamalini' faith in Ramesh, it couldn't hush the voice of reason altogether. In solitude that night she felt restless finding her faith on Ramesh getting weakened. She laboured to bar out suspicion from the strong hold of her faith, yet doubts rained blows on the postern. It was like a mother who endeavours to protect her babe by clasping it to her breast and clutched her trust in Ramesh to her heart when assailed by the damning evidence against him. Annada Babu sleeping in the room next to her found Hemamalini keeping awake during most of the night. Anxiety for his daughter had made his rest a disturbed one, and he had not fallen asleep till dawn was approaching. He woke up late in the morning and after a hasty toilet he went in search of Hemamalini who was not found in her bed-room. Finding her on the roof of the house alone caused him a fresh pang. He brought her down to the tea-table. It was her invariable custom to pour out his tea for him herself she didn't depart from her usual routine as it would distress her father otherwise.
Jogendra was seriously offended when he perceived that his father and sister are not inclined to take him to their confidence and, on the other hand, attributing evil intentions against him. As a last resort, he burst out, " Do you know what has happened ? Ramesh started for home the night before last in the Goalunda mail, taking his wife with him. When he saw Akshay get into the train, he changed his plans and came back to Calcutta. In my opinion, his running away like a thief is simply disgusting. I don't know what Hem thinks of it, but I consider his flight sufficient evidence of guilt. Have I nothing to do with the man who was going to marry you ?"
Trembling in every limb, Hemamalini rose to her feet and started saying; "I don't want your evidence, thank you. You can condemn him if you like, but I'm not his judge. You break the engagement or not just as you think fit ; but you needn't try to break my resolution." A fit of sobbing choked any further utterance ; Annada Babu rose and clasped her tear-bedewed face to his breast. "Come, dear, we'll go upstairs," was all that he said.
The steamer in which Ramesh and Kamala had embarked duly left Goalundo depositing their belongings in a cabin. Kamala was imagining that they are going home ; but Ramesh revealed her that they are going to the west-country.
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