Finding Kamala's decision to go to Ghazipur along with Chakrabartti inspite of Ramesh's plan of going to Banares, Chakrabartti did not altogether relish the situation."My dear, " he observed, "If you show me such partiality you'll make Ramesh Babu jealous" ; but Kamala merely repeated, "I'm going to Ghazipur." Her tone showed that she considered herself at liberty to act as she pleased.
"All right, Uncle," said Ramesh,"Ghazipur let it be."
In the evening the sky cleared after the rain and Ramesh sat till late in the moonlight meditating. "We can't go on this way any longer," he said to himself. "The situation will become impossible if Kamala turns rebellious. I don't see how I'm going to live with her and yet keep my distance. I can't keep it up any longer. After all, Kamala really is my wife. I regarded her as my wife from the first, and I need have no scruples because we did not actually recite the regular formulas. Death himself gave her to me and made us one that night on the sandbank ; surely he is more potent than any earthly priest !"
Between him and Hemamalini lay a hostile army in full panoply. How could he establish his innocence ? Even if he could prove himself guiltless, society would draw up, as it were, her skirts from contact with him, and the result would be so disastrous for Kamala that this course was inconceivable. Away with cowardice and wavering ! There was nothing for it but to make Kamala his wife indeed. Hemamalini must now regard him with aversion-an aversion which would have the advantage of inclining her favourably to the addresses of some other suitor. Ramesh sighed and flung his hopes of Hemamalini to the winds.
It became evident that Kamala had taken sole command and assumed entire responsibility for the destination and the constitution of the party. Umesh, though destined to go to Benares, decided to keep himself in the company of Kamala.
Uncle lived in a small bungalow along with his wife, Haribhabhini, his younger daughter, Sailaja, along with Sailaja's husband Bipin. Bipin was employed in the opium factory in Ghajipur. Sailaja had a two year old daughter, Umi. Their elder daughter, Bidhu, lived with her husband in Allahabad.
As soon as they reached Unclel's home, Kamala saluted Haribhabhini with due respect. The old lady in her turn touched Kamala on the chin, then kissed her own fingers and remarked to her husband, "Don't you think her very like our Bidhu ?" After getting formally introduced to each other and as they were seated, Sailaja made her appearance along with her daughter. Sailaja started conversation with the new guest with affection, but suddenly broke off with the remark, "Excuse me for a few minutes, dear ; I shan't be long." She then proceeded to explain a little self-consciously that her husband had just come in from his bath and that she must give him breakfast before he wentto thee office.
"How did you know he had come in ?" asked Kamala in the innocence of her heart.
"Now don't make fun of me," retorted Sailaja. "How does any one know that? Don't you know your husband's step when you hear it ?" She laughed, pinched Kamala's cheek, flung over her shoulder the loose end of her dress, snatched up Umi, and left the room.
Kamala had not known before that the language of footsteps was so easy to learn. She gazed out the window absorbed in thought.
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