Having got the impression that Hemamalini was not inclined to the proposal of himself to be the person for her husband Akshay came with a suggestion :
"Well, we needn't assume that I'm the only marriageable young man in the world. Of course if you were your sister things would be different and my ancestors would not be anxiously counting the days till I cease to be a bachelor. But as it is , what we really want is a suitor who will meet her taste-not one on whose appearance she flies off to air the clothes !"
" One can't go into a shop and order a bridegroom," expressed Jogen.
"You're very easily discouraged. Though our real object is to find a husband for Hemamalini still, if you are too precipitate, the whole thing will end in smoke. You mustn't broach the subject of marriage prematurely or you'll scare both parties away.Let their acquaintance ripen gradually and watch your opportunity to make a proposal," suggested Akshay.
"Sound tactics," admitted Jogendra, "but tell me his name."
"You don't know him well, but you've seen him-Doctor Nalinaksha !" said Akshay.
"Nalinaksha !" wondered Jogen.
"You seem surprised ! There is some scandal about him in the Brahmo Samaj, but never mind that. You wouldn't so eligible a catch slip out of your hands on that count, I'm sure," suggested Akshay.
"If I once got any one so eligible into my hands, I shouldn't worry about the rest ! Do you suppose, however, that Nalinaksha would consent ?" doubted Jogendra.
Akshay came with a proposal, "You know, Nalinaksha is to deliver a lecture to-marrow. Take Hemamalini to hear him. The fellow is a real orator. There's nothing like eloquence to attract women. I don't say he would if you sprang a proposal on him to-day ; but time works marvels !"
"But look here, you must tell me Nalinaksha's history ; I want to know more about him," said Jogendra.
"All right, Jogen, I'll tell you his history, but if you discover a flaw somewhere you mustn't let that worry you. A slight flaw is an advantage in my opinion ; it brings within one's means an article that would otherwise be too expensive," told Akshay.
Nalinaksha's story, as told by Akshay, may be summarized as follows:
His father Rajballabh was a petty landholder in the neighborhood of Faridpur. At the age of thirty Rajballabh joined the Brahmo Samaj sect. His wife, however, refused to embrace her husband's new faith, and she resolutely went her own way, taking every precaution to maintain her ceremonial purity. Naturally Rajballabh found his wife's attitude extremely unpalatable. Their son Nalinaksha's missionary zeal and remarkable eloquence procured his admission into the fold of the Brahmo Samaj at an early age. He entered the provincial medical service and lived the usual nomadic life of the government servant in Bengal. Wherever he went he left behind him a reputation for upright conduct, professional skill, and fervid piety.
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