The story about the servant Gada was perfectly true. The poor wretch had been sentenced to imprisonment for the alleged theft of a watch.
Kamala had come to the end of her resources. When it seemed as though lifelong happiness lay within her grasp her hands were fettered. Fate had played her a cruel practical joke. Her life of drudgery as a prisoner within four walls became intolerable. She took to donning a wrapper and sallying forth into the cold night air of the garden as soon as her evening's toil was ended. There she would stand by the compound wall and would stand immovable, her passionate zeal for devoted service impelled her in search of a house that she had never seen. At last she would bow herself to the ground in a deep obeisance and retire to her chamber.
One evening Nabinkali chose to send for her after her labours were over for the day. The bearer, however, returned with the announcement that the Brahman lady was nowhere to be found.
"Do you mean to tell me she has bolted ?" exclaimed Nabinkali, and she personally searched the house from top to bottom, but found no trace of Kamala.
She sought out her husband,Mukunda Babu, and informed him that to all appearances Kamala had run away. Mukunda Babu took the news quite calmly. "I told her not to," he murmured drowsily with hookah in his hand ; "she's inattentive creature. Has she taken anything with her ?"
The wrapper that I gave her to keep her warm in this weather ; it's not in her room now. I haven't noticed if anything else is missing."
"Send a word to the police," said her husband in a matter-of-fact tone. One of the servants was accordingly dispatched on this errand. Kamala had in the meantime retired indoors, where she came upon Nabinkali turning the whole contents of the room upside down in the endeavor to ascertain if anything had been stolen.
"Well, what mischief have you been up to ? Where did you go ?" she cried, as soon as she caught sight of Kamala.
"I went for a walk in the garden after I had finished my work."
Nabinkali opened the vials of her wrath. She did not pick her words, and the servants all gathered round the door to listen.
Storm as Nabinkali might, Kamala had never allowed her to see in tears, and this occasion was no exception ; the girl never flinched but stood like a statue under the torrent of vituperation. When it showed signs of slackening she interjected; "I am afraid you are dissatisfied with me ; you had better let me go."
"I certainly will. If you think I'm going to feed and clothe such an ungrateful creature any longer you're mistaken, but I'll teach you whom you have to deal with before I dismiss you."
Kamala did not venture out of doors again. She shut herself into her room, comforting herself with the reflection that her sufferings had reached their climax and that Heaven must needs grant her relief now.
On the fallowing evening Mukunda Babu went out for a drive, taking two of his servants with him, and the front door was bolted from inside after his departure. Dusk had fallen when a voice was heard outside inquiring if the master was at home.
"Goodness me, that's Doctor Nalinaksha ! Budhiya ! Budhiya !" But there was no sign of Budhiya, so she turned to Kamala:
"Just run down and open the door, will you ? Tell the doctor that my husband has gone out for a drive and will be back very soon. Ask him to wait for a few minutes."
No comments:
Post a Comment