On the eve of Mikunda Babu's departure for Meerut the whole household was prepared to accompany him and every thing was packed and ready. Nabinkali feared lest in the bustle of preparation for the journey her lady-cook might give a slip, and for some days accordingly she had never let Kamala out of her sight and had kept her busily employed packing the luggage.
Kamala was reduced to the despairing hope that she might suddenly be attacked by a severe illness that Nabinkali would be forced to leave her behind. Nabinkali made Kamala sleep with her that night and took her to the station in her own carriage next morning. Mukunda Babu was to travel in second class, while Nabinkali and Kamala were installed in an intermediate-class ladies' compartment.
The train duly left Benares and the train rolled on to the bridge over the river Ganges. Moghalserai was the next station at the other side of the bridge and it's a railway-junction where most of the trains make a halt for changing the trains.The Meerut train was on the point of starting when, to Kamala's astonishment, she heard a well-known voice exclaim, "Mother !" She turned her head towards the platform and saw Umesh ! Her face lit up with joy.
"It's you, Umesh !" she cried.
Umesh opened the door of the carriage and in an instant Kamala was beside him on the platform. He prostrated himself before her with a gesture of the utmost reverence ; touching the dust of her feet and placing it on his head. He was grinning from ear to ear with delight.
Next moment the guard slammed the door of the Meerut train.
"What are you doing ?" shrieked Nabinkali to Kamala. "The train is off ! Get in ! Get in !" But Kamala was deaf to her outcry.
The engine whistled and the train puffed slowly out of the station.
"Where have you come from, Umesh ?" asked Kamala.
"From Ghazipur."
"Are they all well there ? What's the news of Uncle ?"
"He is quite well."
"How is my sister Saila ?"
"She's crying her eyes out for you, mother."
Kamala's eyes incontinently filled with tears.
"How is Umi ?" she asked next. "Does she still remember her auntie ?"
"They can never get her to take her milk unless she is wearing those bracelets that you gave her before you left. When she puts them on she flings her arms about and cries, 'Auntie's gone away ta-ta !' and it makes her mother weep to hear her," he informed.
"What did you come here for ?" asked Kamala.
"I got tired of Ghazipur, so I came away," answered Umesh.
"Where are you going to ?" asked him.
"I'm going with you, mother," told Umesh pleadingly.
"But I haven't a farthing in the world," cleared Kamala.
"That doesn't matter. I have money," assured Umesh.
"Where did you get it ?"
"I never spent those five rupees that you gave me," and he produced the coins in corroboration.
"Come along then, Umesh. we'll go to Benares ; what do you say ? can you get tickets for both ?" asked Kamala.
"Of course I can," and he was back in no time with the tickets.
The train was standing in the station. He saw Kamala into her place and informed her that he would travel in the next compartment.
"Where are we going to ?" asked Kamala when they left the train at Benares.
"Don't you worry, mother ! I'll take you to the right place."
"The right place indeed !" exclaimed Kamala. "What do you know of Benares ?"
"I know all about it. Just see where I take you."
He escorted Kamala to a hackney-carriage and himself mounted the box. In front of a certain house the carriage stopped, and Umesh announced, "You must get down here, mother."
Kamala alighted and followed Umesh into the house, where he hailed some unseen personage ; "Hallo, grandpa are you in ?"
From the side room came the answer, "is that you, Umesh ? Where have you turned up from ?"
Next moment Uncle Chakrabartti appeared in person carrying a hookah, and Uncle's countenance became one huge smile.
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