Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/158

132 shot. He is now the foremost among the Children, he is our right hand."

"Could he have done all this if he did not know that I was dead? Can anybody swim across this ocean of a world who has got a pitcherful of mud tied to his neck? Can he run who has got iron chains on his legs? O, Sannyasi, why did you save this wretched life of mine?"

"A wife is the participator in her husband's duties and an aid to their performance."

"That applies to the humdrum duties of life, but in all high and noble works the wife is a thorn on her husband's path. A thorn is drawn out by a thorn alone, they say. I sought to pluck the thorn of his failure in duty by the thorn of poison. For shame, you wretched and sinful ascetic, why did you give me back my life?"

"Well, let what I have given remain mine. Kalyani, could you give me back the life that I have given you?"

"Do you know how my daughter Sukumari is?"

"I have not heard of her for a lung time. Jivananda has not gone that way for a long time."

K. Could you not get me news of her? My husband I must give up, but, if I have lived, why should I give up my daughter too? If I get back Sukumari, even in this hapless life of mine, I may yet then have some joy. But no, why should you do all this for me?"

B. I will do it for you, Kalyani, I will get you your child, but what then?

K. What then?

B. What of your husband?