Page:Eyesore - Rabindranath Tagore.pdf/64

Rh Another heavy shower had come on in the afternoon. Binodini was sitting on the floor of her room. In front of her was a heap of clothes. The maid was handing them to her, one by one, and Binodini was marking them.

Mahendra, without any attempt to announce himself, rushed right into the room as he came downstairs with the letter. The maid dropped the clothes she was holding, drew down her veil, and bolted. Binodini started to her feet, scattering her marking things. "Go out of my room, will you?" she commanded.

Mahendra.—"Why, what have I done?"

Binodini.—"What have you done, you miserable coward! Ask rather, what can you do? Why are you trying to ruin my life-you who know neither love, nor duty?"

Mahendra.—"You really think I do not love you?"

Binodini.—"That's exactly what I do think. This double-dealing, this hide and seek, this slinking away like a thief makes me fairly sick. I'll have no more of it. Get away from my room, please."

Mahendra.—"So you think me a contemptible creature, Binod?"

Binodini.—"I do."

Mahendra.—"There's still time to make amends, Binod. What if I have done with the conflict? What if I leave everything else? Would you then come with me Binod?" He clasped both Binodini's hands in his own and drew her forcibly towards himself.

"Let me go! you're hurting me!" cried Binodini.

Mahendra.—"Let it hurt. Tell me, will you come with me!"

Binodini.—"No, never!"

Mahendra.—"Why will you not? Haven't you dragged me to the brink of this precipice? You can't forsake me now, you must come with me to the end." He crushed her to his breast as he continued: "Even your contempt won't drive me away. I must and shall take you with me. Somehow or other I'll make you love me."

Binodini snatched herself away from his arms.

"You've set the fire blazing all round, Now you can't put it out, nor can you escape," Mahendra went on, raising his voice higher and higher till he shouted: "What made you play such a terrible game, Binod? Calling it play can't save you any longer, now there's only one death for you and me!"

"Whatever are you doing, Mahin?" cried Rajlakshmi as she hurried into the room.

Mahendra's wild gaze turned for a moment towards his mother, and then it fastened back on Binodini as he repeated, "I am leaving my all, I ask you for the last time, will you come with me?"

Binodini glanced once towards the infuriated Rajlakshmi, and then calmly stepping upto Mahendra she took him by the hand and said, "I will!"

"Then wait just a day more. I am off now. From to-morrow there'll be no one else in the world for me, but you." And Mahendra was gone.

"I can't wait any longer, mother," whined the washerman from the passage. "If you are too busy to attend to the clothes to-day, I'll come round for them tomorrow."

The rest of the world went on as usual.

ENTLEMEN, I thank you heartly for the very great honour you have done me by electing me to preside over your deliberations on this occasion. Your election has taken me quite by surprise. I suppose it is because you, or at least some of you, may have heard how deeply interested I have been in the study of