Page:Masani - Gandhi's story.pdf/66

62 second bangle, and then removed her gold necklace and earrings and gave them to Gandhiji. Gandhiji drew Kaumudi to him and said with great affection, "This is very generous of you, Kaumudi, but have you your parents' permission, for without that I can not accept your ornaments?”

“Yes,” she replied softly, “I got my father's permission before I came here.”

“But will not your decision not to wear ornaments make your mother sad?” asked Gandhiji, for in India every young girl wears ornaments.

“Yes,” replied Kaumudi, “my mother is sad but she will not forbid me to give them to you."

"And when you grow older and get married, will not your husband also want you to wear them?” asked Gandhiji.

Kaumudi's big black eyes became thoughtful and then she replied, “I will select a husband who will not compel me to wear ornaments.”

Gandhiji's face glowed with delight at her reply. He put his arm around her and said, “I had Annapurna, another girl like you. She was married and she discarded all her jewelry. She even gave me her wedding ring. She devoted her life to the poor and worked for them, but the work was too hard for her frail little body. She died but a few weeks ago, and I lost my most valiant worker. Now I have you.”