Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/194

182 of the world gets over it in a couple of months; eats, sleeps, laughs and goes about his daily business. If she is so overwhelmed, do you yourself take the key, open the case and bring out the jewels."

Hrishi Kesh went on smoking in gloomy silence. Sitanath began to press him—still the father-in-law could not abandon the hope of retaining the ornaments. He said, sadly—"Let us wait till the year is out, Mahashoi, then come and fetch them away. Nay, if you wish it, I will undertake to deliver the jewels at your own house."

Sitanath said harshly—"Man's life is like unto the water on a lotus leaf. To-day it is here, to-morrow it is gone. We cannot be sure of an hour. Suppose I do not live a year?"

Hrishi Kesh said to himself—"If you do not live, the value of the jewels will be spent on your sradh." Aloud he said—"In that case your jewels will remain in our care and will be used for your grand daughter's wedding."

Sitanath answered with a sneer—"Do you suppose my grand daughter will always remain with you? When she has grown a little, I shall take her away. My eldest daughter-in-law is crazy to see the child. Even when I was leaving home she said—'Father, shall I come with you and see the little