Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/215

Rh "I will see. If he agrees, the wedding can take place in February."

When the widow reached her home Bhabatosh was sitting in his room reading a newspaper. His mother said—"Come to the inner apartments, I want to speak to you."

Laying aside the paper Bhabatosh very slowly followed his mother. Taking him to her own room the mother said—"Son, I have arranged a marriage for you. You are my eldest son. I have long wished for a daughter-in-law. Fulfil my desire."

As I have intimated, Bhabatosh was extremely averse to marriage—not though for the reasons an Englishman would have had. Not because it was unsuitable to marry while still a student, or because his means were insufficient. His objection was of another kind and based upon the shastras too. He had heard (and even read in the newspapers) that the brides of the present generation no longer resemble the modest Hindu bride of former days, but are coquettes and fond of dress, that they do not worship their husbands as enjoined by the sacred writings, but are anxious to associate with them on terms of equality. Yet how could the unlucky man oppose his widowed mother's entreaties? He did not desire to incur the sin of neglecting his mother's repeated