Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/231

Rh enioyed none of it. As I came from home I said repeatedly, 'Mind the handi'—'Don't you forget handi.' And then they did forget it. A potful of food, Mahashoi, gone! I cannot eat bazaar food, it does not agree with me. Wherever I go I take my own supply with me. My father's sister was up at five this morning preparing these loochees. (Here the Babu began to count upon his fingers) There were loochees, kachowris, fried potatoes, fried byguns, mohonbhog, a pound of Mollnai balls—have you ever tasted Mollnai balls?"

From the beginning of this speech the young men had been pressing their faces to hide their smile, but at this question they burst out laughing. Preserving a becoming gravity, I answered—"I don't remember having tasted them."

"If that is so, be sure you have not tasted them: it is not a thing to be forgotten."

"Very probably."

"Have you never heard of Mollnai balls?"

"No."

"Where do you come form?"

"Calcutta."

"Where do you live?"

"At Calcutta."

"Oh! you are a downright Calcutian I see. Well I'l tell you a story about the Mollnai balls; but first, let me prepare some tobacco."