Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/77

Rh procession they paraded through all the important streets of the town, singing a popular song glorifying martyrs.

 

That evening Nagendra Babu returned home, not quite himself. He felt as though he had committed some heinous crime. His eyes were downcast and lustreless and his face was pale.

His wife sat at a corner of the verandah, sullen and sad. Nagendra Babu approached her but she would not even look at him. He understood what it was due to.

Nagendra Babu put off his cutcherry costume and after a little while came again to his wife. Charusila sat in the same position as before, almost in tears.

"Why are you so sad, Charu?"—whispered Nagendra Babu tenderly.

Charusila neither spoke nor looked at her husband. He said again—"Tell me, Charu, what it is."

"I have a pain in my head"—muttered Charusila.

"Pain in the head? I am so sorry. When did it begin? Come, let me tie up your head with a handkerchief soaked in Eau-de-Cologne,—it would give you instant relief." 