Page:Tales of Bengal (Sita and Santa Chattopadhyay).djvu/94

Tales of Bengal Two or three of the lights were overturned in the rush with a crash. Sounds of weeping came from the women's apartment and mingled with the wild shouts of the men. I had fasted the whole day and this on top of my fatigue and nervous strain surely bereft me of my senses. Still I turned to have a last look of Surama. She was sitting upright on her seat; the veil had fallen from her face and she stared at me with bewildered eyes. For a single moment our eyes met and then I found myself in the dark, outside the house.

Our carriages had been waiting at a little distance. Not knowing that they would be again required so soon, the drivers and attendants had dispersed in every direction. Everybody began to shout and swear, my father and uncle the loudest and worst of all. Only my brother Probodh remained sorrowfully silent. He too had seen Surama.

A few minutes served to bring back my scattered senses. What had I done? Why had I allowed them to use me as their tool in their brutal game? I seemed to see the sorrowful and bewildered eyes of Surama through the veil of night. They seemed to accuse me and the thought of it all goaded me into action.

While all the people of our party were busy abusing and shouting, I slipped off unseen. I soon forgot my father and uncle and their anger, and in a few minutes I reached Surama's house. The clamour had now died down and the wails of the women were no longer heard. As I approached the door, I saw two or three men coming out of the house. Their faces indicated the satisfaction of having enjoyed a good dinner. "All's well that ends well," said one. "To think of the luck of the girl. Instead of being tied to a poor clerk's son she secures the great Zemindar, Parbaticharan Roy. Such a to-do about a few ornaments, and now the girl will be loaded with diamonds and pearls." Rh