Page:Works of Tagore from the Modern Review, 1909-24 Segment 1.pdf/155

572 equal grade of blue blood (kulin) could be secured except for an impossible dowry. She steadily grew up in maidenhood.

The reader hardly needs be told that though the god who ties the marriage-knot had so long been ignoring this young couple, the god who forms the bond of love had not been idle all this time. While old Hymen was dozing, young Cupid was very much awake.

Cupid's influence shows itself differently in different persons. Under his inspiration Rajib constantly sought for a chance of whispering his heart's longings, but Mahamaya never gave him such an opportunity; her silent and grave look sent a chill of fear through the wild heart of Rajib.

Today he had, by a hundred solemn entreaties and conjurations, (at last) succeeded in bringing her to this ruined temple. He had planned that he would today freely tell her all that he had to say,—and thereafter there would be for him either lifelong happiness or death in life. At this crisis of his fate Rajib only said, "Come, let us go and marry", and then he stood confused and silent like a boy who had forgotten his lesson!

For along while she replied not, as if she had never expected such a proposal from Rajib.

The noontide has many undefined plaintive notes of its own; these began to make themselves heard in the midst of that stillness. The broken door of the temple, half detached from its hinge, began at times to open and to close in the wind with a low wailing creak. The pigeon, perched on the temple window, began its deep booming. The wood-pecker kept up its monotonous noise as it sat working on the Shimul branch outside. The lizard darted through the heaps of dry leaves, with a rustling sound. A sudden gust of warm wind blowing from the fields passed through the trees, making all their foliage whistle. Unawares the river waters woke into ripple and lapped on the broken steps of the ghat. Amidst these causeless languid sounds came the rustic notes of a cow-boy's flute from a far-off tree-shade. Rajib stood reclining against the ruinous plinth of the temple like a tired dreamer, gazing at the river; he had not the spirit to look Mahamaya in the face.

After a while he turned his head and again cast a supplicating glance at Mahamaya's face. She shook her head and replied. "No. It can't be".

At once the whole fabric of his hopes was dashed down to the ground; for he knew that when Mahamaya shook her head it was through her own convictions, and nobody else in the world could bend her head to his own will. The high pride of pedigree had run in the blood of Mahamaya's family for untold generations,—could she ever consent to marry a Brahman of low pedigree like Rajib? To love is one thing, and to marry quite another. She, however, now realised that her own thoughtless conduct in the past had encouraged Rajib to hope so audaciously; and at once she prepared to leave the temple.

Rajib understood her, and quickly broke in with "I am leaving these parts tomorrow."

At first she thought of appearing indifferent to the news; but she could not. Her feet did not move, when she wanted to depart. Calmly she asked, "Why?" Rajib replied, "My Sahib has been transferred from here to the Sonapur factory, and he is taking me with him." Again she stood in long silence, musing thus,—"Our lives are moving in two contrary directions. I cannot hope to keep a man a prisoner of my eyes for ever." So she opened her compressed lips a little and said, "Very well." It sounded rather like a deep sigh.

With this word only she was again about to leave, when Rajib started up with the whisper, "Mr. Chattopadhyay is coming!"

She looked out and saw her brother coming towards the temple, and she knew that he had found out their assignation. Rajib, fearing to place Mahamaya in a false position, tried to escape by jumping out of a hole in the temple wall; but Mahamaya seized his arm and kept him back by main force. Bhabani Charan entered the temple,—and only cast one silent and placid glance at the pair.

Mahamaya looked at Rajib and said with an unruffled voice, "Yes, I will go to your house, Rajib. Do you wait for me."

Silently Bhabani Charan left the temple, and Mahamaya followed him as silently. And Rajib? He stood in a maze—as if he had been doomed to death.