Page:Works of Tagore from the Modern Review, 1909-24 Segment 1.pdf/40

32 relaxed state was not even felt as existing, now began to throb with pain.

So it happened that after such long years, and at such an age and being the mother of children, Sosi, on this spring-noon, in her lonely chamber, lying in the bed of separation, began to dream the sweet dream of a bride of budding youth. That love, which had been flowing before her life without her being conscious of it, suddenly roused her with its murmuring music, and she went a long way up the stream and saw many a golden mansion and many a grove on its ether bank,—but no foothold was to be had now amidst those vanished possibilities of happiness. She began to say to herself that when she next met her husband, she would not let the life be insipid nor the spring go in vain. On how many days, how very often, in idle disputation or some petty quarrel, she had teased her husband. With a penitent heart she now vowed in all the singleness of her mind that she would never show such impatience again, never oppose her husband's wishes, bear all his command, and with a heart filled with tenderness submit to all his dealings, good or ill; for the husband was all-in-all, the husband was the dearest object of love, the husband was divine.

For a long time Sosikala had been the sole and petted daughter of her parents. For this reason, though Joygopal held a small place, he had no anxieties about the future. His father-in-law had enough property to support one in a royal style in a village.

Just then very untimely, almost in his old age, a son was born to Sosikala's father. To tell the truth, at this unlooked-for, improper and unjust action on the part of her parents, Sosi felt very sore in her mind; nor was Joygopal particularly pleased.

The parents' love centered strongly on this son of their advanced years. When this newly-arrived, diminutive, sleepy suckling of a brother-in-law seized all the hopes and expectations of Joygopal within the tiny fists of his two weak hands, Joygopal took service in a tea-garden in Assam.

People pressed him to look for employment near about—but whether out of a general feeling of resentment, or knowing the means of rapid rise in a tea-garden, Joygopal would not pay heed to anybody; he sent his wife and children to his father-in-law's and left for Assam. This was the first separation between husband and wife in their married life.

This incident made Sosikala very angry with her baby brother. That soreness of heat which may not pass over lips rages the more keenly within. When the little fellow sucked and slept away at his ease, his big sister was making a hundred occasions, such as the rice is cold, the boys are too late for school, to worry herself and others, day and night, with her petulances and humours.

In a short time, the child's mother died. Before her death, she committed her infant son into her daughter's hand.

Then in no time the motherless child easily conquered his sister's heart. When with loud whoops he would fling himself on her and with right good-will try to grab up her mouth, nose, eyes within his tiny mouth; when he would sieze [sic] her locks within his little fists and refuse to give up possession; when awaking before the dawn he would roll up to her side and thrill her with delight with his soft touch and make a huge babble;—when, later un, he would call her jiji and jijima, and in hours of work and rest, by doing forbidden things, eating forbidden food, going to forbidden places, set up a regular tyranny on her, then Sosi could resist no longer. She surrendered herself completely to this wayward, little tyrant. As the child had no mother, his influence over her became all the greater.

The child was named Nilmani. When he was two years old his father fell seriously ill. A letter reached Joygopal asking him to come away as quickly as possible. When after much pains Joygopal obtained leave and arrived, Kaliprasanna's last hour had come.

Before he died Kaliprasanna entrusted Joygopal with the charge of his minor son and devised a quarter of his estate to his daughter.

So Joygopal had to give up his appointment and come home to look after the properties.

After a long time husband and wife met again. When a material body breaks it might be set again edge to edge. But when