47

Four days later, with a letter in hand, Haranbabu came and presented himself before Baradasundari. Nowadays he had altogether abandoned any hope in Pareshbabu.

Haranbabu handed the letter to Baradasundari and said, “From the very beginning I made every effort to put you all on your guard. I have made myself unwelcome for doing so. Now from this letter you will be able to judge how far the matter has advanced in secret.”

Baradasundari read the letter that Lalita had written to Shailabala. She said, “How was I to know, I ask you. What could never have entered my mind is now coming to pass. But you must not blame me for it — that I say plainly. Your entire community has made such a great fuss over Sucharita, turned her head completely — there is no girl like her in the Brahmo Samaj — now go and manage the exploits of your ideal Brahmo girl. It was she who brought Binoy and Gora into this house. I was drawing Binoy gradually over to our side, and then she brought some aunt of hers from somewhere and started idol-worship right here in our own home. She spoiled Binoy so thoroughly that now he runs away the moment he sees me. Everything that is happening now — your Sucharita is at the root of it all. What kind of girl she is I have always known — but I never said a word about it; I have always raised her in such a manner that no one could tell she was not my own daughter — and today one reaps the fine fruit of it. Now you make this letter out to be false — do as you think fit.”

Haranbabu openly acknowledged that he had once misjudged Baradasundari, and expressed his repentance with great magnanimity. At length, Pareshbabu was summoned.

“Read this” — saying so, Baradasundari flung the letter down upon the table before him. Pareshbabu read the letter two or three times and said, “Well, what of it?”

Baradasundari said with agitation, “What of it! What more is needed! What remains undone! Idol-worship, caste observance — all of it has happened, and now only your daughter’s marriage into a Hindu household remains. After that you will perform penance and enter Hindu society — but I say plainly —”

Paresh smiled faintly and said, “You need say nothing at all. At least the time for saying it has not yet come. The point is this: why have you all settled in your minds that Lalita’s marriage into a Hindu household is already decided? I see nothing of the sort in this letter.”

Baradasundari said, “What would have to happen before you could see it — that I have never been able to understand to this day. Had you seen things in time, such a state of affairs would not have come to pass today. How much more plainly could anyone write in a letter, tell me.”

Haranbabu said, “I believe Lalita should be shown this letter and asked directly what her intentions are. If you give your permission, I myself can put the question to her.”

At that very moment Lalita burst into the room like a storm and said, “Baba, see here — letters like this from the Brahmo Samaj have been arriving lately.”

Paresh read the letter carefully. The writer had taken it as a certainty that a marriage between Binoy and Lalita had been secretly settled, and had filled the letter with reproaches and counsel of various kinds. Along with this, there was discussion to the effect that Binoy’s intentions were not good, that after two days he would abandon his Brahmo wife and marry again into a Hindu household.

After Paresh had finished reading, Haran took the letter and read it; then said, “Lalita, does this letter make you angry? But have you not yourself given cause for such a letter to be written? Tell me, how could you have written this letter with your own hand?”

Lalita stood still for a moment and said, “Are you then carrying on a correspondence with Shail on this subject?”

Haran, without giving a direct answer, said, “Remembering her duty to the Brahmo Samaj, Shail was compelled to forward your letter.”

Lalita drew herself up firmly and said, “Now tell me what the Brahmo Samaj wishes to say.”

Haran said, “The rumour that has spread through the Samaj regarding you and Binoybabu — I cannot believe it by any means, yet even so I wish to hear from your own lips a clear denial of it.”

Lalita’s eyes began to blaze like fire — pressing her trembling hand against the back of a chair, she said, “Why — can you not believe it by any means?”

Paresh stroked Lalita’s back and said, “Lalita, your mind is not composed at this moment — we shall speak of this matter later with me — let it rest for now!”

Haran said, “Pareshbabu, please do not attempt to suppress this matter.”

Lalita flared up again and said, “Baba suppress it! My father does not fear truth — Baba knows truth to be greater than the Brahmo Samaj itself. I tell you plainly: I consider it neither impossible nor wrong to marry Binoybabu.”

Haran exclaimed, “But has it been settled that he will be initiated into the Brahmo faith?”

Lalita said, “Nothing has been settled — and what compulsion is there that he must take initiation!”

Baradasundari had not spoken a word all this while — she had secretly desired that Haranbabu should prevail today and that Pareshbabu should be made to repent and acknowledge his fault. She could contain herself no longer; she burst out, “Lalita, have you lost your senses! What are you saying!”

Lalita said, “No, Ma, this is not the talk of madness — what I am saying I have said with deliberation. That people should come from all sides to bind me in this manner — that I cannot endure. I shall be free from this society of people like Haranbabu.”

Haran said, “You call lawlessness freedom!”

Lalita said, “No — freedom from the assault of meanness, freedom from the bondage of falsehood — that is what I call freedom. Where I see no wrong, no unrighteousness, why should the Brahmo Samaj touch me, why should it obstruct me?”

Haran said with an air of arrogance, “Pareshbabu, see here. I knew that in the end something of this sort would come to pass. I did everything I could to warn you all — but to no avail.”

Lalita said, “Look here, Panubabu, there is a matter about which I must also warn you — the arrogance of presuming to warn those who are in every respect your superiors — do not harbour that within you.”

Having said this, Lalita walked out of the room.

Baradasundari said, “What is all this that is happening! Now deliberate and decide what is to be done.”

Pareshbabu said, “Whatever is one’s duty, that must be fulfilled — but duty cannot be determined by creating such confusion and deliberating in this manner. I must ask for some indulgence. Do not speak to me of this just now. I wish to be alone for a while.”