Chapter Thirteen

Ashmani's Affection

When the door was opened and Ashmani stepped inside, Diggaj's heart told him that his beloved had come and must be greeted with suitable gallantry; whereupon he raised his hand and proclaimed, "Om — ayahi varade devi!"

Ashmani said, "A most gallant verse indeed — where didst thou come by it?"

Diggaj. I composed it today in thy honour and kept it ready.

Ashmani. Is it any wonder I call thee Rasikraja?

Diggaj. Fair one, sit thee down; I shall wash my hands.

Ashmani said to herself, "Simpleton! Thou wouldst wash thy hands? I shall make thee eat those leavings again." Aloud she said, "Wherefore wash them? Thou art not eating."

Gajapati replied, "What dost thou mean? I have finished my meal — how can I eat again?"

Ashmani. Why, thy food is still there. Wilt thou fast?

Diggaj said somewhat peevishly, "What could I do? Thou didst hurry me." And with longing eyes he gazed upon the rice and water before him.

Ashmani said, "Then thou must eat again."

Diggaj. Radhe Madhav! I have rinsed my mouth, I have risen — shall I eat again?

"Thou shalt eat, and no less than my leavings." So saying, Ashmani took a morsel from the dish and ate it herself.

The Brahmin stood dumbfounded.

Ashmani replaced the touched morsel upon the dish and said, "Eat."

The Brahmin found no words.

Ashmani. Eat. Listen — I shall tell no one that thou hast eaten my leavings. What harm is there, if no one knows?

Diggaj. Can that truly be?

But within Diggaj's belly, the god of fire was burning with a fierce flame. Diggaj was thinking to himself: "Whatever manner of beauty Ashmani may be — let the earth swallow her — I shall secretly eat these leavings of hers and cool this burning stomach."

Perceiving his mind, Ashmani said, "Eat or not — come and sit beside the dish."

Diggaj. Why? What then?

Ashmani. It is my wish. Canst thou not fulfil one wish of mine?

Diggaj said, "Only sit beside the dish? There is no sin in that. I shall grant thy request." So saying, Diggaj Pandit, at Ashmani's word, went and sat beside the dish. Hunger in his belly, rice in his lap, yet he could not eat — tears came to Diggaj's eyes.

Ashmani said, "What befalls a Brahmin who touches the leavings of a Shudra?"

The Pandit replied, "He must bathe." Ashmani. How well dost thou love me — I shall understand that fully today before I leave. Wilt thou bathe in the middle of this night for my sake?

Diggaj Mahasaya, his small eyes half closed in tender moisture, his long nose tilted archly, smiled a broad sweet smile from ear to ear and said, "Is that all? I can bathe this very moment."

Ashmani said, "It is my desire to take prasad from thy plate. Mix two mouthfuls of rice for me with thine own hand."

Diggaj said, "What wonder is there in that? A bath makes all pure again." So saying, he gathered the leavings together and began to mix the rice.

Ashmani said, "I shall tell thee a tale — listen. So long as I tell it, thou must mix the rice; else I shall not eat."

Diggaj. Very well.

Ashmani commenced a tale of a king and his two wives — the favoured and the neglected. Diggaj sat open-mouthed, gazing upon her face and listening — and all the while mixing the rice.

As he listened, Diggaj's mind sank deep into Ashmani's tale — caught fast in her laughter, her glances, and the ring in her nose. The mixing of the rice ceased; his hand lay upon the dish; but the pang of hunger was still there. When Ashmani's tale grew most engaging and Diggaj's mind was most deeply absorbed in it, his hand turned traitor. The hand that lay upon the dish quietly lifted a morsel of the mixed rice and conveyed it to Diggaj's mouth. His mouth opened and received it. His teeth, without the least objection, began to chew. His tongue assisted it down his throat. The innocent Diggaj was none the wiser. Ashmani, beholding all this, burst into a peal of laughter and cried, "So, wretch — wouldst thou not eat my leavings, sayest thou?"

Then Diggaj came to his senses. He hastily put another morsel into his mouth and, still swallowing, flung himself — his hand yet unclean — at Ashmani's feet. Chewing all the while, he wept and said, "Spare me, Ashman! Tell no one."