Chapter Twelve

The Beholding of the Fair One

Nabakumar called out to the keeper of the inn and bade him bring another lamp. Before the other lamp was brought, he heard the sound of a long-drawn sigh. A little after the lamp was brought, a Mussulman in servant's garb came and presented himself. Seeing him, the foreign lady said,

"How is this — wherefore have ye tarried so long? And where are the rest?"

The servant said, "The bearers were all drunk; in gathering them and bringing them on, we fell behind the palanquin. Afterwards, seeing the broken litter and not finding you, we were utterly distracted. Some of them are at that spot; some have gone elsewhere in search of you. I have come this way to seek you."

Moti said, "Bring them hither."

The servant made his salaam and went away; the foreign lady sat awhile with her cheek leaning upon her hand.

Nabakumar took leave. Then Moti, rising as one starts from sleep, asked as before, "Where will you lodge yourself?"

Nabakumar: In the next chamber.

Moti: I marked a palanquin near that chamber of yours; have you anyone in your company?

"My wife is with me."

Motibibi found again an opening for her raillery. She said, "Is she, then, that incomparably beautiful one?"

Nabakumar: Seeing her, thou wilt know.

Moti: May it be granted to see her?

Nabakumar: (reflecting) Where is the harm?

"Then grant me one favour. I have a great curiosity to behold this peerless beauty. I wish to speak of her when I am gone to Agra; but not at this moment — go you now. After a little I shall send you word."

Nabakumar went his way. After a while many folk arrived — men-servants and maid-servants and bearers with coffers and the like. A palanquin also came; within it a serving-woman. Presently word came to Nabakumar: "The Bibi has called for thee."

Nabakumar returned to Motibibi. He found that she was transformed yet again. Motibibi had laid aside her former dress and had put on robes wrought with gold and pearl and rare craftsmanship; her unornamented person she had now strewn with ornaments. Wherever there was room — in her tresses, in her braided hair, on her forehead, by the side of her eyes, on her ears, on her throat, on her bosom, on either arm — everywhere, amid gold, gleamed diamonds and gems. Nabakumar's eyes were dazzled. Like a sky strewn with countless stars, the abundance of ornaments seemed altogether becoming to her sweet and shapely form, and thereby the radiance of her beauty was the more increased. Motibibi said,

"Come, sir, let us go and make ourselves known to your wife." Nabakumar said, "There was no need to put on ornaments for that. My wife has no jewels at all."

Motibibi: I have put on the ornaments, it may be, only to show them. When a woman hath ornaments, she cannot live without showing them forth. Now, come.

Nabakumar set forth, leading Motibibi with him. The maid who had come in the palanquin went too. Her name was Peshman.

Kapalkundala was sitting alone upon the damp earthen floor of the shop-chamber. A single faint-burning lamp was alight — and her unbound, dense mass of hair was darkening the space behind her. When Motibibi first saw her, a slight smile played upon the corner of her lips and at the edges of her eyes. To look more closely, she raised the lamp and brought it before Kapalkundala's face. Then that smiling look departed; Moti's countenance grew grave; with unblinking eyes she gazed. Neither of them spoke a word; Moti was enraptured, Kapalkundala somewhat astonished.

After a while, Moti began to take the ornaments from her own person. One by one she loosed them and put them upon Kapalkundala. Kapalkundala said nothing. Nabakumar began to say, "What is this thou doest?" Moti gave no answer.

When the placing of the ornaments was ended, Moti said to Nabakumar, "Thou didst speak truly. Such a flower blooms not even in the king's garden. The pity is, I could not show this beauty in the capital. These ornaments suit only this person — and for that cause I have put them upon her. Do thou, too, when thou puttest them on her now and again, remember the prattling foreign woman."

Nabakumar said in amazement, "How is this? These are ornaments of great price. Why should I take them?"

Moti said, "By the grace of God I have more. I shall not go unadorned. If it pleases me to put them upon her, why dost thou hinder me?"

Saying this, Motibibi went away with her maid. When they came to a private place, Peshman asked her,

"Bibijaan! Who is this man?"

The Mussulmani maiden answered, "My husband."