42

The next morning, Harimohini prostrated herself on the ground and made her obeisance to Paresh, whereupon he drew back in haste and said, “What are you doing?”

Harimohini said, tears in her eyes, “Your debt I shall never be able to repay, not in any lifetime. You have found a way out for one as utterly helpless as me — no one but you could have done this. I have seen that even those who wish me well cannot succeed in doing good to me — you have God’s grace upon you in great measure, and it is for that reason that you have been able to show grace even to one like me.”

Pareshbabu was greatly embarrassed; he said, “I have done nothing of any particular consequence — all of this is Radharani’s doing —”

Harimohini interrupted him, saying, “I know, I know — but Radharani is yours — whatever she does is your doing. When her mother was gone, and her father too was no more, I had thought the girl was most unfortunate — but how was I to know that God would make her sorrowful lot so blessed? See — after so much wandering, now that I have at last found you, I understand clearly that God has had mercy on me as well.”

“Mashi, Mother has come to take you” — with these words Binoy appeared. Sucharita sprang up and said anxiously, “Where is she?”

Binoy said, “She is sitting downstairs with your mother.”

Sucharita hurried away downstairs.

Pareshbabu said to Harimohini, “Let me go and see that everything is properly arranged in your house.”

After Pareshbabu had gone, Binoy said in wonder, “Mashi, I had no idea about this house of yours.”

Harimohini said, “Nor had I, my dear! Only Pareshbabu knew. It is our Radharani’s house.”

Having heard the whole account, Binoy said, “I had thought that perhaps Binoy might be of some use to someone in this world. That too has slipped away. All this time I have not been able to do anything for Mother — whatever needs doing, she does it for me. For Mashi too I shall not be able to do anything — whatever I need, I shall get it from her. It seems I am born only to receive, not to give.”

A little while later, Anandamayi arrived, accompanied by Lalita and Sucharita. Harimohini came forward and said, “When God shows His mercy, He is not niggardly about it — Didi, I have found you today as well.”

Saying this, she took her by the hand and led her to a seat on the mat.

Harimohini said, “Didi, Binoy has nothing on his lips but your name.”

Anandamayi laughed and said, “He has had this affliction since childhood — what he once takes hold of, he does not let go quickly. Before long your turn as Mashi will begin as well.”

Binoy said, “So it shall be — I give fair warning in advance. I have found myself a Mashi very late in life, and have collected her for myself; having been deprived for so long, I shall have to make it up in all manner of ways.”

Anandamayi glanced at Lalita with a smile and said, “Our Binoy knows how to seek out what he lacks, and once he has found it, he knows how to cherish it with all his heart and soul. What eyes he has turned upon you all — only I can truly say. It is as though he has suddenly come face to face with what he had never even dared to imagine. I cannot say how happy I have been, dear, that he came to know your family — how much good it has done him that his heart has settled in this way in your home. He understands this very well, and is not at all reluctant to acknowledge it.”

Lalita attempted some answer but could find no words; her face flushed red. Seeing Lalita’s predicament, Sucharita said, “Binoybabu is able to see the goodness within every person — that is why whatever goodness there is in everyone comes to him and enriches his life. That is largely a quality of his own.”

Binoy said, “Mother, you have decided that Binoy is an immensely worthy subject for discussion — which the world does not consider him to be. I intend to make you understand this, but through sheer pride I find I cannot. But this has gone on long enough. No more, Mother — Binoy’s affairs end here for today.”

Just then Satish came bounding in, clutching a newborn puppy tightly to his chest. Harimohini exclaimed in agitation, “Dear Satish, there’s a good boy, my darling child — please take that dog away!”

Satish said, “It will not do anything, Mashi! It will not come into your room. If you just give it a little affection, it will not say a word.”

Harimohini stepped back and said, “No, no, dear, take it away.”

At that moment Anandamayi drew Satish to her side, dog and all. Taking the puppy onto her lap, she asked Satish, “Are you Satish? Binoy’s friend — our Binoy’s friend?”

Satish saw nothing incongruous in being introduced as Binoy’s friend, and so he answered without any hesitation: “Yes.”

Saying so, he remained gazing at Anandamayi’s face.

Anandamayi said, “I am Binoy’s mother, you see.”

The puppy set about amusing itself by attempting to chew Anandamayi’s glass bangles. Sucharita said, “Bakhtiyar, offer your respects to Mother.”

Satish managed to perform his obeisance with a somewhat sheepish air.

Just then Baradasundari came upstairs and, without so much as glancing at Harimohini, asked Anandamayi, “Will you take some refreshment with us?”

Anandamayi replied, “I make no distinctions about eating and touching. But let it be for today — let Gora return first, and then I shall eat.”

Anandamayi could not bring herself to do anything that Gora would have found disagreeable in his absence.

Baradasundari glanced towards Binoy and said, “Why, here is Binoy-babu! I was quite sure you had not come.”

Binoy replied at once, “Did you imagine I would come and go without letting you know?”

Baradasundari said, “Yesterday you slipped away and missed the invited dinner — so today you may as well eat without an invitation.”

Binoy said, “That is precisely what tempts me more. The charm of an unexpected bonus is greater than that of one’s regular due.”

Harimohini was inwardly astonished. Binoy dined in this household — and Anandamayi too made no distinction whatsoever. This did not sit well with her.

When Baradasundari had gone, Harimohini asked hesitantly, “Elder sister, your husband — is he —”

Anandamayi replied, “My husband is a very staunch Hindu.”

Harimohini remained bewildered. Anandamayi, perceiving the drift of her thoughts, said, “Sister, as long as society was the greatest thing in my world, I followed society’s ways. But one day God revealed Himself in my home in such a manner that He no longer permitted me to follow society. He came Himself and took away my caste — after that, whom should I fear?”

Harimohini could not make sense of this explanation and said, “Your husband —”

Anandamayi replied, “My husband is angry.”

Harimohini: And your sons?

Anandamayi: The sons are not pleased either. But can I live only by pleasing them? Sister, this is not something I can explain to anyone — only He who knows all will understand.

Saying this, Anandamayi joined her palms together in reverence.

Harimohini thought to herself that perhaps some missionary’s daughter had come and turned Anandamayi to Christianity. A great discomfort arose in her mind.