That was the moment when Mahendra's glance fell on the pathetic picture presented by the face of the trembling girl.
The girl was about to retire immediately after, when Anukul said, "Stay awhile, Chuni. Vihari Babu,[1] this is my brother Apurba's daughter; he has passed away and now she has none else but me," and he heaved a sigh.
Mahendra felt a great pity. He once more glanced at the orphaned girl. "What may be your name?" he asked her.
Anukul, in an encouraging tone, repeated, "Your name, my little mother, ten him your name."
The girl, as if obeying orders, replied with downcast eyes, "My name is Asha."[2]
"Asha! What a gentle voice, what a touching name," thought Mahendra, "poor orphaned Asha!"
The two friends came out of the house and drove off. Mahendra said, "Vihari, don't you give up this girl."
Vihari would not give a direct reply but said, "She reminds me of her aunt, she must be as good."
"I trust," said Mahendra, "that you are not feeling the burden which I placed on your shoulders so very heavy after all!"
"No, I think I'll be able to bear it," said Vihari.
"Why sacrifice yourself? I'll relieve you if you like. What say you?"
Vihari gravely turned towards Mahendra. "Are you serious, Dada?" said he. "Tell me truly while there is yet time. If you marry her, Kakie will be much better pleased, as she will then always have her near."
"Are you mad?" replied Mahendra, "if that had been possible it would have happened long ago."
Without any further objection Vihari went his way, while Mahendra, leaving the direct road, paced slowly through a long round, reaching home late.
His mother was then busily engaged in making cakes. His aunt had not yet returned from her niece's place.
Mahendra went up to the terraced roof and spreading a mat he stretched himself on it. The light of the half moon went on silently spreading its magic radiance over the Calcutta housetops. When his mother came to announce the evening meal, Mahendra in a lazy voice replied, "I'm so comfortable here, I really can't get up now."
"Let me fetch it here," the mother suggested.
"No, I think I won't have anything more tonight, I've had something to eat."
"Where have you been eating?"
"Oh, that's a long story, I'll tell you afterwards," said Mahendra.
Wounded at this unwonted behaviour on Mahendra's part his mother turned to go without another word. Recovering himself in a moment the repentant son said, "All right, mother, do bring my food up here."
"If you are not hungry, what is the good?"
After a few more passages between mother and son Mahendra had to sit down to a second meal after all.
IV
Mahendra did not sleep well that night. Early in the morning he turned up at Vihari's lodgings.
He said, "Look here, old fellow, I feel on reflection that Kakie's real desire must be that I should marry her niece."
"There was no need for all this reflection. In many a way has she shown this desire."
"That is why I was saying," Mahendra went on, "that if I don't marry Asha, Kakie will be left with a life-long regret."
Vihari with a somewhat exaggerated enthusiasm exclaimed, "Just the thing, the very thing. If you are willing there's nothing more to be said. Only it would have been well if this desire to do the right thing had come to you yesterday."
"What matters the delay of just one day?" remarked Mahendra.
Once he had given rein to the thought of marriage, Mahendra found it difficult to contain himself any longer. "No more words, but action," thought he.
He went home and said to his mother, "All right, mother, I yield to your persuasion. I am now ready to marry."
"Now I understand," thought his mother, "why my sister-in-law went to her niece's and why Mahendra dressed himself up to go out."
That Annapurna's scheming should have prevailed over her repeated entreaties made her feel that something had gone wrong with the whole scheme of the universe. She simply said, "Very well, I'll have to find out a good girl for you."
