That evening, close upon midnight, Girindra left Dinapur accompanied by his wife and the Benares lady. Bhojooa's mother set up a loud lamentation at the parting though she persistently refused Girindra's offer to take her with them to Tari Ghat.
On their way to the railway station, Maloti again tried to persuade the Benares lady to come with them to Tari Ghat but it was of no avail. At Dildarnagar junction early the next morning, Girindra changed their train for another, bidding good bye to their matronly friend.
V
Not long after sunrise, the young couple reached Tari Ghat and put up in the quarters provided by the Railway. After putting things in order a little, Girindra went to the station to make the acquaintance to his fellow-workers.
Maloti, intending to have her bath, opened a trunk to take out a saree. It was this trunk which ordinarily contained her jewel case. What was her amazement to find that the jewel-case was not there!
"It must be in some other box" she murmured to herself. Then she opened all her boxes one after another, but the jewel case could not be found.
