Stories of Bengalee Life/Signs of the Times/Chapter 2
CHAPTER II
The next morning Binod, sitting with his brother's children in the verandah, said to them—"You have not yet seen what I have brought for you!"
"What, Uncle? What have you brought for us?"—clamoured the children.
Binod, opening a trunk, gave to one a gutta percha monkey, to another a red ball, to a third a lady doll. The children began to jump with joy. Looking into the amiable countenance of his sister-in-law, Binod said—"Do you not ask what I have brought for you, Bou Didi?"
"What have you brought, brother?"
"Guess."
"How can I?"
"What would you like it to be?"
"What would I like to get? Let me think a little. Not a monkey; there is one in the house already."
Binod, affecting anger, exclaimed—"Sister-in-law! Do you call my elder brother a monkey?"
"Now see! Did I name anyone? If you yourselves fit on the cap, how can I help it?"
"I don't think you want a lady doll; we have that in the house also."[1]
"No; I don't want a wax doll. If you would marry a real live doll and bring her home, I should be delighted, brother."
"When you see what I have brought, you will be even more delighted. It is on this account I have delayed so long in coming home. I was accumulating the money. Let us have out my cash-box, sister-in-law."
The sister-in-law, opening the chest, took out the green cloth-covered box. Binod began to search for the key in all his pockets and in each of his coats, but found it not. Then he opened the two trunks, turned their contents upside down—still no key. With a dejected look he said—"I must have left it in the carriage" and, holding his head with his hand, he fell into a seat.
To comfort him his sister-in-law said—"Never mind if the key is lost; the property is all safe. We have the box here, and will soon find the key. At worst we can only break open the box."
Smiling sadly, Binod said—"But the money I brought for daily expenses is there also, Didi; I have nothing in hand."
"Well, you must take from us what you need for the present."
"This box can only be opened in Calcutta. I worked so hard to get these ornaments made for you, and now I cannot even show them to you. That is what vexes me."
"Don't worry yourself about it. I shall see them in a couple of days. What have you brought? Tell me."
"I had a pair of gold bracelets made for you."
Bou Didi was delighted. Binod, gradually recovering himself, said—"Can you make tea, sister? It is quite the thing now to drink tea in the early morning."
Bou Didi's mind was filled with surprise. The younger brother had so quickly recovered from his vexation! But thinking no more of it, she said—"We have none of that leaf, brother."
"Oh, I have some with me. We only want boiling water, sugar and milk."
The children began to dance, crying—"Oh, Uncle! We will drink tea; give us some tea."
For want of a proper teapot, they brought hot water in a jug. A handful of tea was thrown into it and the mouth closed with a stone cup.
The children brought one a cup, another a glass, the third an open water vessel, and seated themselves. When the tea was brewed, sugar and milk were mixed with it in the jug. Then, placing a strainer over the mouth of the jug, Bou Didi poured out the tea. Whether the tea reached the children's inside or no, great waves of it played over the floor.
- ↑ Meaning his sister-in-law. This is meant as a compliment. "Beautiful as a lady doll" is a current Bengali expression.