Anandamath

Chapter II

When Santi left the Asram at the dead of night and started for the city Jivananda was present there. Santi told Jivananda, “I am going to the city. I shall fetch Mohendra’s wife. Acquaint Mohendra with the fact, that, his wife is living.”

Jivananda had heard from Bhavananda how Kalyani’s life was saved and knew the present whereabouts of Kalyani from Santi who was in the habit of wandering every where. He began to acquaint Mohendra with every detail.

At first Mohendra could not believe it. Then he was overwhelmed with joy and almost stunned with it.

When the night was over Kalyani met Mohendra with Santi’s help. In the silent forest under the dense thickly grown sal trees before the wild birds and animals awoke, the two met together. The only witness of this meeting were the dim stars in the blue sky and the hushed and endless sal trees. From a distance came the sweet voice of a narrow stream murmuring among stones and pebbles and the glad cry of a cuckoo beside itself with joy at the sight of the luminous crown of the rising sun in the east.

It was one hour past noon. Santi was there. Jivananda also came there. Kalyani said to Santi, “You have made us as good as your purchased slaves. Complete your good deed by letting us know the whereabouts of our daughter.”

Santi looked at Jivananda’s face and said, “I must sleep now. I have not rested in the last twenty-four hours. I have not slept for two nights — I am a man, after all.

Kalyani smiled a little. Jivananda looked at Mohendra’s face said, “Leave that to me. You proceed to Padachinha — you will get your daughter there.”

Jivananda went to Bharuipur to take away the child from Nimai — the thing was not so easy it seemed.

Nimai at first stood nonplussed; she looked this way and that. Her nostrils quivered and her lips were pursed up. Then she burst into tears. She declared, “I won’t let you have the child.”

After Nimai had dried her tears with the back of her supple rounded hand Jivananda said. “My sister, why do you weep? It is not so far off after all; you may visit them now and then at their house and see the child.”

Nimai pursed her lips and said, “She is your child, take her away for all I care,” Saying this she brought Sukumari, dumped her down there and squatting on the ground and stretching her feet started weeping. So Jivananda did not say anything about the matter but went on talking on casual topics. But Nimai’s ruffled temper was not soothed. Nimai got up, began fetching Sukumari’s bundle of clothes, her box of ornaments, her ribbons, her toys and threw them before Jivananda. Sukumari herself began collecting and arranging them. She began asking Nimai, “O mamma! where shall I go?” Nimai could not bear it any more. She picked the child up and went away weeping.