_Professor_
Do you know, Nandini, I too live behind a network of scholarship. I
am an unmitigated scholar, just as our king is an unmitigated king.
_Nandini_
You are laughing at me, Professor. But tell me, when they brought me
here, why didn’t they bring my Rañjan also?
_Professor_
It’s their way to snatch things by fractions. But why should you want
to drag your life’s treasure down amongst this dead wealth of ours?
_Nandini_
Because I know he can put a beating heart behind these dead ribs.
_Professor_
Your own presence is puzzling enough for our governors here; if
Rañjan also comes they will be in despair.
_Nandini_
They do not know how comic they are,--Rañjan will bring God’s own
laughter in their midst and startle them into life.
_Professor_
Divine laughter is the sunlight that melts ice, but not stones. Only
the pressure of gross muscle can move our governors.
_Nandini_
My Rañjan’s strength is like that of your river, Sankhini,--it can
laugh and yet it can break. Let me tell you a little secret news of
mine. I shall meet Rañjan to-day.
_Professor_
Who told you that?
_Nandini_
Yes, yes, we shall meet. The news has come.
_Professor_
Through what way could news come and yet evade the Governor?
_Nandini_
Through the same way that brings news of the coming Spring.
_Professor_
You mean it’s in the air,--like the rumours which flush in the colour
of the sky, or flutter in the dance of the wind?
_Nandini_
I won’t say more now. When Rañjan comes you’ll see for yourself how
rumours in the air come down on earth.
_Professor_
Once she begins to talk of Rañjan there’s no stopping Nandini’s
mouth! Well, well, I have my books, let me take my shelter behind
them,--I dare not go on with this.
(_Coming back after going a little way._)
Nandini, let me ask you one thing. Aren’t you frightened of our
Yaksha Town?
_Nandini_
Why should I feel afraid?
_Professor_
All creatures fear an eclipse, not the full sun. Yaksha Town is a
city under eclipse. The Shadow Demon, who lives in the gold caves,
has eaten into it. It is not whole itself, neither does it allow any
one else to remain whole. Listen to me, don’t stay here. When you
go, these pits will yawn all the wider for us, I know,--yet I say
to you, fly; go and live happily with Rañjan where people in their
drunken fury don’t tear the earth’s veil to pieces.
(_Going a little way and then coming back._)
Nandini, will you give me a flower from your chain of red oleanders?
_Nandini_
Why, what will you do with it?
_Professor_
How often have I thought that there is some omen in these ornaments
of yours.
_Nandini_
_I_ don’t know of any.
_Professor_
Perhaps your fate knows. In that red there is not only beauty, but
also the fascination of fear.
_Nandini_
Fear! Even in me?
_Professor_
I don’t know what event you have come to write with that crimson
tint. There was the gardenia and the tuberose, there was white
jasmine,--why did you leave them all and choose this flower? Do you
know, we often choose our own fate thus, without knowing it!
_Nandini_
Rañjan sometimes calls me Red Oleander. I feel that the colour of his
love is red,--that red I wear on my neck, on my breast, on my arms.
_Professor_
Well, just give me one of those flowers,--a moment’s gift,--let me
try to understand the meaning of its colour.
_Nandini_
Here, take it. Rañjan is coming to-day,--out of my heart’s delight I
give it to you.
[_Professor goes._
(_Gôkul, a digger, comes in._)
_Gôkul_
Turn this way, woman! Who are you? I’ve never yet been able to
understand you.
_Nandini_
I’m nothing more than what you see. What need have you to understand
me?
_Gôkul_
I don’t trust what I can’t understand. For what purpose has the King
brought you here?
_Nandini_
Because I serve no purpose of his.
_Gôkul_
You know some spell, I’m sure. You’re snaring everybody here. You’re
a witch! Those who are bewitched by your beauty will come to their
death.
_Nandini_
That death will not be yours, Gôkul, never fear! You’ll die digging.
_Gôkul_
Let me see, let me see, what’s that dangling over your forehead?
_Nandini_
Only a tassel of red oleanders.
_Gôkul_
What does it mean?
_Nandini_
It has no meaning at all.
_Gôkul_
I don’t believe you, one bit! You’re up to some trickery. Some
evil will befall us before the day is out. That’s why you have got
yourself up like this. Oh you terrible, terrible witch!
_Nandini_
What makes you think me so terrible?
_Gôkul_
You’re looking like an ominous torch with a red flame. Let me go and
warn these fools.--Beware! Beware!
[_He goes._
_Nandini_ (_knocking at the network_)
Do you hear me?
_A voice_ (_from behind the scenes_)