_Nandini_
What if you did?
_Bishu_
No harm at all!
_Nandini_
Then why did they bind you like this?
_Bishu_
What harm in that either? These chains will bear witness to the truth
of my freedom.
_Nandini_
Don’t they feel ashamed of themselves to lead you along the road
chained like a beast? Aren’t they men too?
_Bishu_
They have a big beast inside them, that’s why their heads are not
lowered by the indignity of man, rather the inner brute’s tail swells
and wags with pride at man’s downfall.
_Nandini_
O dear heart! Have they been hurting you? What are these marks on
your body?
_Bishu_
They have whipped me, with the whips they use for their dogs. The
string of that whip is made with the same thread which goes to the
stringing of their Gosain’s rosary. When they tell their beads they
don’t remember that; but probably their God is aware of it.
_Nandini_
Let them bind me like that too, and take me away with you, my heart’s
Joy! Unless I share some of your punishment I shan’t be able to touch
food from to-day.
_Kishôr_
I’m sure I can persuade them to take me in exchange for you. Let me
take your place, Bishu.
_Bishu_
Don’t be silly!
_Kishôr_
Punishment won’t hurt me. I am young. I shall bear it with joy.
_Nandini_
No, no, do not talk like that.
_Kishôr_
Nandini, my absence has been noticed, their bloodhounds are after me.
Allow me to escape the indignity awaiting me by taking shelter in a
punishment I joyfully accept.
_Bishu_
No, it won’t do for you to be caught--not for a while yet. There’s
work for you, dear boy, and dangerous work too. Rañjan has come. You
must find him out.
_Kishôr_
Then I bid you farewell, Nandini. What is your message when I meet
Rañjan?
_Nandini_
This tassel of red oleanders (_hands it to him_).
[_Kishôr goes._
_Bishu_
May you both be united once again.
_Nandini_
That union will give me no pleasure now. I shall never be able to
forget that I sent you away empty-handed. And what has that poor boy,
Kishôr, got from me?
_Bishu_
All the treasure hidden in his heart has been revealed to him by the
fire you have lighted in his life. Nandini, I remind you, it’s for
you to put that blue-throat’s feather on Rañjan’s crest.--There, do
you hear them singing the harvest song?
_Nandini_