Mashi and Other Stories Part 4

Mas.h.i.+ kept silent. She realised that the heaven she had been building for Jotin out of falsehood had toppled down at last. If sorrow comes, it is best to acknowledge it.--When G.o.d strikes, we cannot avoid the blow.

'Mas.h.i.+, the love I have got from you will last through all my births.

I have filled this life with it to carry it with me. In the next birth, I am sure you will be born as my daughter, and I shall tend you with all my love.'

'What are you saying, Jotin? Do you mean to say I shall be born again as a woman? Why can't you pray that I should come to your arms as a son?'

'No, no, not a son! You will come to my house in that wonderful beauty which you had when you were young. I can even imagine how I shall dress you.'

'Don't talk so much, Jotin, but try to sleep.'

'I shall name you "Lakshmi."'

'But that is an old-fas.h.i.+oned name, Jotin!'

'Yes, but you are my old-fas.h.i.+oned Mas.h.i.+. Come to my house again with those beautiful old-fas.h.i.+oned manners.'

'I can't wish that I should come and burden your home with the misfortune of a girl-child!'

'Mas.h.i.+, you think me weak, and are wanting to save me all trouble.'

'My child, I am a woman, so I have my weakness. Therefore I have tried all my life to save you from all sorts of trouble,--only to fail.'

'Mas.h.i.+, I have not had time in this life to apply the lessons I have learnt. But they will keep for my next birth. I shall show then what a man is able to do. I have learnt how false it is always to be looking after oneself.'

'Whatever you may say, darling, you have never grasped anything for yourself, but given everything to others.'

'Mas.h.i.+, I can boast of one thing at any rate. I have never been a tyrant in my happiness, or tried to enforce my claims by violence.

Because lies could not content me, I have had to wait long. Perhaps truth will be kind to me at last.--Who is that, Mas.h.i.+, who is that?'

'Where? There's no one there, Jotin!'

'Mas.h.i.+, just go and see in the other room. I thought I----'

'No, dear! I don't see anybody.'

'But it seemed quite clear to me that----'

'No, Jotin, it's nothing. So keep quiet! The doctor is coming now.'

When the doctor entered, he said:

'Look here, you mustn't stay near the patient so much, you excite him.

You go to bed, and my a.s.sistant will remain with him.'

'No, Mas.h.i.+, I can't let you go.'

'All right, Baba! I will sit quietly in that corner.'

'No, no! you must sit by my side. I can't let go your hand, not till the very end. I have been made by your hand, and only from your hand shall G.o.d take me.'

'All right,' said the doctor, 'you can remain there. But, Jotin Babu, you must not talk to her. It's time for you to take your medicine.'

'Time for my medicine? Nonsense! The time for that is over. To give medicine now is merely to deceive; besides I am not afraid to die.

Mas.h.i.+, Death is busy with his physic; why do you add another nuisance in the shape of a doctor? Send him away, send him away! It is you alone I need now! No one else, none whatever! No more falsehood!'

'I protest, as a doctor, this excitement is doing you harm.'

'Then go, doctor, don't excite me any more!--Mas.h.i.+, has he gone?...

That's good! Now come and take my head in your lap.'

'All right, dear! Now, Baba, try to sleep!'

'No, Mas.h.i.+, don't ask me to sleep. If I sleep, I shall never wake.

I still need to keep awake a little longer. Don't you hear a sound?

Somebody is coming.'

V

'Jotin dear, just open your eyes a little. She has come. Look once and see!'

'Who has come? A dream?'

'Not a dream, darling! Mani has come with her father.'

'Who are you?'

'Can't you see? This is your Mani!'

'Mani? Has that door opened?'

'Yes, Baba, it is wide open.'

'No, Mas.h.i.+, not that shawl! not _that_ shawl! That shawl is a fraud!'

'It is not a shawl, Jotin! It is our Mani, who has flung herself on your feet. Put your hand on her head and bless her. Don't cry like that, Mani! There will be time enough for that. Keep quiet now for a little.'

THE SKELETON

In the room next to the one in which we boys used to sleep, there hung a human skeleton. In the night it would rattle in the breeze which played about its bones. In the day these bones were rattled by us.

We were taking lessons in osteology from a student in the Campbell Medical School, for our guardians were determined to make us masters of all the sciences. How far they succeeded we need not tell those who know us; and it is better hidden from those who do not.

Many years have pa.s.sed since then. In the meantime the skeleton has vanished from the room, and the science of osteology from our brains, leaving no trace behind.