Two more years passed by. Things happened. Parvati arranged a marriage for Mohendro that met with his approval. The bride, Jolodbala, was both intelligent and efficient and soon Parvati was able to leave most of the household duties with her. Five years had gone by since Parvati married, but she had conceived no children as yet.

Without children or housework to occupy her, her energy and compassion flowed into other channels. She gave money for the upkeep of children in needy families on her estates. She established a guest house for pilgrims and travelers, a hospital for the blind, another guesthouse for the homeless or those incapable of taking care of themselves. She spent the entire allowance that Mr. Choudhury gave her and kept nothing for herself. The servants whispered that expenditure had doubled , even tripled since Parvati came. This kind of talk grew so much that one evening Jolodbala demanded of her husband,

“Are you a nobody in this house?’

Mohendro asked, “Now, why do you say that?”

“Everyone is talking! The servants are all talking! I know your father’s new wife is a great-hearted lady, but- ! you should do something!” Obviously Mohendro had noticed nothing. Surprised, and a little displeased, he inquired

“What talk?”

Jolodbala spoke grimly,”Mother has no children of her own to love, so she lavished money and affection on the entire world instead.”

Mohendro frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You have eyes! Can’t you see? The guesthouses, the donations to the needy- our expenses have doubled, tripled! She might be ensuring her place in heaven, but what of your children? Are we to give everything away and leave them to be beggars?”

Mohendro said, “Are you talking about Mother?”

Jolod replied , ” Its my misfortune that I have to mention these things to you.”

“Are you complaining about Mother?”

Now Jolod flew into a rage.

“There’s no need for me to make any complaints! I’m just letting you know how things stand, or else I’ll be the one who gets the blame in the end!”

Mohendro’s temper was rising too.

“What do you know about giving alms? This is a great and noble house, a zamindari house!”

Jolod shot back, “Perhaps my family is not so great and noble as yours, but I’d like to know just how many charities your Mother’s dad supported in his day!”

Too annoyed to speak, Mohendro turned away and feigned sleep.

Next morning , he sought out Parvati.

“What kind of wife have you found me, Mother? I can’t live with her, and I’m off to Calcutta!”

Shocked, Parvati asked, “Why?”

“She says such mean things about you, I’ve had enough!”

Parvati had been observing her daughter-in-law’s dissatisfaction for a few days, but now shw only laughed and said,

“Shame on you, son. She’s a lovely girl, and I know it.”

Then Parvati went looking for Jolodbala to speak to her privately. She asked, lightly,

“Have you two been quarreling?”

Jolod had been watching her husband’s