Maniraj and Vidya Chatura’s

Family in Manoharpuri Soon after Manchatura left Manoharpuri in the company of soldiers to escort Kumud Sundari home safely, the rest of the family and Chandrakant lay down to rest; but sleep eluded them for long. Chandrakant finally fell asleep by three a.m., but he was haunted by dreams of Sarasvatichandra. Sundargauri cried herself to sleep. Gunasundari, troubled and anxious about her daughter, lay in bed staring vacantly at the walls. As the day broke, each of them got up and sought distraction in routine. Young Kusum Sundari, who was given the charge of looking after their guest, brought Chandrakant his morning tea and milk. She engaged him in conversation to keep him amused. As he sat brooding alone in the veranda, she approached him with a few books and said, ‘Chandrakantbhai, Gunial taught Kumud behn from these books, and she will be teaching them to me as well. Pitaji also likes them. Perhaps they might interest you, too.’ Chandrakant felt both happy and sad. This family’s abiding love for learning and fondness for books gave him joy; but the fact that his dearest friend had broken all ties with such a worthy family pained him. Kusum, alert to his disappointment, said, ‘Chandrakantbhai, I cannot blame Sarasvatichandra. I feel that perhaps he wanted to do something like Robinson Crusoe, and so he left home.’ Despite his gloomy mental state, Chandrakant was amused at this comment, and said, ‘Behn, how did you suddenly remember Robinson Crusoe?’

‘He left home to wander the world; Sarasvatichandra did likewise,’ came the prompt reply. ‘But was that wise?’ ‘I would also love to roam, to see the wide world. I tell Gunial every day—why should one be tied to the house? If you ask me, it was my idea to have this excursion to Bhadreshwar. I feel that Sarasvatichandra also wanted to see the world. The trouble in his family gave him the opportunity, and he left home to fulfill his desire.’ ‘But he could have done that even after marriage.’ ‘But that is like inviting trouble! Look at Kumud behn—all her problems are due to marriage, isn’t it? Do I have a care in the world? Those who marry are certain to fall.’ ‘But behn, you shouldn’t be saying this!’ Once I start talking, I have no control over my tongue, Kusum muttered coyly to herself. Then aloud, she said, ‘I spoke in jest, Chandrakantbhai. But I can find no fault with Sarasvatichandra. He is an intelligent man and his decision was well considered. What can the outlaws possibly rob him of? I feel that this, too, he wished to experience.’ ‘How can anyone desire such a thing?’ ‘When he visited us, he was reading Shakespeare and he narrated to me the plot of a play. A gentleman called Valentine of Verona joined a band of thieves and became its leader. Couldn’t Sarasvatichandra have also decided to do something similar? It would be such fun.’ ‘Do you think it is