Uncertainties Alas! My friend who will believe it stolen?⁵²⁶ The two friends went up the stairs. Sarasvatichandra: ‘Chandrakant, weren’t you told not to reveal my identity?’ Chandrakant: ‘I was.’ Sarasvatichandra: ‘Then?’ Chandrakant: ‘You would like to believe that your body, your scholarship and intelligence, your adventures are such that they can be kept a secret.’ Sarasvatichandra: ‘I have no doubt about it.’ Chandrakant: ‘Pardon me. You will be shocked when you know how I got news in Bombay of your whereabouts and what all the police of Ratnanagari know about you.’ Sarasvatichandra: ‘They clearly have traced me. But Kumud Sundari’s presence is a secret, isn’t it?’ Chandrakant: ‘She was no secret for me. I do not know about the others.’ They came up to the terrace where Kumud waited for them. They sat down at some distance from her.

Chandrakant: ‘Kumud, I should get accustomed to your new name. Madhuri Maiya, please read these so that you know why we were called down.’ He gave her the summons issued to Sarasvatichandra. His own summons he gave to Sarasvatichandra. Chandrakant had also received some letters, which he began to read. Sarasvatichandra: ‘Kumud Sundari, Chandrakant was aware of your presence here.’ Kumud: ‘That is somewhat surprising. But we have shed the responsibility of deciding about my identity and our future. It is for your learned friend to decide. He knows your thoughts, my mind, he knows about our dreams and our discussions. He should decide what seems appropriate. Chandrakantbhai is the captain of our ship; we shall set sail in the direction he decides.’ Sarasvatichandra: ‘That is the path of equanimity. Chandrakant, it was not I who thought of this solution.’ Chandrakant: ‘That I knew. When you decide something it invariably requires a new churning; there can be no fruits without labour. Without Madhuri Maiya’s wisdom your churning would not produce butter. In her wisdom she found a solution when you stopped making any effort, and your churning has now become my burden! Now Chandrakant is caught in that movement. One leads to one set of problems and the other to another set of problems.’ Kumud: ‘You are a friend, an expert in social customs, you are learned, you know the minds of our parents and all others concerned about our welfare. You have their trust. You are the best doctor of our malady. Who else could we turn to?’ Chandrakant: ‘Of course. Now let me read out a part of your father’s letter.’ He read from Vidya Chatura’s letter. You know what Kumud’s mother desires for her. You know the views of my father. By now you would have gathered what Sarasvatichandra and Kumud want. My own aspiration and inclination is to assist in helping realise any pure choice that Kumud makes. I have no desire other than this. Sarasvatichandra has caused injury to Kumud; he has hurt her and been unjust to her. If he wants to make amends for his actions, he should openly marry Kumud, give her every