Sarasvatichandra’s Anguish And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—nevermore!¹⁷⁹ Vishnudas and his disciples had gone down to the villages to spread the message of Alakh. Sarasvatichandra was left alone with the bundle of letters that Viharpuri and Radhedas had found. The outlaws had ambushed Chandrakant and stolen all his possessions. They had no use for a bundle of letters. Viharpuri and Radhedas had found this bundle and given it to Sarasvatichandra. He was immersed in the letters, which gave him joy equal to meeting his friend. Chandrakant and Sarasvatichandra were very close friends. Despite this Chandrakant had never given him an inkling of his difficult pecuniary condition and the problems of his large household. He did not want to sully Sarasvatichandra’s world with his petty problems. The letters were full of domestic issues and economic hardship. These exchanges gave Sarasvatichandra his first glimpse into the personal life of his friend. It cast a shadow on him; he was surprised, stunned and pained by what he had read.

Oh Chandrakant, you are burdened by so many problems. And yet you gave me no inkling of them! I witnessed the pain of beloved Kumud, but I can only read about your problems. Dear friend, you kept a distance from me! Sarasvatichandra, you have experienced no hardship. Wherever you went there was the grace of Annapurna, the goddess of bounty and plenitude. You have not had to worry about your meals. But this is something unusual! He got up, walked around with the letters clasped to his heart. Tears rolled down his eyes. He sat on a boulder and read one of the letters. Dear Chandrakant, You have set out in search of Sarasvatichandra. But with the exception of Gangabhabhi, no one in your family appreciates this. The expensive life of Bombay and the earning of an honest man are as friendly as a rat and a snake. Your mother keeps niggling that Sarasvatichandra has given you nothing and has nothing to give now, and you have gone looking for him spending your own money and that too by stopping all work which brought some money home. The routine expenses of your household can be barely met with your income. Now that you do not bring in money and spend out of your savings, the family is forced to cut corners and all of them abuse Sarasvatichandra as he is the cause of this. If you ask me, I see your behaviour as contradictory. You should control your family members and prevent them from spending money haphazardly. But this is likely to invite further conflict in the family. But in order to save a few rupees either