"As it happens, I was going to Srirampur myself. But in the rain and wet I have lost my way." The man asked, "And where have you been wandering, my little maid?" The voice was that of a stranger, but the girl felt instinctively that it expressed kindness and compassion. The newcomer asked, kindly enough, "Who is this small person crying in the dark?" It was a man's rough voice, but there was something in its tone that stayed the child's tears. The shock and surprise overcame her childish resolution, and for the first time she could not restrain a piteous wail. But the child clung pathetically to the paltry garlands she had woven, and held them tight to her bosom.Īs she was struggling bravely along, someone emerged from the darkness and ran up against the child. The wet locks of her loose hair were blown across her rainwashed face. Half blinded by her tears, by the storm, by the darkness of the night, the child felt her way, stumbling and falling. Worst and most cruel of all was the thought that she had been unable to make any provision for her mother's needs. Added to that, the heavy rain of the month of Sravan fell on her with a force that made her cower before the storm. The night was very dark, the roads were miry and slippery, the child had to feel her way through the growing dusk. The night was stormy and dark, and poor Radharani had to turn weeping homewards. But, alas, the rain continued pitilessly. What matter if she were soaked by the rain? Perhaps the storm would abate and the spectators would return. Not a soul bought the girl's simple garlands. But before the ceremony was half over, heavy rain fell and dispersed the crowd. She hoped by this means to get a few pice wherewith to With tearful eyes Radharani gathered some jungle flowers and wove them into garlands, thinking to sell them at the fair, which was an incident of the Car Festival. On the day of the Car Festival the mother's disease reached a critical stage: medicines and nourishment were necessary. The mother was too ill to need much food, the child often fasted because there was nothing to eat. To add to their misfortunes, the mother fell ill, and was no longer able to work for her living. She was unable to set aside a dower for her daughter's marriage.
Mahesh bangla story manual#
The widow found a precarious asylum in a small cottage on the family estate and endeavoured to earn her living by manual labour. But there was nothing left for the maintenance of mother and daughter. Radharani's mother sold her jewels and other movable property, and instituted an appeal before the Hon'ble Privy Council in London. What money there was in hand, was expended in paying costs and law expenses. The landed property, amounting to some ten lakhs of rupees, all went to the plaintiff. No sooner did this happen than the heartless plaintiff executed his decree and ousted her from the family home. The widow lost her case in the Calcutta High Court. The suit involved the whole of the family property. But when her father died, a relative brought a civil suit against her widowed mother. Time was when her people had been very wealthy, for the child came of a great family in these parts. A little girl called Radharani had been to the village of Mahesh in order to witness the exciting ceremony of pulling the Juggernauth car.