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Surja Mukhi said: "If you do not know what is the fault, how can I? I only beg that for my sake you will give it up." Nagendra replied: "Surja Mukhi, I am a drunkard! If devotion should be paid to a drunkard, pay it to me; otherwise it is not called for." Surja Mukhi left the room to conceal her tears, since her weeping irritated her husband, and led him to strike the servants.
She thought: "Surja Mukhi rescued me in my time of distress, when but for her I should have been lost; now on my account she is an outcast. If I am not to be happy, it were better I had died." She perceived that happiness has limits. It is evening. Nagendra is lying on the couch; Kunda Nandini sits at his head fanning him. Both are silent. This is not a good sign.
Kamal Mani not only cheered Kunda, she herself felt comforted. She had already wept much, and now she began to think, "What is the use of weeping? If I do, Srish Chandra will be miserable and Satish will cry. Weeping will not bring back Surja Mukhi." So she gave up weeping, and became her natural self.
In the month Sraban a stranger, falling sick, stayed in her house. She was placed there by the Brahmachari. I heard her name was Surja Mukhi. She was ill of consumption; I attended her, had almost cured her. Now " Breathing hard, Nagendra repeated, "Now?" "In the destruction of Haro Mani's house the woman was burnt." Nagendra fell from his chair, striking his head severely. The blow stunned him.
Kamal felt that Kunda did not comprehend what was for her own peace. On this occasion, Haridasi Boisnavi entering, sang "I went into the thorny forest to pluck a soiled flower Yes, my friend, a soiled flower; I wore it twined about my head, I hung it in my ears Friends, a soiled flower." This day Surja Mukhi was present. She sent to call Kamal to hear the singing.
The Brahmachari asked "What shall we call you? what is your name?" The desolate creature, moving a little restlessly, replied, "My name is Surja Mukhi." There was apparently no hope of Surja Mukhi's life. The Brahmachari, not understanding her symptoms, next morning called in the village doctor. Ram Krishna Rai was very learned, particularly in medicine.
The final objection Surja Mukhi: Why do I distress a loving wife with a rival? The answer is, Surja Mukhi is not troubled by this marriage: she herself suggested it; she prepared me for it; she is zealous for it. What objection then remains? and why should I be blamed?" Kamal Mani having read the letter, said "In what respect he is to blame God knows; but what delusions he cherishes!
And Nagendra, is this the stainless character you have preserved so long? Is this the return for your Surja Mukhi's devotion? Shame! shame! you are a thief; you are worse than a thief. What could a thief have done to Surja Mukhi? He might have stolen her ornaments, her wealth, but you have come to destroy her heart.
I am not angry with her; she is now my younger sister." Only they two went. They were long away. At last Kamal Mani came out of Kunda's room with a countenance full of fear and distress, and in great haste sent for Nagendra. On his arrival the ladies told him he was wanted in Kunda's room. At the door he met Surja Mukhi weeping. "What has happened?" he asked. "Destruction!
They went into the chamber laughing over the adventure, and Surja Mukhi shook her fist at Subhadra in the picture, saying, "You are the cause of this misfortune." How bitterly Nagendra wept over this remembrance! Unable longer to endure his suffering he walked about; but look where he would there were signs of Surja Mukhi.
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