CITIZEN।
But aren't you going to attend the evening worship of Bhairava?
STRANGER।
Yes, I've come out for that object. Every year I bring my offering at this time. But I've never seen such a monstrous obstruction in the sky before. Don't you think it's a sacrilege to allow it to overtop the spire of the Temple?
{He goes.}
{Enters a woman named AMBA, with a white veil which covers her head and body and trails in the dust.}
AMBA।
My Suman! My Suman! Won't my son Suman come back to me? You've all returned, but where is he?
CITIZEN।
Who are you?
AMBA।
I'm Amba of Janai village. Suman, my son, 's the light of my eyes, the breath of my life,my Suman!
CITIZEN।
What's happened to him?
AMBA।
I don't know where they've taken him. I'd gone to worship Bhairava, in the Temple; and when I came back, I found that he had been taken away.
CITIZEN।
Then he must have been recruited for the work of building up the embankment.
AMBA।
I've heard that they've taken him along this road to the west of the Hill of Gauri; and my eyesight doesn't reach so far. I can't see the way across it.
CITIZEN।
What's the use of grieving! We're going to the Temple. It's a great day for us. You also must come.
AMBA।
No, no! From that day, when I lost my son, I've dreaded going to the Temple. Let me tell you our worship never reaches Him. Someone filches it away, as it's carried to the shrine.
CITIZEN।
Who's that?
AMBA।
The one who's taken my Suman away from me! I don't know who it is, Suman! My Suman! My darling!
{They go.}
[The MESSENGER from Abhijit, the Crown Prince of Uttarakut, meets BIBHUTI, while he is on his way to the Temple.}
MESSENGER।
Bibhuti! The Crown Prince has sent me to you.
BIBHUTI।
What is his wish?
MESSENGER।
You have been for a long time building up an embankment across the waterfall of Muktadhara. Over and over again it gave way, and men perished smothered with sand and earth; and others got washed away by the flood at last, to-day
BIBHUTI।
My object is accomplished and the sacrifice of their lives has met with its fulfilment.
MESSENGER।
The inhabitants of Shiu-tarai are still ignorant of this fact. They cannot believe, that any man can deprive them of the water, which has been to them the gift of God.
BIBHUTI।
God has given them the water; but He has given me the power to bind that water.
MESSENGER।
YOU ARE READING
Tagore
Short StoryI'm notifying it beforehand that my intentions are not to steal anyone's work. All credit for the stories goes to their original author, editors and rest. I'm just uploading here so everyone can read and enjoy. Hope you'll like it. P.S.- Give it a t...
THE WATERFALL(play)
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